How To Polish Precious Metal Clay
Precious Metal Clay is a type of craft product made from particles of real metal, which allows you to create small works of art in real silver and gold. After the finished clay sculpture is dried and fired, however, it still has a long way to go before it looks like a shiny, beautiful piece of precious metal. The process of polishing and refining the Precious Metal Clay will transform it from a pale, pasty lump into a gorgeous work of art.
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Things You'll Need
- Fired, cooled Precious Metal Clay
- Stiff metal-bristled brush
- Agate burnishing tool
- Polishing cloths or rags
- Silver or gold jewelry cleaner
- Silver or gold jewelry polish
Instructions
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Remove all traces of burnt organic powder from the fired Precious Metal Clay. After firing, a thin layer of ashy powder will coat the object and the fired metal is beneath this. Use a metal-bristled brush to scrub away all the powder, with a back-and-forth motion (like brushing your teeth). Pay special attention to cracks and crevices where the crust is harder to reach. For particularly stubborn particles, use a quick, rotating motion of the brush to "flick" bits of powder out with the bristles. As you remove the organic crust, the metal will be revealed beneath.
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Rinse the metal object in the sink to remove all dust particles from the brushing.
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Burnish the surface of the precious metal using the burnishing tool. This process compresses the metal particles on the surface into a more solid object, making the item shine. Press and rub the tip of the burnisher against the metal surface as if you were coloring a piece of paper with a crayon. You will notice immediate results, but the metal will get shinier as you burnish longer and use more pressure. Continue until you cannot get any more shine. Work the sharp tip of the agate into crevices of the metal design.
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Rub the metal vigorously with a polishing cloth. After burnishing, the metal piece can be polished just like any other precious metal object. Use a polishing cloth, paper towel or lint-free rag to apply a metal cleaner, then a polishing liquid, appropriate for the type of metal you have. Wash with a rag soaked in the cleaner, then apply a small amount of polish to a clean section of cloth and rub in a circular motion over the object. Buff with a dry cloth until the object shines.
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Tips & Warnings
If you cannot get a hold of an agate burnisher, you can burnish using any piece of polished agate or quartz. Search mineral shops to find a rock whose shape will let you get into those hard-to-reach places.
