Pic 7. Wet clay rolled into a sausage
shape 100 mm in length.
Pic 10. The potter s wheel being set
up for training purposes.
Pic 8. In this example the clay had
shrunk to 93 mm a shrinkage rate of
7% which is acceptable.
Pic 9. Ladies using the saucepan as a
mould for the improved clay stove.
Pic 11. The potter s wheel set up in
a factory (The wheel bat at the top).
that some believe that dung is not a good additive,
Our experience in Kenya and Sudan has shown
that dungs (particularly donkey dung) have a strong
negative effect on the strength of the clay bodies.
Dung is highly fibrous and limits the ability of the clay
to bond. 1
Sand can also be used to reduce shrinkage, produce
more even drying and improve workability by reducing
stickiness. It is important when mixing the clay to get
the right consistency. It should be kneaded and beaten
until all stones are removed, there are no air pockets
and the mixture is of a workable consistency. Knowing
how tacky and sticky the mixture should be will come
with experience. The aim is to produce a mixture which
can easily be formed and has good binding qualities,
reducing the likelihood of cracking.
2.4 Manufacturing by hand or machine
The two associations use different methods to
manufacture the technologies; in Al Fashir the
ladies make everything by hand using moulds. These
moulds are also made from clay usually with a higher
concentration of dung although other objects such as
saucepans can be used as moulds, as is the case with
the improved clays stoves, see picture 9. At Geyamer
they use a Potters Wheel as shown in pictures 10 and
11.
The associations in Geyamer are responding to high
demand and the use of the potter s wheel is an efficient
way of responding to this demand. Therefore if the
ladies association continues to expand they may wish
to use this equipment in the future. The potter s wheel
works simply by the potter turning the large wooden
wheel with his foot at a constant speed. They then
mould the clay on the wheel bat (the metal circle at
the top). See chapter 4 for photos of the potter s wheel
being used.
1) Allen, Hugh. (2005) The Kenya Ceramic Jiko. Intermediate Technology Publications p35- 40
CLAY BASED
TECHNOLOGIES