Kansas Clay
Kansas Clays, LLC Tornado Clay - 25# bag
Our version of "purge clay" color and firing temperature varies.
$10.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Stoneware
A high-fire throwing body with iron-based fireclays which produce warm browns in reduction. Contains no grog but has a fair amount of fine tooth due to the high fireclay content.
$19.50 - $44.50
Kansas Clays, LLC White Stoneware with Grog
A non-iron based high-fire stoneware body with about 18% grog (30 mesh flint grog). Fires to a buff color and provides a good background for glazes. Suitable for high-fire throwing, sculpture, and handbuilding as well as raku and primitive firing methods. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly. RECOMMENDED VIDEO: Stoneware White with Grog by Bracker's
$19.50 - $44.50
Kansas Clays, LLC Buff/White Stoneware
Late October 2022, we replaced the 35 mesh fireclay with 40 mesh fireclay, resulting in fewer impurities and a slightly smoother texture A medium range light stoneware body which fires off-white to buff in oxidation and slightly darker in reduction. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly. RECOMMENDED VIDEO: Buff by Bracker's
$19.50 - $44.50
Kansas Clays, LLC Buff Plus (with 9% Grog)
As of October 2022, Buff Plus now uses only 40mesh fireclay and 35 mesh grog. A medium-range light stoneware body with about 9% fine grog which fires off-white to buff in oxidation and slightly darker in reduction. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly. RECOMMENDED VIDEO: White Stoneware Comparison by Bracker's
$19.50 - $44.50
Kansas Clays, LLC Birch Bark
White, Low Fire, Talc-Free Sculpture clay body. We developed this body as a replacement for our Earthenware White Plus. We also recommend this as an alternative to the Flint Hills Raku clay (when used for sculpture or handbuilding purposes). It contains both fine grog and sand, so it's ideal for handbuilding, but can be thrown also. It's just a tad off-white in color at 04. For best glaze results and a whiter color, bisque fire a bit hotter, to Cone 01. The body is still porous enough to accept low-fire glazes and the increase in bisque temperature will not be noticeable in energy costs or element life. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly.
$19.50 - $34.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Chalk Rock
Replacement for White Earthenware. For best glaze results, bisque fire to Cone 01 Talc is a material used in clay bodies that helps to prevent moisture absorption. Its presence in low fire white clays especially prevents crazing of the glazes, this is also true to a lesser degree in mid-fire clays, especially porcelains. The Texas talc mines are no longer selling their talc commercially... DalTile OWNS and OPERATES the Talc mines in Texas [as they have since 2017. Technically, they have owned them for much longer, but there is a very LONG story on which-company-bought-which-one-in-what-year. (C-95, C-98, TDM-95, Pioneer, AmTal.) It is the only remaining, white-burning vein of talc in North America that is being mined. They last sold it to market through the company name Natural Minerals. in 2020, DalTile's parent company (MOHAWK) decided to shut down Natural Minerals, and cease selling talc to EVERYONE. Distributors, manufacturers, and the rest of the industry were informed at that time, and given the opportunity to place final orders. The last shipments went out in Q1 of 2021. The talc mines are still in operation, but DalTile is keeping the talc for its own manufacturing uses. There are other talc mines in the US (Montana), but their talc fires with a noticeable yellow-ish cast. Currently, you cannot make a white clay or slip out of them. There has been *some* testing in glazes, but we do not have any information regarding suitability for a particular glaze. YES this is a struggle...for everyone involved. From the time the announcement was made, Kansas Clay went to work on reformulating all of clay bodies that contain talc. Earthenware white was the biggest struggle because 42% of the clay body was talc. We believe that the Kansas Clay chalk rock clay will work well in most applications where Earthenware White was previously used. They also found that for the BEST glaze fit, increasing your bisque temperature from Cone 04 to Cone 01 was extremely beneficial with minimal increase in time or cost of that firing. In some cases this is not necessary, for instance if you use underglazes and a clear glaze (we found Spectrum 700 to work the best with Mayco clears as a close second) the increased bisque temperature is not necessary. Most Mayco Stroke and coats also seemed to perform well with no crazing observed on 04 bisque. Kansas Clay is continuing to test this body and relies on customer feedback to make any necessary tweaks for better performance. Feel free to use their feedback from to share your experiences (click here)! Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly.
$19.50 - $34.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Earthenware Red
A low fire red clay that fires to a light red-orange color at cone 06 to 05, and a richer, deeper red color when fired hotter, up to about a cone 2. Red Earthenware has been tested up to Cone 5/6 with good results, however, testing continues to be recommended as your results may vary.
$20.50 - $45.30
Kansas Clays, LLC Terra Cotta
A low fire red clay with about 18% grog (30 mesh flint grog) that fires to a light red-orange color at cone 06 to 05, and a richer, deeper red color when fired hotter, up to about a cone 2. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly.
