Precious Metal Clay
 

I'm not expecting too much of a reply to this as it's probably quite specialist and maybe not many folks into it. However, does anyone use/buy PMC (silver) in Canada. I have some and have made one thing!! I'm really into it and if I'd only had more time, I'd have made loads more.

Is it best to buy it online or in the shop. It works out here about £1/g. I've seen one place in Calgary selling it, but other than that is is an online purchase.

Many thanks.

:)

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Hi there

this is a bit of a long shot but there is a Jewellery supply store in the building where I work here in Toronto they may be able to help or know someone who can.

http://www.lacytools.ca/catalog/

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Hi - I have some - but not used it yet - on the ever lengthening list of hobbies. I've done a fairly comprehensive search of Edmonton craft stores - and no one stocks it here that I could find - so if Ed is typical - then online would probably be your best option - ie US online.

Try here:

http://secure.cartsvr.net/catalogs/c...asp?catid=5766

Or here:

http://www.pmcer.com/

:D

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Many thanks for that. They have loads of fun stuff. I could so easily get into the serious silversmithing too. I'll just need to work a few extra shifts when we get to Calgary to cover my expenses!!!!! ;)

I'll definitely be keeping them in my favourites and I would order from them. The appear to be good value for money as well, albeit PMC market price is world controlled so it's basically working out the same here as in the US

I know what you mean about ever increasing hobbies. I just need more time (oh yeah and cash!!).

Sssshhh - don't tell the other half that I'm already planning where to find the dealers for my addiction!! I could probably fill a huge space on the crate with all my craft items/gadgets - Oh it will kill me to have to have a bit of a cull and only bring necessities. Then again it means I'll have to go shopping at some point for replacement goods ;) :D

LadyM - I hope your getting plenty of time to get cardmaking and found some good sites and inspiration

Thanks for your help guys.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

What is it exactly? It'd better be dead clever at a pound sterling a gram because pure silver is only about 11p/gm.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Novocastrian:-

PMC is 99.9% silver. It comes in a pack like a (very small) piece of putty (you can also get it in sheet version - like a sheet of paper). You can mould it into pretty much anything, make rings, absolutely anything you can imagine and then you heat it (I have just been furnished by hubby with a mini kiln for it, which I can bring with to Canada so all good cause it cost a fortune). When you heat it say with a blow torch the binder burns away and your left with around 7% shrinkage and a pure silver item.

You are essentially paying for the convenience of it. But you do need a lot more skill and training to work sheet silver or the like and lots of tools also.

This is the hobby way of getting into it I'd guess. I would absolutely love to go to classes and learn how to work sheet silver, etc. and that will come some day, but this is a great way in and gives you instant gratifcation ;) as you can have a piece of jewellry that looks fantastic in a day.

Hope this helps a bit!

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

It helps a great deal. As a chemist I'd be really interested in what the other 0.1% is though. I'm guessing that the silver itself consists of very small grains and the "binder" is something that prevents the grains from coalescing?

On edit: You're actually saying that the product is 99.9% silver, after firing though aren't you?

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Yup your right after burning. You can send your stuff to be hallmarked to the assay office and it will be stamped .999.

There's a good website explaing how they make it. It was first made by Mitsubishi, Japan and you can also get gold 22k (£125 for 3g :eek:) and plantinum (and even I don't want to know how much that would cost me!:eek::eek:).

http://www.silversmithing.com/1clay.htm

There's also a wiki.

I'd be interested to know what the "organic" binder is too (together with water) but think they don't advertise that or all and sundry would be making it!! But I'm sure you might be the man to find out. You could make yourself some big business making it yourself if you do find out and undercutting the only two competetors (Artclay and PMC range)!!!

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

I'll dig into when I have the time, but the place to find out will likely be the patent office, so I doubt there's a fortune to be made!

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Just found out the Platinum is for industrial use - I wouldn't be able to fire it let alone buy it! I'd only buy the gold if I was very good at making things and was in a position to sell them to fund my ever increasing addiction.

Yeah I'd have thought they will have a firm grip on their design which is how they manage to keep the prices the same worldwide I guess.

