Clay: How It's Made

Ever wonder how clay is made?

STEP 1: Dry Materials
The dry materials are dumped into the clay mixer. The augur runs for a few minutes to combine the materials in their dry state.

STEP 2: Water
A predetermined amount of water is added to the mixer.

STEP 3: Mix
The augur runs for a while to ensure the ingredients are thoroughly blended. This step can take anywhere from 30-90 minutes depending on the type of clay.

STEP 4: De-Airing
Clay drops down from a hatch in the mixer and into the pugmill below. The clay is pushed through a vacuum chamber to remove all air. This stage is especially critical for quality control. You can see Juan returning clay to the back of the pugmill when the vacuum pressure drops below required levels.

STEP 5: Packaging
The finished clay is cut into 25-pound blocks by a hydraulic slicer. Then the clay crew bags, boxes, and palletizes the clay.