8 Pitfalls to Avoid When Using Precious Metal Clay

Precious metal clay can be a fantastic medium to produce your handmade jewellery; it can be easily moulded, requires fewer tools and produces quicker results than traditional silver smithing methods, while allowing the artist much creative freedom to make some truly stunning jewellery from mainstream to gothic themes. It can have glass, stones and even sterling silver elements fired in place. However it is important to understand both the benefits and the limitations of this medium to avoid expensive and frustrating mistakes. The following article lists 8 pitfalls to avoid when working with PMC.

1. Don't mix different types of PMC together in the same slip pot, they all fire in different ways and have differing densities of silver particles
2. Don't allow PMC to have prolonged contact with the air, plan your pieces and aim to work quickly in the clay stage. Don't wrap PMC in silver foil to store it as it causes a nasty reaction and ruins the clay
3. Don't use reconstituted PMC for ring making or if you want to achieve a polished surface on your piece
4. Don't fire your ring directly on the kiln shelf as it can create an uneven finish and distort it. Used vermiculite instead to ensure even shrinkage.
5. Don't attempt to torch fire a glass cabachon in place; this process requires a kiln and a graded firing process. Used PMC3 in this case as it has the lowest sintering temperatures.
6. If you are using glass in your piece consider the design carefully, once the glass is in place you will not be able to carry out any soldering work as the heat will break the glass.
7. If you want to set stones into your jewellery, consider if they are suitable for firing. It is possible to get some manmade stones specifically for this process, and some natural stones may be suitable but always check, and if in doubt create a bezel and set the stone after firing.
8. If you would like to fire sterling silver in PMC, you should consider firing temperatures carefully. Don't fire the piece at a temperature greater that 650F for longer than 30 minutes otherwise your sterling silver may become brittle.

Making sure you watch out for the above pitfalls, can mean your experience with metal clay is a positive one. It can be a fantastic medium to work with whether you enjoy silversmithing and use it to add detail to your projects or you work with metal clay exclusively. If you are beginner it is best to start with simple projects and work your way up. Don't forget to practice your design with some polymer clay to help you to achieve the look you are after in the shortest possible time when you come to use the clay (which is drying out all the time). It might also be a good idea to look out for a course in your local area where you can learn the basics and build up your confidence with experts on hand for advice. Jewellery making magazines can be a good source to find a course appropriate for you, and they often contain hints and tips for those interested in metal clay jewellery. I have completed a number of metal clay courses and found that it has increased my confidence much more than just reading books on this subject, although the latter can be helpful if you are looking for new ideas, techniques or inspiration.

Charlie Mclean owns and runs an online gothic boutique selling a range of gothic jewellery and accessories from leading brands such as Alchemy Gothic alongside Inflikted, Charlie's own brand of handmade jewellery, encompassing both gothic and steam punk style themes, as well as a range of gothic wedding accessories.

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