How to Make a Metal Clay Toggle Clasp

With metal clay you can create jewelry easily without years of technical metalsmithing training. This tutorial will show you how to make a highly decorative toggle clasp out of metal clay. Adding your own custom findings to your creations increases value and allows you to create your own unique look.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 16 gram package of metal clay (PMC, PMC+, PMC3, PMC Gold, ACS Gold, Art Clay Silver, Art Clay 650 or BronzClay)

1. Grease your hands and work surface. There are a number of products on the market that can be used to prevent metal clay from sticking to your hands and work area. Products designed especially for metal clay are: CoolSlip, SlikBalm and Claymate Hand Cream. Other commonly available products include: olive oil, Badger Balm, Burt's Bees Hand Salve.

2. 
    

   Roll out metal clay 4 playing cards thick. Apply texture. Cut the clay into the desired shape of your clasp

3. 
    

   Cut a hole in the center of the clay. Seal with water to activate the binder in the clay as necessary to smooth edges.

4. Dry the piece using a hair dryer, coffee mug warmer or other hot plate.
   Once the piece is bone dry, file using a pink (medium grit) nail file found in a drug store. File the clasp until it is smooth and finished.

5. 
    

   To create the toggle portion of the clasp, roll out a second piece of metal clay using your hands or a piece of clear Plexiglas into a “snake” until it has reached your desired thickness. Cut to size.

6. 
    

   Roll a second, thinner snake to create the “eye” of the toggle. Scratch the surface of the first, larger snake in the center. Moisten with water and/or slip. Attached the eye to the longer snake. Dry until bone dry. File smooth.

7. Fire the clasp using a kiln, a torch or stove top according to the metal clay manufacturer’s instructions.

8. After firing the clasp will appear white. It will be soft (or fully annealed) This is normal. Finish the clasp by brushing it with a wire brush or by putting it into a rotary rock or jewelry tumbler (such as a Lortone tumbler).

9. If desired, use a patina (such as liver of sulfur, Midas Black Max or Silver Max) to highlight the details in your metal clay creation.

10. 
     

    Add the clasp to your hand made jewelry to create your own unique look.

Tips & Warnings

• When creating a toggle it is important that the toggle be properly proportioned to the opposite piece or it will have a tendency to come unclasped. To determine the proper proportion, measure the center hole of the clasp. Each side of the toggle should be just slightly longer that than the diameter of the center hole. Thus, the entire length of the toggle should be greater than two times the diameter of the center hole.
• Many bead stores that offer instruction on metal clay will “rent” kiln time and allow patrons that purchase metal clay from them to fire the clay in the store kiln for a modest fee.
• The PVC Cool Roller (made by CoolTools) is a tool made especially to make it easier for metal clay artists to roll clay evenly.
• Many artists enjoy using polymer clay texture sheets (such as those made by Makin's) to add texture to metal clay.
• Cookie cutters and polymer clay tools (such as those made by Klay Kutters) can add interesting shapes to metal clay designs.
• Never leave a kiln unattended when firing.
• Take fire safe precautions when using a torch or stove top to fire metal clay.

Resources

• GeltDesigns
• How to Make a Metal Clay Hook & Eye Clasp