Ukuthola Nokwenza Ubumba Lwasemfuleni — Isiko LaseZulu Lokwenza Izitsha

Ubumba (clay) luyisakhiwo samaminerali aluhlaza anesimo se-aluminium silicate esinomoya wamanzi (Al2Si2O5(OH)4 — kaolinite). Lwenziwe ngokuphuka kwamatshe afana ne-feldspar ngesikhathi eside. Ubumba luye luthathwe ngamanzi emifuleni bese lubekwa ezindaweni ezisondelene nemifula. Izinhlayiya zobumba zincane kakhulu — zingaphansi kuka-0.002 mm. Uma umanzi, ubumba luyaguquka lube yisimo esigobekayo.

Hamba ngasezindongeni zomfula lapho amanzi esegugule umhlabathi. Bheka izingxenye eziqinile, ezibushelelezi ezinombala oqinile — nsundu, bomvu, mpunga noma mhlophe — ezingaphansi komhlabathi onezitshalo. ENingizimu Afrika, ubumba olubomvu olunesimo se-iron oxide lutholakala kakhulu KwaZulu-Natali ngasemifuleni efana noMhlathuze, uThukela, noPongola. Izindawo ezinhle yilezo lapho amanzi esegugule udonga lwamanzi kakhulu.

Take a piece of earth that is equivalent to your hand. Add a little water and then make a ball the size of an orange. If the ball maintains its shape without cracking and you can smooth its surface with your thumb, the clay has sufficient plasticity to make dishes. If it breaks quickly, the earth has too much sand.

Gingqa ubumba olumanzi wenze inyoka eside ecishe ibe ngu-1 cm ububanzi nangu-15 cm ubude. Bamba ngaphansi kwengxenye eyodwa bese uyiphakamisa. Uma inyoka ingephuki kuze kube ngu-5 cm, ubumba lunamasenough ukwenza izitsha. Uma luphuka masinyane, kuzodingeka ufune indawo enobumba olufanele kakhulu.

Ngesikhalishi noma ifosholo, susa umhlabathi ongaphezulu onenezitshalo (10-20 cm). Lo mhlabathi unezimpande, izinambuzane namatshe, awufanele ukuxutshwa nobumba. Ubumba oluhlanzekile luhlala ngezansi kwalo mhlabathi. Ungalahli lo mhlabathi — buyisela endaweni yawo uma uqedile ukukhipha ubumba.

Mba ubumba ngamaqhezu amakhulu bese ulufaka emabhakideni. Khetha ubumba olunombala ofanayo — ungahlanganisi izinhlobo ezahlukene ngoba leyo ngxube yenza ubumba lingalingani ekushiseni. Thatha okungenani u-10 kuya ku-15 kg ngoba uphola kakhulu ngesikhathi sokuhlanza. Gwema ukumba ubumba olunezintshingo noma amatshe amakhulu.

Spread the clay on the ground or on a wide surface in the sun for 2 to 3 days. Once the clay has completely dried, it will break easily when you press it. Break the clay into small pieces — similar to pebbles — because small pieces dry quickly in water. Proper drying should be until the clay no longer feels wet.

Thatha izingcezu zobumba olome bese uzigaya ngetshe lokugaya noma isigayo. Endleleni yomdabu waseZulu, abesifazane basebenzisa itshe elibanzi (imbokodo) eliphezu kwetshe elikhulu eliyindilinga (isithebe). Gaya kuze kube umphuluka owomile — okungabonakali noma yizingcezu ezikhulu. Lo mphuluka uzokusetshenziswa ukuhlungela okulandelayo.

Dlulisa umphuluka wobumba olugayiwe ngesihlungelo esikhulu esinezikhala ezingu-1 mm noma ngaphansi (60 mesh). Lokhu kususa amatshe amancane, izintshingo, nesihlabathi esikhulu. Ubumba olufanele ludlula ngesihlungelo lube umphuluka oshelela. Phinda uma kudingeka ngesihlungelo esincane kakhulu (80 mesh) ukuthola ubumba olushelela kakhulu.

Place the prepared clay lump in a large bucket and pour water over it. Ratio: 1 part clay to 2 parts water. Leave the clay in water for 24 to 48 hours to allow it to absorb water completely. Water softens the clay particles, making the clay become a moldable state.

Shiya ingxube ime amahora angu-24. Ubumba luhlala phansi kwemabhhakede, amanzi ahlanzekile ahlale phezulu. Thela kancane noma usebenzise ipayipi ukudonsa amanzi angaphezulu ngaphandle kokuthinta ubumba oluphansi. Phinda le nqubo kuze kube amanzi aphuma ehlanzekile. Lokhu kususa amamineral adwetshwe nawo angafuneki.

Pour the clay slurry onto a porous surface — a clay bat or plaster mold. The bat absorbs excess water. If you are using soil only, first dry the clean bat in the sun then pour the clay slurry onto it. Repeat every few hours. The clay is ready when it has the consistency of play dough — it is malleable but does not stick too much to the hands.

Place the clay on a hard board or wide stone. Press down with both hands under the heel of the hand, then fold the clay over it and turn it a quarter turn. Repeat for 5 to 10 minutes. This removes air bubbles (which can burst during kiln firing) and makes the clay uniform and even. Properly wedged clay has a smooth and uniform consistency.

Repeat the snake test: a 1 cm snake should not break until it reaches 8 cm. Bend a 1 cm snake into an arch — if it doesn't crack, the clay has enough retention. If it cracks, you need to add more ball clay or leave the clay in water for an extended time. Well-prepared Zulu clay can be used to make dishes, baskets, and pots using traditional methods.

Yenza ubumba olulungile lube izigaxa ezingesizeka-2 kuya ku-3 kg. Songa isigaxa ngasinye ngeplastic wrap, ukhiphe umoya wonke. Gcina endaweni epholile enomthunzi. Ubumba olusongwe kahle lugcina ukumanzi kwezinyanga. Ngaphambi kokusebenzisa, phinda ukukhama imizuzu emingu-2 kuya ku-3 ukuze uphinde ulwenze lulingane. Bhala phansi indawo oqoqe kuyo, umbala, nosuku ukuze uzokwazi ukubuyela lapho uma udinga ubumba olwengeziwe.