Amazing Pottery

Making a volcano out of pottery clay?

Well, I have to build a volcano for a school project, so when my dad acme home from work he stopped by walmart and bought clay. But it turns out that the bought pottery clay, is this clay still alright? Or will i need to get another one. I'm planning to use diet coke and mentos for the eruption.

Public Comments

1. Pottery clay (like "Mexican Pottery Clay" sold at craft stores) is earth clay, it's just not usually fired in a kiln to give it extra strength. It will be fine for a volcano (and waterproof), but it won't thoroughly dry for 24 hrs. or so, of that's important to you. (You can speed up drying though by putting it in a warm, non-humid area, in front of a fan --or even in a very-low-temp oven for awhile.) I don't think that the "eruption" caused by coke + Mentos would be anything that would eat into the clay, but if the force is *really* strong, it could break the clay, I guess, especially if it's not dried? Don't really know though. Are these usually made with "plasticine" type clay? (the heavy kind that's been used by little kids since at least the 1950's). That type of clay could be a bit harder to "break" but it won't ever dry and harden (and will melt if put in an oven). HTH, Diane B.