Metal Clay Fundamentals: Complete Process Overview
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- čas přidán 6. 06. 2024
- Get a complete overview of metal clay process, from raw clay to finished pendant, in this sweet and easy leaf pendant project. Pam uses only readily available hand tools for this video, no costly power tools or equipment. Whether you’re searching for metal clay jewelry for beginners, or are an experienced metal clay artist, there are helpful tips and tricks for everyone!
Pam's Leaf Mold tutorial
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Pam's Color Patina Tutorial
• Perfect Patina with Pa...
Find longer, more detailed projects on CraftCast. Pam's craftcast projects include a pdf handout with tools and supplies, and over view of process, resources and more. Plus bonus content!
Check it out at
www.craftcast.com/teachers/pa...
Wow, I just found out about metal clay and you just got me obsessed LOL, thank you for such a well-explained, in-depth tutorial!
I'm so glad it was helpful!
Me too .. My first video tutorial about metal clay ... Excellent. Thanks.
Not only very clear and comprehensive, but a great design too. You're very skilled as a maker and a tutor. Thank you.
Thank you very much!
This turned out beautiful 😻
Your videos are AMAZING! Thank you so much xxxx
Glad you like them!
I ALWAYS LOVE YOUR WORK, PAM. EVERYTHING YOU MAKE IS JUST AMAZING!
Thank you so much!
Great Demo, Thank You
Glad you liked it!
Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge. ☺️
My pleasure!
It’s so beautiful! Thank you very much! 🌸💕🌸
Glad you liked it!
Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Some fantastic tips in this video! Thank you! Never would have thought to use nail buffers and shiners, what a great idea! Have also ordered a burnisher! Was a little disappointed with my first silver clay project but really looking forward to the next one!
Glad it was helpful!
very well explained, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video!!! Thanks 😊
This video is exactly what I need, thanks so much, thrilled I found your channel!
Glad it was helpful!
You are a very good instructor! 👍
I appreciate that!
So cool!
You are fantastic!!! Thank you very much xxx
Thank you!
thank you for this great in depth video! watched so many because others always skipped the parts i was unsure about. found all my answers here :)
Glad it was helpful!
Beautiful! I love this craft! Just finding out about this clay & my mind s a whirl with ideas! Thanks so much for sharing your skills!
You are so welcome!
I am Alzira Taquetti from Brasil Thank Thank you Pam Beautifull piece well done 👏👏
New subscriber! This is the best tutorial and teaching style ever! Thank u, thank u!🙏🙏
So glad you're enjoying my videos! New one coming soon
Beautiful,thank you
Our pleasure!
Wow! Thank you. Great video and info.!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you. I learned a lot.
Glad it was helpful!
So many ideas are coming to my mind now that I discovered this!
Go for it!!
@@PamEast do you have any idea how -fast- *broke* I am
@@PamEast I will try to save up for it hopefully
Great video answered all my questions 👍
Glad I could help!
I like how resourceful you are with your materials, Pam. You could get other tools specifically for jewelry making that could cost up to three times the price.
I'm a big fan of the dollar store. LOL
Thank you for your great channel ❤
Our pleasure!
so nice thanks for sharing this idea.
My pleasure 😊
Love the idea to use nail tools!
Glad you like them!
This is inspiring - been trying to make silver castings based on various artifacts by lost wax, and this looks like a much simpler means of getting the result I’m after. Thank you for the very complete process documentation!
So glad I could help!
Thank You for a very informative video..
Glad it was helpful!
Great video - ty!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Прекрасно! Благодарю! 🌸💕🌸
Wonderful little project. A great G-ma and G-da project together. Love your instructions. Love you.
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much
No problem
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and time. I am new to the silve clay and was wondering if the silver art clay needs to be tumbled for more strength.
Tumbling will make the metal shinier but has little effect on strength. I DO tumble, but only for visual effect.
Thank you.
You're welcome!
Great tutorial; thanks so much for showing how to torch fire. I've found other videos a bit lacking in detail on that. One question -- where would you recommend finding the fireproof fiber? I checked Rio and Gesswein but didn't find any. Thanks again!
You can get it at cooltools.us. Here's a link! www.cooltools.us/Superwool-HT-Fiber-Blanket-p/kln-806.5.htm
Great tutorial! 👍
Glad you liked it!
Wooow I really like that necklace
Thank you!
cool thank you.
Enjoy!
Wonderful , can you use the butane torch for different silver clays? Thanks for a great video.
Yes, PMC can also be torch fired. most of the fine silver clays torch fire pretty easily.
I love your video! Can you tell me why you keep the clay in the clay pot? Is that pot wet?
Thank you! Yes, the pot is damp, and has a sponge in the top to create a moist atmosphere. It's a good short term solution for keeping the clay from drying out, but should not be stored over night this way.
Nice video! So, do you recommend art clay vs. Pmc+...? Also, any recommendations on the neck cord...??
I have a personal preference for Art Clay Silver, but they are both great products. Art Clay has a very long working time and isn't as sticky. But both fire up to pure fine silver! The cord is just a cheap rubber cord you can get at amazon. Enjoy!
