How to Work with Precious Metal Clay (PMC)

Precious metal clay (PMC) is used to make jewelry and unique handcrafted decorations. Gold and silver clay can be molded and sculpted just like any other kind of art clay, and can be used to make beads, rings, hair picks, or other ornaments.

To get the most out of your PMC, you need the proper tools for sculpting, and the right equipment for firing. The steps below will get you started in gathering the right materials, and learning techniques.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. First, you should by a small kiln to fire pieces made of precious metal clay. Although many kinds of clay can be fired by torch, kilns are safer and far more versatile. If you work with a clay the require high firing temperatures, you can only achieve that with a kiln. It is worth the investment.

2. Acquire some sculpting tools. A knife and plastic roller are essentials, but you may also want tools for stamping, creating impressions, or filing finished pieces. When your roll out clay to make rings, you also need a clean, smooth plastic or glass surface.

3. Next, learn about the different types of precious metal clay that are available before you buy the clay in bulk. While silver and gold metal clays are the most popular, there are also copper, bronze, and tinted metallic clays.

4. Buy syringes of metal clay slip for projects that require you to join many pieces. Slip is simply mixture of water and clay, and it is used to attach unfired pieces together, and to smooth the clay surface. To save money, you can actually make your own out of metal clay and distilled water.

5. When you start handling the clay, you need to make sure your hands and work surface are oiled since PMC is very sticky. Kitchen oil works fine.

6. Keep in mind that you can set gemstones and glass beads into your metal clay pieces, but you have to make certain that the accents will withstand the temperature of firing.

7. After you make a piece, let it dry before you put it into the kiln. If a piece is fired while still wet, the rapid loss of water can cause it to warp. After a piece has dried, sand it if necessary, and gently wipe it to remove excess oil.

8. Learn the proper firing temperature for each type of clay. If you make a piece with different types of precious metal clay, it has to be fired hot enough so that both metals get cooked, but not so hot that one of the metals melts.
   
   The best thing, is to combine clays that have similar firing temperatures.

9. When the pieces are ready to be fired in the kiln, don't let the pieces touch, or they will weld together.

10. Burnish finished pieces with steel to give them a polished look. For more techniques and tips, you can buy several jewelry making books, or take a precious metal clay course.