Hello

[MrsMarshall]

Hi there! I'm in the early stages of learning to make metal clay jewellery and thought being part of the forum would help me learn from those more experienced than me! Looking forward to speaking with you!

[metalsmith]

Hi there! I'm in the early stages of learning to make metal clay jewellery and thought being part of the forum would help me learn from those more experienced than me! Looking forward to speaking with you!

Hi and welcome. Metal clay isn't really my thing, but I'm tempted to have a go at making some and giving it a try. If that doesn't work, I might just have to buy some and try again! I seem to be attracted to the difficult path...:D

[Elinor]

hi! welcome :)
I'm also new at the forum world.
I currently study silversmith and i am looking at other courses and techniques to broaden my knowledge and was wondering whats your take on metal clay? is it worth taking a certificate course in it? or a course at all?

thanks and good luck!

Elinor.

[MrsMarshall]

Hi metalsmith! It seems to have lots of uses and it's great for a newbie like me! I have lots of ideas just hitting a bit of a stumbling block with the stamps I'm trying to make! I'm determined to resolve it though and then I'll post my finished work. Thank you for the welcome!

[MrsMarshall]

Hi Elinor! I've been a bit stubborn and not taken a course, just self taught as there are so many good online tutorials, I'm just stuck with some stamps I'm trying to make. I've seen courses for around £250 but I'd imagine if you are already a silversmith you could teach yourself quite easily. It's certainly very creative. When I have some success I'll post some pics! Best of luck!

[metalsmith]

Hi metalsmith! It seems to have lots of uses and it's great for a newbie like me! I have lots of ideas just hitting a bit of a stumbling block with the stamps I'm trying to make! I'm determined to resolve it though and then I'll post my finished work. Thank you for the welcome!

Yeah, I bought a book on the topic recently after seeing some great examples of work online somewhere

You could do worse than check out the different types of clay (link (http://pmcguild.com/getting-started-with-pmc/types-of-pmc/)) recommendations for a kiln (link (http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6839&highlight=silver+clay)) if you don't have one and view some existing links where folk discuss their clay related difficulties...
here (http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7267&highlight=silver+clay)
here (http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7238&highlight=silver+clay) and
here (http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7371&highlight=silver+clay)

I still couldn't find the like with the interesting examples on it so if you beat me to it, please bring it back to my attention - thanks

This wasn't the one I had in mind - but still some great examples (http://www.mcsj.co.uk/metal-clay-diploma-holders-at-mcsj.html)

Preview of Creative Metal Clay Jewellery (https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wZJIsO-BHukC&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq=one+off+metal+clay+jewellery&source=bl&ots=_5D93lNQFb&sig=jqWQ-xU3fh5M3ziepEcFF2sapdI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAzgeahUKEwiampmc4NPIAhWBqnIKHSLMCkw#v =onepage&q=one%20off%20metal%20clay%20jewellery&f=false) by Ce Ce Wire (surely pun intended!) discusses the basics to get you started for free

[Elinor]

Hi Elinor! I've been a bit stubborn and not taken a course, just self taught as there are so many good online tutorials, I'm just stuck with some stamps I'm trying to make. I've seen courses for around £250 but I'd imagine if you are already a silversmith you could teach yourself quite easily. It's certainly very creative. When I have some success I'll post some pics! Best of luck!

k thanks ill be so happy if you do post some of your works! wish you luck with that block :)

[ajda]

I experimented with metal clays a little a few years back - it doesn't really suit the way I want to work, but I'm full of admiration for some of the artists who do work with it - notably Gordon Uyehara. You can find lots of images of his stuff if you google his name, and his book "Metal Clay Fusion" is well worth checking out.
Alan

[metalsmith]

I experimented with metal clays a little a few years back - it doesn't really suit the way I want to work, but I'm full of admiration for some of the artists who do work with it - notably Gordon Uyehara. You can find lots of images of his stuff if you google his name, and his book "Metal Clay Fusion" is well worth checking out.
Alan

Thanks Alan - and leading on from that there are links to the work of a number of artists working in metal clay at http://www.metalclayguru.com (http://www.metalclayguru.com/metal-clay-guru-artists/) which may be of interest.