Thank you for the beautiful video. I love you videos!! 💓💓 Do you know if the pendant sits well with sensitive skin? As for myself, I am very picky when it comes to jewelry because the jewelry depending on how it’s made, it will make me skins itch and almost burning sensation. Do you know if this metal pendant sits well on sensitive skin? Have you ever have any issues?
Silver clay is 99.9% pure silver which usually is not a problem for people's skin. Alloys with copper and Nickle are usually what cause problems.
Great tutorial, thank you. I was surprised that your neutralising bath didn't make the patina bleed onto the polished section... is it due to the properties of the black jax? Many thanks!
Patina does not move once applied. This goes for LOS, Black Max, any of them. Safe to rinse! :)
@@PamEast Thanks so much :)
Beautyfull 👍👍👍❤
Thank you so much 😊
Wow! Soooo helpful! I actually think I can make this happen with my high school art students. HOWEVER we cannot afford silver. Can this be done with brass/ copper… any other cheaper metals?
Yes! Most of the steps with Bronze and Copper clays are exactly the same. the only difference is the firing. unfortunately, you really do need a kiln to fire base metals. Does your school have a ceramics kiln that could be used? Base metals have to be fired in a reduction atmosphere. You put them in a metal restaurant pan filled with activated carbon. the carbon absorbs the oxygen while the pieces are firing so they don't' end up covered in fire scale and falling apart. (this is a very simplified explanation) There are a number of good classes on Craftcast.com on working with base metal clays and how to fire it. good luck!
great video Pam, do you think it's possible to take a sheet of silver , like 1000 and do some silver clay works on it and then fired it together?
Yes you can! The sheet silver needs to be .999 Fine Silver for it to work the best though. You can try depletioning gilding sterling and then attaching metal clay, but the results tend to be sketchy. As another option, you can make metal clay components, fire them, and then solder them on to sheet silver. I know that DOES work with sterling.
Very informative and a great little piece. Do you have a complete course that shows the programming of the regular kiln from start to finish? I have a Paragon SC2 that I purchased in 2017 and I have been really apprehensive about running it. Everyone on CZcams shows up to and after the firing process but none of the actual firing.
Paragon has some great videos on programming your kiln. Here's a link czcams.com/video/nVCWiCvH1QE/video.html
@@PamEast Thank you so much. It's going to help me immensely. Not knowing where you are located, do you have any idea if there are any certified instructors here in the Reno, NV, area? Thank you in advance for all your information and replies.
Can you fire porcelain with that little kiln? Thank you - I have worked in metal clay in the past. It’s really fun.
The problem with firing ceramics in this little kiln is it's hard to control the rate of heating and cooling. I'm afraid thermal shock would crack it.
Ohh I'm going to try! Instead of a hole can I solder a sterling silver jump ring to it after or will it not take heat well after? Thank you so much!
Yes, you can solder onto metal clay. Just make sure the area you are soldering to is well burnished.
@@PamEast thank you so excited to try something new to add to traditional methods
Wonderful, thank you so much! Can pieces made by silver clay be soldered to other elements?
Yes you can! Make sure the area to be soldered has been well burnished. Metal clay is porous, so the solder will want to soak in otherwise.
@@PamEast thank you very much!
Hello Pam, I happened upon your tutorial when I heard the term Metal Clay. I searched it out wondering if this was the methodology to making designs in silver. Your thorough, clear, and concise video answered many questions for me. I am recently retired, and I think I have found my new passion. One question for you... Do you keep the metal clay in the clay pot to preserve moisture? If so, is there something else you add to the clay pot to help keep the clay pliable? Thank you in advance.
Yes and no. the clay pot has a sponge in the top and I wet the whole thing before working. it keeps my clay from drying out for short periods of time but is not intended for long term storage. For long term storage I recommend CoolTools Clay Hydrator. Dampen the sponges in that, and wrap the clay in plastic so it doesn't touch the wet sponge. www.cooltools.us/Cool-Tools-Clay-Hydrator-p/str-323-p.htm
Thank you for this explanation as I've the same questions. Can you please tell us what you've coated the bottom with? It looks sort of purple?
Does a piece have to be so thin ? Thanks
Hi there! Love the video!! I am trying it myself but my clay is not turning orange in the firing process. I use a firing torch. Does this mean the torch is not strong enough? Pls help me :(
Most likely you just need to get the torch a little closer. Also, try firing in dimmer light so you can see the glow more easily. It does not need to be bright orange. That leads to melting. Just salmon pink with a whitish surface.
amazing ! how can we make it gold ?
They do make a gold clay but it's ridiculously expensive. However you can get the look of gold with Art Clay Bronze clay. It's very inexpensive and you can use all the instructions from this video with the exception of firing. You can find the firing information for Bronze clay in this video. czcams.com/video/l8c3KZ2WAyI/video.html
Hi Pam...can I put some fiber blanket in the ultralite kiln to keep the shape of a curved jewelry piece and if so, how do I do it ie. put the blanket in and then turn on the kiln to heat up or put the blanket in and then the piece after the kiln has reached full temperature?
