Sio-2 ARGILA White Clay

Sio-2 ARGILA White Clay is a 100% natural composition clay — pure potter's clay, finely ground — designed for those seeking an honest material, free from additives, with balanced plasticity that performs equally well in hand modelling, on the wheel and in sculpture. Its vacuum packaging ensures it arrives in perfect condition and remains unaltered for a minimum of two years.

Technical specifications

What it's used for

Sio-2 ARGILA White Clay is a general-purpose clay, suitable for both educational and creative settings as well as professional ceramic workshops. Its fine particle size and balanced plasticity make it particularly versatile:

• Freehand modelling: figures, reliefs, decorative pieces
• Throwing on the potter's wheel
• Sculpture and clay prototyping for subsequent firing
• Making functional ceramic pieces (bowls, vessels, slabs)
• Educational activities and children's workshops (from 3 years)
• Creative arts and general crafts
• Development of tactile perception and creativity
• Base for glazed pieces with ceramic glazes

How to use it

1. Open the vacuum pack and knead the clay with your hands until it regains uniform temperature and elasticity. If it is very cold, a few minutes of kneading will suffice.
2. Model, throw or sculpt the piece using the appropriate tools. For detail work, modelling tools or loop tools make finishing and hollowing out pieces easier.
3. Leave to air dry at room temperature, in a place without sudden draughts to avoid cracking. Depending on the thickness of the piece, drying can take from 24 hours to several days.
4. First firing (bisque): place the completely dry piece in the ceramic kiln. Raise the temperature progressively until reaching between 970 and 1050 °C.
5. Apply ceramic glaze to the bisque piece if you want a glazed decoration or waterproof finish.
6. Second firing (stoneware or earthenware): fire again according to the instructions of the chosen glaze.
7. Store the leftover clay wrapped in airtight plastic or in the original container tightly sealed to prevent it from drying out.

Usage tips

Preparation and kneading

Proper kneading is the foundation of everything. Knead until all air bubbles are eliminated — a bubble inside the piece can cause it to crack during firing. The "spiral kneading" technique (similar to kneading bread) is the most effective for homogenising the clay without introducing more air. If you find it too dry, add a few drops of water and continue kneading; if it is too soft, leave the clay to rest for a few minutes on an absorbent surface (unvarnished wood or plaster).

Crack-free drying

The number one enemy of drying is unevenness: if one area dries much faster than another, cracks appear. Cover the piece with thin plastic during the first few days to slow down the process. If you are working with pieces of varying thickness, reinforce the joins with slip (clay diluted in water to a yoghurt-like consistency) and cover again. Hollow pieces — worked with loop tools — dry more evenly and fire with less risk.

Firing and glazes

Make sure the piece is completely dry before placing it in the kiln: residual moisture can cause explosions during the heating phase. Sio-2 ARGILA White Clay performs excellently with the standard ceramic glazes available on the market; its white raw colour makes it easy to visualise the glaze before firing and allows for more vivid colours that are truer to the final result. If you are going to combine it with other clays, check the firing temperature compatibility.

Frequently asked questions