Reclaim

This is something I assume every potter does. If we don’t, we end up with a lot of excess that is just a waste. Foot trimmings, broken pieces and failed experiments all go into the bucket. When I have enough to do a batch of reclaim I make sure they’re all broken up somewhat small.

Then I fill the bucket with water over the trimmings and pieces. It usually makes a happy little fizzy sound.

And there it sits for a few days until everything is all mushed up well.

I know some potters will do a mixing process or sieve through at this stage but I just plop it all into an old bowl plaster mold.

I have it all figured out that this small 2 gallon bucket will fill one bowl mold exactly. It’s a small batch but it really doesn’t need to be massive. At this point I cover it loosely with a sheet of plastic and let it sit for 2-3 days. I check on it periodically and when the liquid is gone and it’s started to pull away from the walls, I know it’s ready for me.

If the middle is still gooey, sometimes I pull that part out and set it on a plaster batt for one more day and sometimes it’s not enough to worry about. Once you’ve done this a few times, you’ll be able to make your own determinations. At this point I wedge it up into workable chunks, toss them into a clay bag and I’ll use them when I’m ready.