Introduction to Working With Precious Metal Clay (PMC or Art Clay)

Perhaps you feel intimidated by the complexity of the more usual way of creating jewelry from metal and are looking for an alternative. It is difficult to saw, shape and bend metal into an exact shape, so how much simpler to use a type of metal modelling clay to create the jewelry that you have designed for yourself.

Precious metal clay is a compound of water, an organic binder and tiny particles of silver or gold, depending on the clay you purchase. The basic idea is that you form it into a shape, perhaps a ring or pendant, decorate it by texturing the surface or cut out designs and then leave it to dry out in the air. Then it can be heated until it almost reaches the metals melting point, this causes the metal particles to fuse and the binder to be burned away leaving you with a fully metallic object. This can then be polished, soldered, drilled or enamelled as any other silver item. Items made with precious metal clay will shrink on firing, so make your first pieces things that size is not critical, so that you can become accustomed to the degree of shrinkage. To make a simple necklace and matching earrings will only take a small amount of clay and you will still be able to wear them if they are not your designed size at the finish.

The clay dries out very quickly so only work on one piece at a time, using a glass surface or perhaps the shiny back of a playing card to work on. Always keep clay well wrapped if not in use. If you want an even thickness of clay you will need to roll it out on a lightly oiled surface. Use a plastic rod as a roller and two or
more playing cards as formers each side of the clay. Once rolled out cut to your design shape, using a craft knife or the edge of a playing card. The earrings should be a smaller version of the pendant so that they will all match. Now you can add a surface design by either pushing textured surfaces against your shape or cutting into it. You can mould the clay into bumps or stick other shaped pieces on with slip (very runny clay). Then leave your pieces to dry in the air. Check front and back for drying and once dry make sure to file off any rough pieces or burrs.

Firing can be done in a kiln if you have one available otherwise you will need a soldering torch to heat your items to the correct firing temperature, just below the melting point of the metal and held for the time as indicated on the product packaging. Once the piece has cooled it will need rubbing with a wire brush to create the shiny metallic surface, that can then be finished as you require. Perhaps drilling so that a jump ring can be added for attaching to a chain, or even covering in coloured, powdered glass as in enamelling. Beginner kits, books and classes are all available for this very creative medium.

Learn more about this author, Barbara Guess.

Comparing Copper Clay and Bronze Clay to Precious Metal Clay

To start with, all 3 clays are easy to work with, giving you the ability to create beautiful pieces, whether they are jewellery or sculptures.

All 3 clays consist of 3 different elements: metal particles, binder and water.

Now you are asking yourself, how you get a beautiful piece of art from a piece of pliable clay.


Well this is how it works -

When the clay is heated to a specific temperature, the binder burns off and the metal particles sinter (fuse together), making a solid piece of metal (your beautiful piece of art!).

The cost of all 3 clays is affordable, making this a highly popular craft.

Metal clay (which is Silver) can only be used to make jewellery, as it is not so dense after being fired, whereas Copper and Bronze clay can be used to make much larger jewellery pieces as well as sculptures. Bronze Clay has a density of over 95% that of cast copper.

Both Copper & Bronze Clays can be thrown on a potter's wheel.

All 3 clays can be pinched, rolled, sculpted and manipulated.

In the firing process, the binder vaporizes, leaving a solid, pure bronze, copper or 99% sterling silver object that can be sanded, patinaed or soldered using traditional jewellery or sculpture tools and techniques.

The firing process of Metal Clay is different to that of the Copper & Bronze Clays. Metal Clay can be fired, using a hand- held butane torch, whereas the other two must be fired in a kiln. This makes Metal Clay more affordable to the general man-on-the-street crafter as a kiln and all the necessary accessories do not need to be bought.

The shrinkage for Copper and Bronze Clay is 20% and 8-12% for the Metal Clay.

The shelf-life or storage of unused clay, for all 3 clays, once opened is simple -

Keep the clay tightly wrapped in plastic and place the wrapped piece iof clay, into a sealed plastic bag, into the refrigerator. Periodically check the clay and if necessary add a little bit of water and knead gently.

If you have ever wanted to create your own unique jewellery or try your hand at metal sculpture, but thought that you just could not afford it - now is your opportunity to experiment and still have change in your pocket! Give it a try!


Learn more about this author, Merle Maselle.

Applications of Precious Metal Clay (PMC)

Once heated, the binders burn off, allowing the particles of metal to combine and resulting in a solid metal piece. The most common type of PMC is silver clay, although gold and even bronze clays are available (the gold clay being very expensive).

This remarkable material means that you can create solid silver or gold items of jewellery as easy as using any other form of modelling clay. (Do be aware, however, that there is around a 10-15% shrinkage rate during firing.) The possibilities with PMC are only limited by your imagination.

The surface of PMC accepts impressions extremely well, allowing you to give your pieces texture and patterns. By using patterned rollers or any item that comes to hand such as lace, leaves or even bark, you can create a textured surface in silver or other metals that would be difficult to replicate without the use of specialist equipment. Once the clay has been fired and finished, the pattern will be clearly visible on the surface. This is a perfect way of making interesting and unique beads, for example, or for creating a patterned finding for a broach.

With practice and skill, PMC can be utilised in fine work such as filigree or cloisonné, but do remember that the PMC will shrink during firing, so be sure to allow for this in the initial stages.

One of the easiest pieces of jewellery to make with PMC is a bangle. By simply rolling out the clay, placing your design on the surface and joining the ends, a beautiful silver bracelet can be produced in a very short time. Once the clay has been fired, it can then be polished and finished to produce something that will complement any outfit.

PMC is most often used to produce silver beads, again lending itself perfectly to this application. The blank shapes can be easily produced by hand, or, if you want to add a more complex design, by using a mould. Once the basic form has been made, it is simply a matter of placing a hole through the bead and firing. The temperature for firing PMC has to be carefully monitored though - too low and the binders will not completely burn off, leaving the finished item vulnerable to breaking or crumbling, too high and the metal will blob, leaving you with an ingot and nothing more. The usual firing temperature of PMC is 1500 degrees F, so the use of a kiln, which will enable the user to monitor the temperature closely, is advisable.

PMC has proved to be so popular in jewellery making that a number of guilds and organisations have developed around its use. The PMC Guild has a wealth of information, video clips and project ideas available on its website to help you get started, including tips on how to work with this versatile material and incorporate it into your jewellery making.

Adam Hunter - E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of jewellery making supplies from over 10,000 products including gold and silver wire, jewellery findings, tools, [http://www.cooksongold.com/Precious-Metal-Clay/]precious metal clay (PMC) and gold and silver sheet - gold, silver, platinum and palladium plus technical information for jewellers, jobbers, designer, craftsmen, artisans and students.
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