Cracks in the ClayUpdated 14 days ago

Cracks in the Clay

Cracks are one of the more common things that can go wrong when working with clay, but they are usually preventable. Here are the most common causes and how to avoid them.

How to fix a crack

If you spot a crack before your piece has fully dried, you can repair it by wetting the cracked area slightly, pressing a small piece of fresh clay into it, and smoothing it over with a damp sponge. Unfortunately if your piece has already gone bone-dry, the crack cannot be repaired.

Common Causes:

Clay that is too thin

If your clay is too thin in any area it will be more prone to cracking as it dries. As a general rule, keep your clay at least 1/2 inch thick throughout your piece. For larger pieces, aim for at least 3/4 inch.

Uneven thickness

If some parts of your piece are thicker than others, they will dry at different rates and can cause the piece to crack. Try to keep the thickness of your clay as consistent as possible throughout.

Drying too fast or unevenly

Avoid placing your piece near any direct heat source such as a heater, oven, or sunny window. Heat causes the clay to dry too quickly and unevenly, which leads to cracking. This includes making sure one side of your piece is not closer to a heat source than the other. Always dry at room temperature in a well-ventilated area.

Weak joins

Cracks often appear at joins where two pieces of clay have been attached. Always score and wet the surfaces before joining them and smooth over the join thoroughly to reduce the risk of cracking at that point.