Clay Help!! Sodium Bentonite - New Zealand

[Gulf]

I don't know of anything that can be substituted for the clay in the homebrew. And,I don't know anything about New Zealand's soil. But, natural clay can be found most any place in the world. Try looking at construction sites or new road construction. Here, it is only a few feet down to some very clean clay. It runs in veins. Sometimes, only a few inches thick.

[jes2xu]

Thanks Dave,

Yeah you tiped me off some time ago to "bricklayers clay". But I cant find the stuff anywhere in NZ. Have tried all the big hardware stores. Have tried as many industry suppliers as I can, they all want to sell me "mortar". They all have ready made products.

I dont trust the cheap stuff, and cant afford the real stuff.

What does the clay do for us in the homebrew? Is it just a plasticiser? If so can I do without? Or substitute for something else?

[david s]

Hi all,

I am having a super hard time finding powdered clay that will be suitable for homebrew. Im in New Zealand, if there is anyone here that has a solution please let me know!

I have however found bags of sodium bentonite for $25 for 25kg.

Im a little weary of it due to its shrinkage. Is this a problem in small amounts in homebrew?


I have been looking for the following, any other key words I could use would be helpfull
builders clay
Bricklayers clay
fireclay
powdered clay
clay dust

I use a Cement Australia product called "Clay for rendering and bricklaying"If you chase "fireclay" in Australia or NZ you may end up getting a potters fireclay which is designed to withstand extreme temperature, more than twice the temperatures we fire to. It is also far more expensive so go with the builders clay. Skip the bentonite, as you say its shrinkage is high.

[jes2xu]

Hi all,

I am having a super hard time finding powdered clay that will be suitable for homebrew. Im in New Zealand, if there is anyone here that has a solution please let me know!

I have however found bags of sodium bentonite for $25 for 25kg.

Im a little weary of it due to its shrinkage. Is this a problem in small amounts in homebrew?


I have been looking for the following, any other key words I could use would be helpfull
builders clay
Bricklayers clay
fireclay
powdered clay
clay dust