[Sandra]

I took a metal clay weekend course in Belgium with Anna Mázon earlier this year, though she also does courses in England sometimes. She has a few tutorials that can be purchased online through her etsy shop that are rather inexpensive. Take a look at her work when you have a chance - she also uses the business name Drakonaria (http://drakonaria.blogspot.co.uk). One thing I really admire about her is that she doesn't use moulds, pre-made texture mats, etc. Everything she does is by hand with very limited tools. Another idea she uses on some of her creations that I think is interesting is combining traditional metal work with Pmc.

[Dennis]

It's very sophisticated and a long way from treating it like plasticine, but not really what I would enjoy doing.
When you create things from just sheet and wire they appear as if by magic.

[Dennis]

Like this:

[ajda]

Horses for courses, I guess - or perhaps rabbits for hats...

[Patstone]

I tried it once and got very sticky - yuk. Gave it up and concentrated making jewellery with silver sheet and wire.

[metalsmith]

Like this:

Ok ... "Like" :rofl:

[metalsmith]

It is the price of the stuff that really gets me (a true Yorkshire man - "like a Scotsman with the generosity squeezed out of him", the saying goes) ... and then it 'shrinks' i.e. weight loss on burning the 'organic' complex.

I have some powdered (maybe not atomised) fine silver extracted from the pickle jar, washed and drying. Xantham gum is now in the post courtesy of ebay. I'll let you know how I get on - or anyone with relevant experience could shortcut this tragic tale and I'll add the xantham to some icing (or something!)

[ajda]

I think some traditional metalsmiths are suspicious, even scornful, of innovations like PMC. Then again, traditional magicians might find your hat a bit suspect, Dennis - it looks more like a WW1 helmet or a lady's hat from the 1930s than the trad topper... But it suits your design beautifully, just as PMC suits some people's creative style or offers another dimension to work in for those who want to mix it with traditional techniques.

Alan

PS - thanks for the links Sandra and metalsmith - the latter made me think of Marc Bolan, so off to YouTube next... ah, the joys of that new-fangled interweb... I'll be very interested to see how you get on with the powder and gum, metalsmith!

[Sandra]

Did it get sticky? That sounds very odd, it tends to dry out so fast which is what I find the most difficult part about handling it.
Regarding the shrinking - yes it does lose about 10% during the sintering process, but does also it lose weight? The air molecules are becoming more condensed as it sinters but I didn't think it lost weight as well. I'll have to test that out the next time I get around to using PMC.

[metalsmith]

Regarding the shrinking - yes it does lose about 10% during the sintering process, but does also it lose weight? The air molecules are becoming more condensed as it sinters but I didn't think it lost weight as well.

As I understand things (which could be completely wrong) metal clay is composed of finely powdered metal, complex sugars / starch & water. Yes, it will include air - probably in limited quantities at the outset, but with steam created by vapourising the water.

The air molecules will become less dense on heating, but I think what you are really meaning is that sintering reduces the interstitial porosity, which I'd agree with - hence the shrinkage. Since sintering drives off water and burns the complex sugars to carbon then to CO / CO2 I suspect that there is a loss of weight during sintering - but I'm always happy to hear suggestions to the contrary, particularly those backed with some numbers, so if anyone runs this with PMC or other commercial products, that would be good info to know.

Clay recipe Linky (http://www.metalclayacademy.com/pdfs/bronze-clay-diy.pdf)

[metalsmith]

Ok, My Preciousss metalsmith clay experiment began this evening.

10g fine silver powder (moist)
1g xanthan gum powder
0.5g cornflour (or custard as I had) powder

All mixed up well together to a consistency just a little softer than blu-tac. I'll try to do something (productive) with it tomorrow. I have some pics of the process I've used which I can post up, but I've had it for now.

[more534]

SO, Mr. Metalsmith! How did the xanthan gum/custard/silver powder experiment turn out... Inquiring minds want to know.