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Playin' in the Mudd
Join Date: Aug-2003
Location: Trescott TWP, ME
Country: USA
Posts: 219
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Hi Jay,
The two stoneware clays I'm using are of the wide range variety (cone 4-10) Standard has many clays like this. Of course, if you fire closer to the higher range, the pot is going to be harder and more vitreous. Both the clays I used in my first batch of bonsai pots fall well under the 3% absorption rate when fired to cone 6 (7) and have been taking some pretty serious abuse over the last five weeks. It's hard to say weather the same clay fire near the top of it's range would be more weather resistant or not. I guess it depends on weather you think some porosity or almost none is best. I think both schools of thought are probably valid.
About four years ago, I worked on a outdoor mural for a local library where I made a few tiles and most of them were made by children. This was done with a Laguna cone 6 stoneware body that was recommended by a potter in NH that does mostly outdoor work. It's just fine so far.
I think most cone 6 to 10 clays will work fine for outdoor use under the conditions that most bonsai are exposed to. Just to be on the safe side, I'll stick with clays that are recommended for outdoor use.
Best,
Kevin
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