Mike's Aardvark and Laguna Reviews

7/08/07 While in Louisville for NCECA this year, Kelley and I had a chance to talk to Aardvark Clays from Santa Ana. What lead us to them were several people that moved into our area from Southern California. They spoke highly of the customer service over the years they had received from Aardvark's staff and the quality of their clays. Also was the fact that Tom Coleman Porcelain is mixed and sold by Aardvark. When I mentioned that I would be coming thru LA in June, a offer was extended quickly by Rick "I'll pick you up at LAX and show you around our facility".

I had a two day visit with the Owners and Staff at Aardvark. They proudly took me on a tour, explaining every aspect of what they do and why they do it. From the Pugs to the Warehouse, from the Classroom to the Bathroom, I saw everything.

So what about their clays? Before I tell you what I think, let me say that when Robin Hopper was here for a workshop he preferred using the Coleman Porcelain made by Aardvark over any other. Yosuke from Shimpo almost wet himself when he found out we had the Vegas Buff. Granted Yosuke is easily to please, but he knows clay.

I've only had the time to throw a few test pots, but I like it. We usually have more free time in the slow summer months to do things like test clays and the such but, it never did slow down this summer.

What really matters though, is what you think. We have brought in most of the clays they offer, and encourage you to try a few. After all you were looking for a better clay to use when you found the one you're using now!

3/16/07 Update: Aardvark Clays took our challenge! We are impressed to say the least. We are bringing in more of their clays for you to try. The lucky few that have tried them, are coming back for more.

Mike and his Laguna Clay Test Pots

It's been like Christmas around here!

Twenty plus New clays to try.

Where shall I start? First lets talk about why we're now stocking Laguna Clays. It's Randy's fault! At the last Randy Broadnax workshop we hosted, he brought along a couple of boxes of his "Magic Clay" (Laguna's Soldate 60).

After the workshop, he was running late and left a box here. I like to imitate the potters after a workshop to see if I learned anything, so why not use the clay he left? After all, it was free!

Randy Broadnax and Laguna Magic Clay Randy Broadnax and his magic pot

randy broadnax magic smile raku laguna clay happy potter

The fired weight of this pot is 5.6 lbs!

I was impressed to say the least. I had gotten to the point where the heat gun would have came out, but this clay didn't seem to need it. Then I went a little farther and a little farther and farther! OK Let's do another. Same thing, twice as big and half the weight of the pots (doorstops) I had been making.

Mike and the Magic Laguna Clay soldate 60

I ordered 45,000 lbs of Laguna Clays ASAP.

I've had the chance to test 20 different clay body's from Laguna. Not the shrinkage or the absorption (they do that) but the way the clay works. Every clay body worked just like the characteristics chart described it. It was easy to make a big pot with BIG POT, FROST came out white, and HAWAIIAN RED came out Hawaiian red. They all threw better than I expected. SOUTHERN ICE is what a high fire porcelain should be.

Cost: Not much more than some of the junk clay that's out there, two or three cents a pound more, if that. I know, every penny counts, but how much do you save if your clay body bloats or leaks? Four $15 coffee cups lost because of the clay body and your in the hole on a Ton of clay (save .03 x 2000 =$60). How about this, just pass that extra 3 cents on to your customer, the Coffee cup that you were getting $15 for, is now $15.03. That way when your customer asks you about that .03, you can tell them why you only use the best Clay. Or, better yet, call it a Fuel Surcharge.

Consistency: Every bag of Laguna clay I have used has been the same. Moisture content was even and at the right level to use straight out of the bag, and No parking lot gravel. I've used some clays that had what looked like small bits of limestone gravel in it. But, as of yet, none in the Laguna.

Are Laguna Clays the best in the world? Maybe, Maybe not. But they are, by far, the best ones I have used yet. If you are a Manufacture of clays and you think yours' are better, then send some to me. I'll try it and spread the word, good or bad.

Why does my opinion count? Because we don't have any axes to grind, we don't make anything here, we don't mix clays, we don't mix glazes to sell, we are not here to toot our own horn. I get tickled at some of the Reviews in the magazines, look at the by line and the person that's writing the article is the owner of one of the companies that makes the item. "If you want to buy a good horse, talk the guy riding it, not the one that owns it". We can carry any pottery product we want, but out of about 6000 pottery items on the market, I would say 75% are junk. A product has to get by me to get onto the shelf, and I'm a hard sell. Come by and we we'll talk about the other 25%.

We use, and service what we sell

Yosuke Koizomi using Laguna's Cone 5 Moroccan Sand at the Shimpo demo

Flat Rock Clay Supplies Aug 2006.

Yosuke Koizomi using Lagunas' Moroccan Sand Clay

Amaco (glazes and equipment),

Bluebird Equipment (incl Soldner Wheels),

Brent (wheels and equipment),

Ceramic Supply Co (tools, slab rollers and extruders),

China Clay Art Tools ,

Dolan Tools ,

DooWoo Tools ,

Giffin Tec (Giffin Grip and Lid Master),

Kemper Tools ,

Laguna (CLAY, equipment, tools and glazes),

Olympic Kilns (pottery & glass),

Orton (cones and kiln vents)

Pacifica Wheels ,

Paragon Kilns (pottery & glass),

Peter Pugger ,

Sherrill Mud Tools ,

Shimpo (wheels, equipment and tools),

Skutt Kilns (pottery & glass),

Soldner Mixers ,

Spectrum Glazes ,

Thomas Stuart Wheels ,

Venco (pugmills and equipment),

and many others including kitchen items, clay shapers and more...

If you find a better deal, please let us know. We are striving to give you the most for your money.

Please contact Flat Rock Clay Supplies at info@flatrockclay.com or 479.521.3181 to sign up for workshops, submit inquiries or send feedback.

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Fayetteville, AR 72701
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