Thanks, Dr. HK, Toronto
I was wondering the same about the fiber blanket in the ultralite.
I have not used fiber blanket in the ultralite. My concern would be that it would insulate the element too much. I don't think it would get hot enough to properly sinter the clay. It might work better to use a small amount of vermiculte on a mica sheet in the kiln. Just enough to support the edges, but not too much. But again, I have not tried either one. I will consult with the manufacturer on this.
@@PamEast Thanks...I appreciate it. I fired a slightly curved piece in the kiln the other day and it totally flattened out. Not a problem...I still like the piece!!! But, there will be times where I will actually want some dimensional elements in my work.
Wondering if the gemstones could take the heat of the torch 😅 I am scared of burning them or make them explode lol thanks a lot for sharing your skills ❤
it's going to depend on the gemstone. Certain high fire gems are fine to torch. Sapphires, CZs, nanogems all fire well. Low fire gems like garnet or peridot should be avoided when torch firing.
Hi Pam! Thanks for this great tutorial. What grit are those yellow sanding sponges?
Glad you liked it! The yellow Softie Block is 400 Grit
I never heard of silver clay until today. when it is done, is it considered sterling silver?
Welcome to my world! Once it's done it's considered FINE Silver. Sterling is 92.5 % Silver and 7.5% copper. This is 99.9% Silver.
Hi Pam! Would this work with a finger print also?
confession time. I've never done a finger print! Here is a little video from another youtuber that may help. czcams.com/video/hkyugQeMu-k/video.html
Hello,
can we use again dry silver clay ??
If you have clay that has dried out but has not been fired you can turn it back into clay. Please see my video on rehydrating clay. czcams.com/video/-FGO3FdoQng/video.html
hi A great video, what is the name of the wool like product you have placed the piece on please
That's fiber blanket. It doesn't burn. Here's a link: www.cooltools.us/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=KLN-806.5
@@PamEast Hi, could this fiber be reused if using this method of firing? like in this video the fiber is used only for keeping the dome shape/any other uses for it? Thank you for sharing this nice video.
@@linadelorenci7764 Yes, ceramic fiber blanket is reusable
I just discovered this also. Such a cool medium. I can't reconcile the material cost. In Canada it costs $127 for 50 grams. Silver is a little over $24 for 56 grams (Troy ounce). I can buy finished jewelry for $25 to $35 a piece with a far superior finish. How can you profit making jewelry?
I get asked this a lot.. The thing is, you aren't just paying for the silver. You're also paying for the process. I can create gorgeous jewelry with less than $100 in tools and with a very quick learning curve. To make something comparable with traditional metal smithing requires thousands of dollars of equipment and YEARS of learning. You pay for it on the front end or the back end, but both methods have a cost. Also, remember that I am not using 50g to make a piece of jewelry. A typical pair of earrings weighs about 5g. A simple pendant may weigh 10 to 12g. So I'm getting a lot out of one package.
I have a question away from what we are watching......It is about Art Clay Silver I bought in 2016.Where do I find some answers
You can send me your question here: www.pameast.net/contact
Good thing you explained that wasn't cotton wool. You know someone would!
Right?! LOL
Hello Pam, love what you do so much! I have a question that I’d really love to hear the answer for. Why would someone pay for a Kiln or the $300 one instead of just using a torch like you did in this video? The torch did great and it only took 3 minutes. I just don’t understand the incentive to spend so much more money to get the same job done. I must be missing something and if you could tell me why, I would be so grateful. Thank you Pam and I look forward to seeing more of your work. Say safe my friend.
scoobstyr She said you can only use the torch on small amounts of the clay.
Glad you enjoyed the video! As for a kiln vs a torch, it's a matter of scale and what you can do with it. I can easily torch fire small pieces like I showed in this video, but that's is by no means all I can do with metal clay. I make much larger, much more intricate pieces, incorporating gemstones, glass, enamels and more. These more complicated, larger projects cannot be torch fired. Many can be fired in the ultralite, but not all. Some things must truly be kiln fired to come out correctly.
Pam East Thank you Pam for your reply. I got it now. :-)
I have an Evenheat and love it. I used to work with glass till I badly broke my humerous which never healed. I have a few top loading kilns which I can no longer use. I got back into working with metal clay and bought the front loading Evenheat. One buys what they need for what they plan on doing so kiln is not an extravagance if it is what you need. Thanks again for your wonderful lessons and i love your hats. Eudice G
Mam i wanna buy instruments (tools) required for design part, can you please send some links so i can easily buy them online.
Thank you🙂
You can get what you need at www.cooltools.us and www.metalclaysupply.com
I'm just starting out with metal clay. Why do you have your clay under the clay pot?
The terracotta pot has been saturated with water and has a saturated sponge in the top. It keeps my clay moist while I'm working. It's not for long term storage. I put it away wrapped in plastic in a glass jar for long term storage. but for the time I'm working it makes it very easy for my to quickly access my clay and put it away without it drying out.
pop that patina gurl!
So technically i can make my own silver coins for my brand😮
You could! have fun with it!