$20.50 - $45.30
Kansas Clays, LLC Earthenware Red Plus
A low fire red clay with approximately 10% fine mesh silica sand and approximately 5% fine mesh grog that fires to a light red-orange color at cone 06 to 05, and a richer, deeper red color when fired hotter, up to about a cone 2. During the summer of 2020, we completed a comprehensive test of our clay bodies. For each clay body, we tested 6 flat bars, which were rolled out on a slabroller. We ALSO tested vertical shrinkage of a thrown cylinder (6 sections, each with their own test) beginning weights in grams were recorded the lines and weights were measured & recorded when bone dry The samples were fired to Cone 04 lines and weights were measured & recorded again The flat tiles were then soaked in hot water for 1 1/2 hours, then weighed again Math magic was then done to calculate the average shrinkage wet-dry and average shrinkage overall for both flat and thrown tests, and the average water absorption was calculated based on the flat bars. We also figured the "LOI" (Loss on Ignition) by computing the fired weight against the bone dry weight. This tells us what percent of organics burn off in the firing. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly. RECOMMENDED VIDEO: Red Clay Comparison by Bracker's
$20.50 - $36.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Red Brick Road
A medium-range stoneware body which fires to a warm red color in oxidation
$20.50 - $36.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Smoky Hills, 50# Box
Formerly known as Flint Hills Black Recommended Firing Range: Cone 4-6
$20.50 - $36.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Unshockable
This is the Raku body that was developed with and for Eric Stearns and his intricately detailed and pierced pieces. When we discussed making this body available to all of our customers, he enthusiastically agreed, and then the naming process began. After many text messages back and forth that almost resembled new parents trying to agree on a name for their baby, we both agreed that we liked Unshockable! Its name is not supposed to inspire a "challenge accepted!" mindset, it's more designed to reference its resistance to thermal shock, making it a great body for raku. This is NOT a flameware body. To learn more about Eric and his work, click here!
$20.80 - $36.50
Kansas Clays, LLC Redstone
A high-fire, high iron red stoneware throwing body which fires to a rich red in reduction. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly.
$20.80 - $36.50
Kansas Clays, LLC Bison
This is a reformulation of the original Flint Hills 5/6 Black. Kansas Clay intensified the color and switched to a slightly finer mesh fireclay to reduce the light speckling in the previous version....and then renamed it with a Kansas-themed name, of course. :) ***Please note we recommend firing to cone 5. There are mixed results when fired to cone 6. Some potters report bloating, others have no issues***** Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly.
$21.00 - $37.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Coffee Grind
This is a dark clay body with mild speckling. It's kind of like a cross between our Peppered Wheat and our Bison. Not as heavily speckled as Peppered Wheat and a much darker base body. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly.
$21.00 - $37.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Red Cobblestone
Our popular new Cone 5 Red body but with speckles...or freckles.
$21.50 - $38.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Kansas Wheat
Bracker's never really stocked or sold the Flint Hills Clay works body, "Missouri Gold" so we had no idea how popular or how lovely it was until we bought Flint Hills Clay Works. We'd resisted stocking the clay because of the Kansas-Missouri, um, conflicts over the years. There's a rivalry between Kansas and Missouri going back before the civil war and the Missouri Ruffians rode across the border into Kansas and tried to burn down Lawrence THREE TIMES in the 1860s. They never really got over their loss and we still harbor some hard feelings about their repeated arsonistic tendencies. In the more recent past it's translated to sports team rivalries, especially between the Kansas Jayhawks teams and the University of Missouri teams when they were in the same conference. Obviously some of us are more successful about moving past it than others... However, we quickly fell in love with the warm golden color of the fired clay and then tragedy struck. The producer of the one of the primary components of the clay recipe (that gave "Missouri Gold" the golden color) announced that it was no longer available. After much mad scientist-type moments and a LOT of testing, Cindy Bracker developed a new mid-fire stoneware clay body we're calling Kansas Wheat. It's a little warmer color than the Flint Hills 5/6 Buff. After getting rave reviews from the select group of customers who have been test-driving the clay, we're going to add it to our production cycle. Customers have told us it's great for throwing as well as handbuilding (there's no grog in this body, but it's a toothy mid-fired stoneware clay). Customers have tested it with a wide variety of glazes from different manufacturers with no unusual glaze fit issues.
