Can you imagine just how much fun and satisfying it would be to make something out of clay and transform it into fine jewellery material like silver? This can actually happen if you will use precious metal clay (PMC). This emerged in the 1990’s and is composed of binders and particles from metals. To obtain the metals, the PMC is heated to burn away the organic binder. This process is even more efficient with pure metals such as gold and fine silver. These are the types of metals which are resistant to oxidation.

The development of the PMC in the metal consumer market gave way to the creation of finer jewellery pieces even without using a wide range of jewellery making tools or knowledge in silversmithing. This enables more people to use PMC in making jewellery as much as they like.

If you are interested in taking advantage of the availability of PMC and you want to explore your craftsmanship, here are some pointers that you can use:

– PMC is way different from polymer clay, which is why working with the former should be treated differently as well. For one, PMC has to be kept moist as you work with it. Once this gets some breathing space, it easily dries out which means that you have to work fast. To do so, prepare your jewellery design first before you even start working. Put your design in paper then translate your work using PMC to avoid wasting a dried out clay and other unnecessary mistakes.

– Avoid using or putting any materials which can easily dry out a moist PMC, such as cardboard or paper.

– Always use a plastic pipe to roll the PMC. To give it uniform thickness, use spacers while rolling the clay. These spacers can be bought from PMC suppliers, but you can also improvise by using playing cards.

– Give a consistent back texture to your jewellery by letting the PMC roll onto a leather sample. It is best to give texture to clay-formed jewellery but a smooth surface is quite hard to do.

– Use a knife to cut the PMC for a clean-cut edge, such as a tissue blade knife. However, safer knives should be used by kids.

– Once heated, the jewellery piece that you just created will normally reduce in size since the process already burns the organic binders. Consider the size of your jewellery after the heating process when you are still designing it.

– Follow all the instructions in the PMC because different types of PMC also have different characteristics that can affect the heating needs and shrunk appearance of the item.

– Let the metal clay dry on a hot plate or in the oven and retouch it first before firing it.

– Do not waste PMC even if it is dried out already because it can still be used after being rehydrated. Dust can also be recycled as slip.

It would be fun for adults and kids alike to create different jewellery items out of PMC. As long as the pointers above will be followed, there will be no problems in the way.

Author Bio: aluminium channel Aluminium Castings

Category: Advice
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