# The Reclaim Process: Slaking, Drying, and Wedging

Unit: Studio Mastery & Chemistry
Topic: Reclaiming Clay
URL: https://claybook.studio/learn/the-reclaim-process-slaking-drying-and-wedging/

# Three Steps from Scraps to Usable Clay

Reclaiming clay is simple but requires patience. The full process (from dry scraps to wedged, plastic clay) typically takes 2-4 days depending on conditions.

## Step 1: Slake

Place dry or leather-hard scraps into a large bucket. Add water until the scraps are fully submerged. Let them sit for at least 24-48 hours. The clay will absorb water and collapse into a thick, muddy slurry.

*   Do not stir during slaking: let the clay absorb at its own pace.
*   Break up any large leather-hard pieces before adding them to the bucket to speed up the process.

## Step 2: Dry to a Workable Consistency

Once the clay is fully slaked into a slurry, you need to remove excess water. There are two main methods:

*   **Plaster bat**: Pour the slurry onto a large plaster bat or into a plaster mold. Plaster absorbs water rapidly and the clay stiffens within hours.
*   **Drying on canvas or cloth**: Spread the slurry onto absorbent canvas and allow it to dry in a warm space, turning it occasionally. Takes longer but works without plaster equipment.

Allow the clay to reach a stiff, plastic consistency: it should hold its shape when squeezed but not crack.

## Step 3: Wedge

Reclaimed clay must be thoroughly wedged before use. Slaked clay tends to be uneven in consistency: some parts softer, some firmer. Wedging homogenises the moisture throughout the batch.

Use spiral or ram's head wedging until the clay is smooth, consistent, and free of air pockets. Reclaimed clay is then ready to use exactly like fresh clay.

## Keep Exploring

The reclaim process is a cornerstone of sustainable [studio pottery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_pottery) practice, reducing both cost and waste. The plaster bat method works because plaster absorbs water from the clay slurry, a property that also makes plaster dangerous if fragments contaminate the clay: the same absorption that makes it useful for drying also causes explosive expansion inside a kiln during [vitrification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitrification).

## Timing and Quality Checks

Before wedging, test moisture by slicing the mass:
*   If the center is wetter than the edges, wait and turn the mass again.
*   If edges crack when bent, it is over-dry and needs light rehydration.
*   If the cut face looks uniform and satin, it is ready for wedging.

## Pro Tip

Batch reclaim on a weekly schedule. Predictable reclaim cycles reduce studio mess and ensure you always have clay ready to throw.

## Check your understanding

### Question 1: Why must reclaimed clay be thoroughly wedged before use?

- [ ] A. Wedging removes the water that was added during slaking
- [x] B. Slaked clay is uneven in moisture; wedging homogenises it for consistent use
- [ ] C. Wedging sterilises the clay by removing bacteria from the slaking bucket
- [ ] D. Reclaimed clay does not need wedging if it dried evenly

Tip: Slaked clay dries unevenly and contains patches of different moisture levels. Wedging homogenises the moisture throughout the batch so the clay has consistent plasticity for throwing or handbuilding.

### Question 2: What are the two main methods for drying slaked clay slurry down to a workable consistency?

- [ ] A. Squeezing the slurry through cheesecloth, then drying it in a low oven
- [x] B. Spreading on a plaster bat (fast) or drying on absorbent canvas (slower but no equipment needed)
- [ ] C. Pouring the slurry into a kiln at low temperature to drive off the water
- [ ] D. Leaving the bucket uncovered: the water evaporates on its own within a few hours

Tip: You can spread the slurry onto a plaster bat, which absorbs water rapidly and stiffens the clay within hours. Or you can spread it on absorbent canvas in a warm space, turning it occasionally; this takes longer but works perfectly without any plaster equipment.

### Question 3: Before wedging reclaimed clay, which check best confirms moisture is ready?

- [ ] A. The surface feels dry even if the center is still wet
- [x] B. A cut face shows even moisture throughout with no wet core or dry edge cracking
- [ ] C. The clay can hold a fingerprint sharply
- [ ] D. The mass feels heavy when lifted from the plaster bat

Tip: A sliced cross-section should look uniform from edge to center with no wet core and no dry cracking. Uniform moisture is the key precondition for effective wedging.