Clay Modelling Supplies: Different Clays For Different Purposes
Clay modelling is certainly nothing new. In fact, there are records to show it has been used since around 14,000BC when people in China and Japan began to fire clay. They used it first to line baskets for water and other types of storage, eventually simply moving to clay pots alone. Today, clay modelling is not only popular for pottery, but also for sculpture. It's a great hobby and it can be fun for all ages.
Types of clay
There are a few main types of clay. Ceramic clay is made from clay minerals and is used to make terra cotta, stoneware and porcelain. To do that, this clay is baked at high temperatures – much like the Chinese and Japanese did many centuries ago.
Oil-based clay is made from oils, waxes and other minerals – this makes it ideal for making sculptures. It can't be burned so it isn't suitable for making pots, etc, but it's great for fine detail – and this type of clay has even been used to make cars and airplanes (though it needs to be industrial-grade for that).
Paper clay contains a small amount of processed cellulose fibre and it can be manufactured by hand. It is used in craft and doll-making, as well as sculptural and functional studio pottery.
Shopping online
When you're shopping for clay modelling supplies, keep in mind that common clay compounds all have different purposes. They include kaolinite (found in all clay types); smectite, which refers to alkali and alkaline minerals; chlorite – a mineral compound with iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, nickel and lithium; and illite, which is non-expanding and has silicon, aluminium, iron, magnesium and potassium.
Shopping for clay modelling supplies on eBay is easy. You can shop by category where you'll find full clay sets and tools, as well as rollers and other supplies; shop by brand for some of your favourites if you're a seasoned modeller; by best selling to see what's hot this week; or simply browse through the available products. There are prices to suit all budgets, and options to buy in bulk to save money in the long-term.