$22.00 - $39.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Terra Blanc
A non-talc based low-fire white clay that is easier to throw than talc-based bodies, especially for beginners. Fires to a creamy white at Cone 04. Low shrinkage and great glaze fit. During the summer of 2020, we completed a comprehensive test of our clay bodies. For each clay body, we tested 6 flat bars, which were rolled out on a slabroller. We ALSO tested vertical shrinkage of a thrown cylinder (6 sections, each with their own test) beginning weights in grams were recorded the lines and weights were measured & recorded when bone dry The samples were fired to Cone 04 lines and weights were measured & recorded again The flat tiles were then soaked in hot water for 1 1/2 hours, then weighed again Math magic was then done to calculate the average shrinkage wet-dry and average shrinkage overall for both flat and thrown tests, and the average water absorption was calculated based on the flat bars. We also figured the "LOI" (Loss on Ignition) by computing the fired weight against the bone dry weight. This tells us what percent of organics burn off in the firing. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly. RECOMMENDED VIDEO: Terra Blanc by Bracker's
$22.50 - $48.50
Kansas Clays, LLC Peppered Wheat
New mid-fire speckled buff colored clay - the same formula as the new WHEAT clay with added specks that make it look like someone sprinkled pepper on it.
$22.50 - $40.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Domestic Porcelain
A high-fire, inexpensive porcelain made from domestic kaolins. Fires to a cool white with blue-gray undertones as opposed to the yellowish undertones in English Porcelain. This body is especially nice when woodfired. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly.
$24.00 - $58.10
Kansas Clays, LLC Pyrate Freckle
Creamy semi-porcelanious clay body with black flecks throughout, Similar to speckled bmix in appearance and workability. Background of this clay body: During the fall of 2021, we were working on some new clay bodies to share for our annual New Year's Clay. You may or may not be aware that September 18th is talk like a pirate day. Somehow that ended up being the inspiration for the name of one of the bodies we were developing. It's now ready for release and we are proud to share our new Pyrate Freckle clay body with you. The name also references the greek origin for the lovely little flecks that provide the freckle: IRON. Our initial release of this is a limited run, and we make no guarantees that these Pyrates won't walk the plank or end up hanging from the Gallows, or just sail away to an island in the Carribbean to drink rum. (Read here: there may be some supply chain issues that delay further production) UPDATE: Lucky for you, me hearties, this clay is sticking around for a while and is now available in full fifty pound boxes!
$24.00 - $43.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Winter Wind
Winter Wind is a reformulation of the Flint Hills Cone 5/6 Porcelain. You should not notice a difference in workability or glaze fit. The body is almost identical, but the original included a bag of talc. We removed the talc and added a small percentage of 120mesh molochite to maintain the average shrinkage percentage in the original version. As a bonus, that addition also increases the green strength and reduces warpage a bit as well! Average Shrinkage at Cone 5: 11.53% Average Absorption at Cone 5: 4.2% Average Shrinkage at cone 04 bisque: 6.38% Average Wet to dry shrinkage 5.5%
$24.00 - $43.00
Kansas Clays, LLC High Plains Porcelain
For years, Flint Hills has been making this special blend of Domestic Porcelain for production potter, Steve Coburn. The addition of both 30 and 120 mesh Molochite gives this clay additional strength without compromising whiteness, while the addition of 100 mesh kyanite reduces shrinkage.
$25.80 - $46.50
Kansas Clays, LLC English Porcelain
A high-fire, carefully blended porcelain made from English Grolleg Kaolin. Fires to a warm white with Yellowish undertones as opposed to the domestic porcelain which has more of the blue-gray undertones. Great for all methods of firing and suitable for celadon and copper red glazes in reduction. Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly.
$37.00 - $69.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Simon Levin's Delicious Irony
Simon Levin's Delicious Irony is a smooth, luscious satiny milk chocolate-colored body with rich maroon undertones and interesting responses to ash and flame. This is a high fire clay (the bowls in the image are from test firing in KU's wood kiln which often reaches Cone 12). This isn't intended to be used in low-fire wood applications, but if you want to try it, we won't stop you. Read a beautiful description of woodfiring directly from Simon Levin's website and in his words.
$42.00 $41.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Wald's Royal Icing
Wald's Royal Icing is an extremely plastic, high quality English Porcelain Clay made popular by Kansas City potter, Deb Wald (featured images are some of her work!) Check out more of Deb Wald's work on her Facebook (click here)! Flint Hills clays have been evaluated by a nationally certified toxicologist, and have been found to be in compliance with ASTM C-1023 and D-4236, and to not contain any material in sufficient quantity to be toxic or to constitute a chronic health hazard when used responsibly.
$47.00 - $89.00
Kansas Clays, LLC Simon Levin's True Grit
Simon Levin's True Grit, a groggy sculptural stoneware with beautiful flashing in a reduction cooled wood kiln. This is a high fire clay (the bowls in the image are from test firing in KU's wood kiln which often reaches Cone 12). This isn't intended to be used in low-fire wood applications, but if you want to try it, we won't stop you. Read a beautiful description of woodfiring directly from Simon Levin's website and in his words.
$57.00 $56.00