Why won't the red clay I dug up separate after screeninig?

by Flip
(Chewelah WA)

Question: I dug up some sticky red clay on my uncles farm, soaked it in water and ran it through a screen. I left it in a bucket so the clay would separate from the water but it still has not. It remains in slip form,I guess.

Answer: It depends on how thick the slip is, but if you leave it long enough it should settle out. It usually takes a few days. How long has it been and how thick is the slip? Can you include a picture?

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Jan 21, 2011
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Red Clay
by: Steve

At that point, if no water is separating out, you can just go straight to the drying stage. If it's too runny to pour onto a plaster bat, try pouring it into a cloth bag such as a pillow case.

This might allow some moisture to drain out... enough to thicken it to the point where you can dry it on the plaster bat.

If none of that works, you may have something in the clay that is causing it.

Jan 21, 2011
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red clay
by: flip

Yeah, it is not very thick but it is thicker than water.

Jan 21, 2011
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red clay
by: flip

The red clay has been sitting in it's bucket for a week now and it is still just a red clay slip.
I was wondering if maybe it had some bentonite or something like that that keeps it in liquid suspension.

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