Normal Hours of Operation

Mon-Fri: 8am-4.00pm
Closed: Noon-12:30pm


Closed all provincial and federal holidays

Information

Home

Contact Page

Map

About

About Plainsman

Dealers/Distributors

Plainsman Products

Product Info Sheets

Safety Data Sheets

Services & Information

Ordering

Services and Info

Clays

Materials

Glazes

Underglazes

Enamelling

Equipment

 Kilns

Tools

Accessories

Clay Bodies

Plainsman Clays has long specialized in the production of plastic clay bodies, both from the materials we mine ourselves and from imported refined minerals.

We make translucent porcelains having a wide range of plasticities and working properties, firing temperatures (from 1150C and up) and fired properties (differing degrees of whiteness, translucency, thermal expansion and hardness). We have the experience necessary to produce quality and consistent porcelains: it is alot about knowing which materials are most appropriate from the many choices available and about great diligence in testing and responsive adaptation to the changing properties of the materials.

These are very popular in industry as a way to save energy (since they fire at low temperatures), for aesthetic purposes, and as a way to make strong and durable ware at the lowest possible temperatures (eg. cone 02-1). The ceramic tile industry uses huge amounts of terra cotta clays in single fire vitrifying processes. Making high quality ware with these bodies is a technical challenge. Glaze crazing and shivering, leaching, efflorescence, warping and bloating in the kiln, glaze adherence, etc are common issues. Diligence and know-how are required to be able to test and adjust terra cotta body recipes over a period of time to keep them consistent for your production department (since terra cotta raw materials are generally more inconsistent in working and firing properties). Plainsman has been mining and processing terra cotta materials and assisting customers in their use since 1975.

We have more experience with these types of bodies than any other. The ceramic history of our area in Canada goes back to the turn of the 20th century when stoneware clays of southern Saskatchewan were combined with the unlimited natural gas resources of southern Alberta to create a large stoneware, brick, tile and vitrified pipe industry. The sedimentary stoneware clay resources of our area are outstanding, these materials are very consistent, high in silica and have very high green strength. A wide range of vitreous and refractory stoneware materials are available from our quarries in Montana, Idaho, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We have more experience than anyone else in integrating this array of materials into a wide range of bodies that do not require the addition of any feldspars or quartz powders. These materials are remarkably consistent and many have been balanced by nature to have a perfect natural blend of fluxes, clay and quartz to produce a stoneware at cone 10.

Our clay reserves have many unusual materials that are difficult to find anywhere else. This includes very high-coal ball clays, feldspathic low temperature vitrifying buff stonewares, kaolinitic sands, illitic stonewares, iron stained and concretion containing bentonites and ball clays, very high iron stonewares, feldspathic sands and volcanic ash. With such an array of resources the possibilities are endless.