{"id":7176,"date":"2026-04-08T15:19:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T19:19:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/?p=7176"},"modified":"2026-04-08T15:19:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T19:19:23","slug":"update-on-the-kaolin-clay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/?p=7176","title":{"rendered":"Update on the Kaolin Clay"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69d6dc9099eb8&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020542-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020542-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020542-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020542-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020542-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020542.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge image\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Those of you who&#8217;ve been following me for years probably remember that I have a pit full of kaolin (white) clay that I don&#8217;t use often. There are a couple reasons I don&#8217;t use it, but one of them is that it essentially repels water. I get it reanimated with lots of physical effort and some water, and the next time I go to use it the water is on top and the clay has thickened such that it is nearly impossible to sink into.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020537-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020537-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020537-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020537-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020537-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020537-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020537.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Well, I can&#8217;t fix the clay, so I decided to transfer it from a small, deep pit, to a large, shallow pit. It will be easier to stir it all, if it isn&#8217;t 4 or 5 feet (close to 1.5 meters) deep. In the process of transferring the clay, I also plan to give it a thorough mixing, so maybe I&#8217;ll be able to have some fun with it before I need to stir it, again.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69d6dc909b13e&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020539-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7179\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020539-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020539-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020539-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020539-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020539-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020539.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge image\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Eventually, I might mix in some other type of clay, or something. I will need to experiment with small quantities to see what works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I shot some video on April 3 when I was working in the old pit, and I also got some still images. I&#8217;ve probably gotten half the clay out of the old pit, by the time this video was shot. I had also moved a bunch of it over to the 110 gallon water tank, while I wait for the new pit to get ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I shot video in the water tank, also &#8230; just for fun. That is also where all of the still images were taken. I thought I was looking pretty good in those red bikini briefs, all covered in white clay. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020535-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7177\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020535-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020535-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020535-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020535-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020535-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P1020535.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The new pit is finished, now. I just need to transfer the clay. I wish I could say that was an easy job, but it is quite labor intensive, and I am getting too old for this shit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I built a chute to transfer the clay. I am hoping it is easier to shovel the clay onto the chute and push it over to the new pit than it was to throw the clay into that tank. No matter how you do it, the clay is heavy and it sticks to the shovel. Hopefully, I&#8217;ll have the job finished this week, so I can get back to having fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls src=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/movies\/2026-04-03_vlog540p.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Those of you who&#8217;ve been following me for years probably remember that I have a pit full of kaolin (white) clay that I don&#8217;t use often. There are a couple reasons I don&#8217;t use it, but one of them is that it essentially repels water. I get it reanimated with lots of physical effort and &hellip; <a class=\"read-excerpt\" href=\"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/?p=7176\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&raquo;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,53,17,207],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-clay-pit","category-production-issues","category-the-back-yard","category-video-blog-vlog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7176"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7182,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7176\/revisions\/7182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mudlover.com\/theswamp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}