How to Make Hollow Metal Beads

A Free-form Hollow Metal Bead Made From Silver Clayc

In recent years, the use of precious metal clay has soared. Bronze or silver particles are embedded in clay and are easily shaped and molded. When the dried clay is fired in a kiln, the clay burns away and leaves solid sterling silver or bronze. The relative ease of use makes this a popular hobby and business.

This process makes it fairly simple to create stunning silver and bronze jewelry. You can also design and make your own hollow beads using metal clay and a kiln.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Silver or bronze clay
• Cork clay or some sort of burnable material to shape the clay around
• Playing cards
• 6-inch-length of 1-inch PVC pipe
• Exacto knife
• A rubber shaping tool
• Distilled water
• Various grits of sandpaper
• Fiber kiln shelf
• Use of a kiln
• Metal brush or electric polishing tool

Forming the Bead

1. Cork Clay

   To give your bead form, you will need to use some sort of material that will hold its shape as you mold the clay around it but will also burn away in the kiln. Paper can be used, but commercially made cork clay works well because it holds its shape against pressure and will cleanly burn away.

   Form the cork clay to the shape that you want. To create holes, use a toothpick. Let dry completely.

2. On a flat clean surface, lay out two piles of two to four playing cards about 4 inches apart.

3. Work your metal clay until it is pliable and form a ball. Lay it between the playing cards, and use the PVC pipe like a rolling pin. The cards will assure a uniform thickness.

4. Lay the sheet of metal clay on your form and carefully form it around the cork. Trim the clay with the Exacto knife a little more than 1/2 way around the form.

5. Repeat the procedure with the other side of the form. Using the rubber tipped tool and the distilled water, seal the seam of the bead and smooth out any rough spots.

6. After the bead is partially dry, you can add any metal clay embellishments that you like by "gluing" them on with slip. You can make slip by taking a small amount of metal clay and mixing it with water until it's the consistency of pudding.

7. Let dry completely for at least 24 hours. Once the bead is dry, sand rough edges and smooth out imperfections with the sandpaper.

Firing

1. Fiber Kiln Shelf

   To avoid having your bead come out of the kiln misshapen, place it on a fiber kiln shelf.

2. Table Top Kiln

   If you are using a programmable kiln, program it according to the manufacturer's directions. If you have a manual kiln, ramp the temperature to the appropriate temperature and hold time outlined in the kiln's firing schedule.

3. Let cool completely before handling.

Finishing

1. When the bead is cool enough to handle, you can begin polish. Start buffing the bead with a metal brush or electric polishing tool.

2. Use the roughest grit of sandpaper to polish the bead and work your way to the finest.

3. Stop polishing when you get the desired effect.

Tips & Warnings

• If your bead has cracks in it after you fire it, smooth it with slip, let dry and fire again. It's much easy to file and sand imperfection on the bead in the clay form than later after it has been fired. Do as much smoothing as you can before you fire.

• If you are using bronze clay, the cork form will not completely burn but it will leave ash inside the bead. Make sure your bead has at least one hole in it to vent the steam or it will crack.

References

• Cool Tools' Learning Center

Resources

• Firing Schedules