how to choose fire clay for a bread oven dome
Last year I made a dome for my kiko denzer style bread oven using earth I dug up out of new garden areas. I was able to bake all summer but ultimately there wasn't enough clay content and the dome slowly but surely crumbled. This year, I would just like to bite the bullet and buy clay. I found a local clay supplier but they sell dozens of varieties of clay and 7 that are labeled fire clay. Before I call and start asking them questions, I would like to know what I should be looking for in a fire clay. The supplier is called Portland Pottery. Their fire clays are named Goldart, Hawthorne 40 mesh, Hawthorne 50 mesh, Lincoln fire clay, Pyrax, Pyrotrol, XX Sagger. Also, in their pictures, it looks like they are selling clay in big sacks, which makes it look like the clays are dry. That seems good to me, since I will need to mix it up with sand and water and starting with dry clay seems like it would be easier. Is anyone familiar with these clays and/or have any experience building a dome starting with dry clay? Thanks so much. -Varda