Water-to-clay powder ratio?

[billy-o]

Hi, all. I'm planning to make a clay bath, and I'm trying to determine the ratio of clay powder to water for a good thickness -- thin enough to settle into but thick enough for decent resistance and sensation against the skin. I'm thinking maybe a 1:2 weight ratio of clay powder to water, but if that's way off I'd like to know before I try it. If it matters, I might go with Old Mine #3 clay.

Does that 1:2 ratio seem about right? Thanks in advance for your advice!

[Fred588]

You need to experiment. There are too many variable.

[TK421]

As Fred stated, you’re gonna need to experiment with a smaller batch to nail down the ratio that works best for you. What someone suggests might not be suitable for you specifically and vice versa. Get the clay that you feel will work best for your needs and before anything grab a couple of 2.5 quart graduated mixing cups. Start with 1 quart of your powdered clay and slowly pour your water in from the other cup keeping careful note on how much water you have put with your clay mix. Mix in as you go until you reach the consistency you want and write the final amount of water to 1 quart clay. The rest is all math to get your exact ratio.

Note*. This will get you in the ballpark figure of what you want. All clays behave differently with water and some absorb more than others so you may have to adjust as you go

[Mynock]

Might want to measure by weight, not by volume. Powdered clay is kind of like flour a cup of it in volume can vary in weight depending on how hard you pack it. For reference water is 8.5 lbs/gallon

[abcde321]

Clay is really highly variable stuff. It's one common word to describe really different materials. So you need to try, and remember that it's like concrete building composites - a little additional amount of water can change its liquidness really significant. Add water gradually, mix well and try.

[Fred588]

The word "clay" actually refers to a range of particle SIZE, not to any specific mineral. Some mineral absorb water and swell when they do, others do not.

[whizbang18]

I don't claim much, if any knowledge of this subject in term of physical traits but clay is a very fickle substance, especially in large amounts. If it's too thick, it becomes very difficult and exhausting to move around when in too deep (I say this as I've plunged my arms in deep clay at ceramics classes and worked with various clays at different consistencies and my arms got tired after a while).

Too thin and runny will make it practically nothing more than mud water and not much fun, unless you're into that kind of substance. If you're into watery mud, just be ready to have towels, preferrably cheap Walmart/Target store-quality towels to dry yourself off.

From my very limited understanding of clay, another thing is to use varying degrees of clay and water until you get a consistency you feel comfortable with.

NOTE: If you're using actual powder, PLEASE BE CAREFUL with clay powder and try not to breath too much of it in as it could risk silicosis and/or other lung problems. Even I, as a very young adult during the mid 2000s was leery of being around clay powder and knew of the risks. Make sure you have good ventilation and limit dust in the air.