You should give it a go - you might get addicted. Post a pic of your first jewellery item! :) I've been going to try a pair of cuff links for the man in my life.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

No, not me. But the OH is a highly skilled ceramicist, she might well be interested.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

She would probably be very interested (I love ceramics too - not skilled though) but pleeeease don't blame me when the bills come in!!!! ;)

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Oh, I will, I will.

The is some of her stuff... she's actually managed to sell some of these!

Edit: let me try that again....

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

...has this worked?

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Works for me!!! They are fabulous. I would love to be able to make something half as good.

Thanks! I have to go to work in the NHS tomorrow night and will now be dreaming about creating something worthwhile wishing even more that I wasn't there!!! There doesn't seem to be the same options here to do classes (or time for me). However, was reading an activity list for the area where we will be staying and they have loads to choose from so I'll be signing up asap.

You must be so proud of your wife, creating such beautiful things.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

I bought the bloody kiln.:curse:

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

:rofl::rofl: That's true love you know

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

lol seems a recurring theme, Mr MMC bought me my compressor for airbrushing lol.

Mrs L that silver stuff seems fab will be looking into that, and Novo your wifes pots are stunning. Karma to you both.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

What did you make MrsL?

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Gorgeous, up here in cottage country those would sell easily and for good money too.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Do you want to become an agent? :)

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

No, but I can recommend some shops to sell in.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

Hi! I made a butterfly pendant. It was an easy make but it's the firing that takes a bit of practice as I was using a blow torch. The first one was the right thickness but I didn't fire it for long enough so was still brittle and I broke it in half!! The second one I made and had a go at force drying (which would have worked out ok but the butterfly this time was too thick to an air bubble formed and it blew out slightly so it's a bit lumpy looking. With some polishing, etc, I'll be able to polish it out but it was an experimental piece. I have a dremmel multi tool (husband bought me as well!!! - there's a theme here) so that should do it.

Incase you give it a try (MMC too!) - you can learn by my mistakes!! :D

If your interested in looking here's a link to a site where there is a pic the butterfly

http://www.docrafts.co.uk/gallery/?pg=v&uid=48692

:)

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

You're very crafty - love the snowflakes they would look great on a chain! :thumbsup:

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

I like the snowflakes but they are not PMC!! That's other stuff I got (oh goodness hubby's getting to know way too much here!!). It's an embossing powder which looks like metal when heated.

They did, however, give me a great idea for a chain so I've got a design in mind. It's possibly going to be my next project. I keep a sketchbook of ideas in the hope that i'll get round to it one day!! :huh:

I would definitely recommend you having a go. It's great fun.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

The butterfly and snowflakes are great and I'm sure you will get past your initial problems. I was wondering how thin you can go with the precious metal clay as I would like to make some wrapped stone pendants. They are like a natural stone with thin silver wire spiralling around in a random fashion.
(I tried to attach a picture of one but wasn't able to copy it)

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

You can go really quite thin with it, but the PMC might not be the best to do wrapped items. I've got a glass stone that I'd like to do something similar, but I think it'd probably be best if you were to buy silver wire and wrap them that way. If I'm thinking along the same lines as you you'd have the stone inside the shell or the shape?

You can by PMC in a syringe which you squeeze out. One example is using a cork ball to randomly wrap around, then let it dry and once dry fire it (in a very well ventillated area) This way the cork burns away and your left with a silver ball with gaps (if you get what I mean). Your stones may not fire and would certainly burn some and once wrapped you couldn't clean them up very well. I'd definitely get some sterling silver wire instead (be cheaper too) and wrap them that way.

I've got a great book by Tim McCreight who is the PMC guru. He says that you can only fire certain stones and them some of it is trial and error.

Sorry this may confuse you more!!

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

No I understand that and I think silver wire might be better for what I want to do having just done some research on this site http://wire-sculpture.com/

Don't know if the attachment will work this time to show the sort of thing I mean.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

And this one too. Although I don't want the designs to look too formal.

Re: Precious Metal Clay
 

They are gorgeous but yup, I think silver wire (you can get the flat, off the roll as well) would be the best way to go.

I noticed silversmithing classes are running where were looking to go live when we get to Calgary, so I'll be signing up for them as soon as I get settled in my new job.

Hope you post what you make. It be good to see. :)