Clay Release Agents

Let's face it....no one likes sticky clay. Release agents to the rescue!

Let me paint a picture...you've got the perfect texture laid in, your bevel cuts are award-winning quality, your shape is banging. Your seams are all tucked in tight and neat and your top and bottom are level. Woot! You're a hand building Rockstar in the comfort of your favorite studio. Now it's time to remove your clay from the form and everyone is holding their breath. You pull...and pull...tug and twist, but this clay has staged a sit in with no hopes of budging. As beads of sweat begin to collect, you know it will only get tighter and tighter the longer it sits. Panic and dread have long set in. Real life called with a message: This one is a goner:(

Dramatic? Of course. True? Absolutely. Any potter working with forms has undoubtedly faced this dilemma. The ending is not pretty as you scrape or cut your clay off the form. What went wrong? What can you do next time? Will it happen again and again? No need to waste time sweet face, the answer is simple and cheap! Enter the Release Agent! All it takes is some forethought and planning. Once you add release agents to your making process, it becomes second nature.

Some examples of release agents are:

• Cornstarch (my personal favorite)

• Oil (Vegetable or Mineral)

• Plastic Cling Wrap

• Newspaper

• Pantyhose/Nylons

• Lightweight Fabrics

• Vaseline or Jellies (apply very thinly)

• Silicone spray (mold release spray)

• Talc (use proper ventilation and mask)

• Murphy's Oil Soap (add water to spray or brush on, can soften clay)

• WD-40 (use with caution, not food safe, residue can interfere with glazing)

Any of the above can be right for your studio practice. As with anything clay, please test on your molds. Consider the material used and how it will affect your mold, the final project and your equipment (ex: kiln elements). I love using cornstarch with our tools because it's an organic material that does not ruin my kiln elements or jigs. But I do have to make sure it's completely wiped off if I intend to glaze raw or underglaze on my green ware. Knowing your materials is very important and can save the heartache of losing lots of work.

Lastly, be sure to clean your molds after every session. Clay or release agent buildup and cause issues with sticking or distortion of your piece in the long run. Make cleaning your molds part of your studio cleaning routine and you'll be a happy mold user!

Here's to easy removal and Happy Making my friends!