I am just beginning my silver clay adventure. Is this silver considered sterling? I know people will ask me that, and I want to be prepared to answer them. TIA for responding.
Love your videos & SO much info!!! Can someone HELP, please?! I’ve been looking for a TEMP CONTOL BOX for my Ultralight Studio Kiln for months, and everywhere is sold out. Does anyone have any links of available ones or other suggestions? THANKS SO MUCH!
Thank you for the clear instructions! Can you fire a non flat piece in a kiln like this? If there are only a few points of contact with the hot surface, will it still fire alright?
Yes, it will still fire ok, although you may need to put the lid on during firing. And maybe give it a few more minutes to get to temperature after putting the piece in.
Not at all! You can make them thicker. I tend to go thin because the material is expensive and it goes farther that way. But the instructions I provided will work on thicker pieces.
This is fantastic, thank you so much for the tutorial! Just starting my journey with precious metal clay and can’t wait to try this out. I’d love to make pendants out of these molds, so I’d need to add a little ring on top of them - is that possible to do after the clay dries and I take it out of the mold?
Most of these molds are really too small to use on thier own. They need to be attached to something a little bigger. Even a little circle of clay would work. If you want slightly bigger molds search "small silicone molds" on Etsy. Lots of variety and a little bigger than these teeny tiny ones. To add a ring, I usually use an embeddable eyelet. Here's a link. cooltools.us/products/silver-embeddable-eyelet-1?variant=42031829942460
Thank you! This is great information. How do you determine the amount of silver clay to use/start with? Is there a chart or recommendation. Also, how can you measure to make sure you're starting with the right amount?
It all depends on what you're making. If it's a simple earrings or pendant then 10g is usually good. If I need to do a broad piece with a lot of cutouts, I likely need 20g.
Thank you thank you thank you. This is best review I have heard. I have three kilns borrowed and used so I would like it keep it small specially for enameling cloisonné. My question is, you can use this enameling and cloisonné? I have bigger kiln but would like to work on a smaller scale. My question is will this work at 1600 on a 120 service? Thank you.
I haven't tried Cloisonne in this. Remember, all the heat is coming from the bottom, not the sides or top. But as long as it was a small piece, I don't see why it shouldn't work. Good luck!
In the 1970's my aunt had one of these. She made beautiful, detailed cloisonnés for years using it, and passed it on to me. I still have it! I could not believe it when she gave it to me, that it was what she used to make all that gorgeous jewelry.
My students have been using dressmakers pins for years, but the mechanical pencil 'holder' is brilliant. I don't think you teach carving, but for the others who are reading - I put a Speedball #1 Small V or #3 Small U Lino carving blade in a Bic pen style casing to hold like a pencil. The wood or plastic ball back large handles that are usually used with the blades are really too much for dry metal clay carving. Great for beginners if you're not ready for Dockyard wood carving tools.
Great tip about the carving tools! I DO carve myself, but I don't teach it. I have no systems for it, tending to by feel. It's never been something I've felt I've mastered enough to pass on.
What a great idea! I especially love the burnisher. I've made them out of old burs and file handles, but this is so much easier. Thanks for sharing, Pam! 😊
Most excellent use of mechanical pencils! Thank you Inez Flaugh for sharing the tip! And thank you Pam for getting it to us and adding burnisher details:)
I believe this will work so long as the stainless steel is completely covered by the metal clay. None of the pad exposed. I'd suggest doing a small test to be sure.
