Reclaim a bucket of scrap clay

A sustainable studio wastes nothing. Every trimming, every collapsed pot, every failed handle: it all becomes usable clay again.

The process

1. Collect all your trimmings and failed pieces over a week
2. Break larger pieces into small chunks (fist-sized or smaller)
3. Submerge everything in a bucket of water for 48 hours (it should dissolve into slurry)
4. Stir occasionally until homogeneous
5. Pour the slurry onto a plaster bat (the plaster absorbs excess water)
6. Wait. Check daily. When the clay is firm enough to peel off without sticking, it's ready.
7. Wedge thoroughly and test by throwing

The test

Throw a cylinder from your reclaimed clay. Does it behave like fresh clay? Same plasticity? Same workability? If it's short (crumbly), it may need additional wedging or a tiny bit of water.

The satisfaction

Closing the loop. Zero waste. And reclaimed clay often has more character than fresh clay from the bag.