Table of Contents
What is silver clay used for?
Metal clay is a crafting medium consisting of very small particles of metal such as silver, gold, bronze, or copper mixed with an organic binder and water for use in making jewelry, beads and small sculptures.
What do you need for silver clay?
Here’s what you’ll need: Art clay silver. A silver clay kiln or hand torch. Sanding pads. Metal Clay Balm. Metal clay workmat. Needle tool. Metal clay roller. Soldering block.
How do you use metal art clay?
Metal clay can be safely fired using a butane torch, gas stove or kiln. After firing, metal clay can be burnished to a gleaming finish. Place a ball of clay onto your non-stick worksheet. Using a brayer, roll it out to desired thickness.
Do you need a kiln for silver clay?
Art Clay Silver 950 must be fired in a Kiln. (It is not suitable for Torch or Gas Hob Firing).
Does silver clay shrink when fired?
When fired at 1650° for two hours, this is the strongest fine silver clay available. Well suited for items that will be worn often. 10-18% shrinkage. Offers a smooth, fine composition that’s easy to work with and manipulate.
Is silver clay strong?
A common misconception about silver metal clay is that after firing it’s solid metal, just like a casting, but it’s not. Castings are made by pouring molten metal into a mold and allowing the metal to cool in the mold. The result is a very strong, solid metal object with very little porosity (more air spaces).
How do you keep silver clay from sticking?
Basic Forming. Before handling PMC, put a couple drops of olive oil in your palm and rub your hands together to cover them with a thin film. This prevents the clay from sticking and seals the surface of the material to inhibit dehydration.
Can you fire silver clay in the oven?
Precious Metal Clay or Art Clay can be fired in any furnace that will sustain the required temperature with reasonable stability. Almost any kiln with a pyrometer, like those used for burnout or enameling, will work.
Can you do silver clay at home?
Silver clay is a lovely new material which is fully mouldable, just like clay. You can shape it free-hand, or use moulds and tools to texture and shape it, and then fire it into fine silver (99.9% pure silver). Firing is by specialist kiln or there are alternative firing techniques you can do yourself at home.
Can you hammer silver clay?
No, you mustn’t hammer on unfired clay–but once your silver metal clay jewelry pieces are properly fired, they’re real silver and can be hammered and formed just like any other silver if they’ve sintered well.
How do you use metal clay without a kiln?
Using A Gas Torch Place your work on a soldering block on a fireproof surface. Light the torch & hold the flame about 2cm away from your work (depending on the size of your piece and heat of the flame). Within a minute the piece will be enveloped in a soft flame as the binder burns away.
How do you fire silver art with clay?
Torch firing is not suitable for projects that include glass, ceramic or porcelain. torch. must be kiln fired. Art Clay Gold Paste and Accent Gold for Silver can be fired onto Art Clay Silver, using the torch.How To Torch Fire Art Clay Silver. Clay Volume Firing Time Up to 5 grams 1 – 1.5 minutes 6 – 15 grams 1.5 – 2 minutes 16 – 25 grams 2 – 4 minutes.
Can you Colour silver clay?
You can add beautiful enamel to your silver metal clay with a simple butane torch. If you already torch fire your metal clay, you’ll find working with colourful enamels very easy. Beautiful colours can be added to your metal clay work using a patina solution like Liver of Sulphur.
How do you burn silver clay?
Light your butane hand torch and set to a blue flame. Hold the torch about 2cm away from your design, moving the flame in a circular motion around the piece. Gradually move the flame closer to the PMC as you make that circular motion. As you heat the PMC you’ll notice that it will start to smoke and then catch fire.
What is the difference between art clay silver and PMC?
Yes, all three versions yield the same metal, 100% silver. The difference is not in the ingredients but in the shape of the particles. Original PMC is made with flake‑like particles that allow room for the binder, which gives the material its workability. PMC+ is made with a particle with more neatly defined edges.
Can you make rings from silver clay?
Cut the clay. Once you’ve added texture to your silver clay ring, you can cut it accurately to size. Use a metal clay cutting blade to cut along the measurement you made earlier. Advanced metal clay ring design: Add another element to your PMC ring with small clay cutters….
Which is the best silver clay?
Sterling silver clay is the strongest silver clay on the market because of the additional copper content.
Can you bend silver clay after firing?
After it has been fired it is pure metal and can be worked using metalsmithing tools and techniques, such as soldering, hammering, texturing, filing, bending, etc.
Can you reuse silver clay?
Pretty much any form of dried metal clay that hasn’t been fired—with the exception of overlay paste or oil paste—can be reconstituted to a nice, pliable working consistency again.
How do you keep silver clay from drying out?
While you’re working on a piece wrap up your excess clay tightly. You can either do that in some cling film or in the wrapper it comes in. Then wrap a damp piece of kitchen roll or a baby wipe around the plastic. This will keep it moist for use later (thanks to Joy Funnell for this tip).
Can you engrave silver clay?
It can be rolled, sculpted, stamped, sanded, filed, engraved, drilled and pre-polished, all prior to firing. Once fired it is pure silver and can treated like any other pure silver. Art Clay SIlver shrinks 8-10%.
