Web Page Metal Clay Tutorials and Guides for Beginners
This page has links to websites that have valuable information and tutorials about metal clay for beginners.
If you're a complete beginner, have a look at our metal clay for beginners page.
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Introduction to metal clay
Other tutorials
Introduction to Metal Clay
The Alchemy of Precious Metal Clay - Lapidary Journal
Written in the late 90's this article is a good introduction to metal clay.
Aluminum Contamination and Silver Clay - Med'a Creations
Beginners often make the mistake of leaving metal clay in contact with aluminum/ aluminium, either in the form of foil or leaving it in contact with cutters. This causes contamination of the metal clay. This article has excellent information about this contamination. Mary Ellin D'Agostino has carried out a number of experiments on this and shares her findings here.
Drying metal clay - Art Jewelry Magazine
Short article about how to dry metal clay and how to tell if it's fully dry. You may have to create a free account to view this tutorial.
General tips and tricks - Lora Hart
Very well thought out and useful set of pages with tips and tricks from Lora Hart.
Getting started with metal clay - CJ Designs
Getting started guide.
Getting Started with Precious Metal Clay
Elaine Luther's useful Squidoo Lens with a list of beginner's tools and some tips and hints to help a beginner.
How much do you get in a packet of clay? - Argentice
Great pictures to give you an idea of how much clay comes in a packet. Uses coins from the UK, US and Europe to give some reference.
Introduction to Metal Clay - Delphi
Simple guide to metal clay tools and techniques.
Laminating PMC paper - Whole Lotta Whimsy
Simple tutorial showing how to stick two pieces of PMC paper together. This forms a stronger material to work with and allows you to create light but strong items with the paper.
Madison Rain
Basic introduction to PMC.
Madison Rain
Suggested tool list.
Make your own oil paste - Art Jewelry Magazine
Short tutorial about making your own oil paste using lavender oil to join fired metal clay. You may have to create a free account to view this tutorial.
Making your own paste and slip - Art Jewelry Magazine
Short guide to making your own slip. You may have to create a free account to view this tutorial.
Making your own gold paste from gold clay - Med'a Creations
Great little tutorial about gold clay, when to use it and how to make your own paste with it. Has firing tips too.
Metal Clay Techniques - Margaret Schindel
Comprehensive and detailed Squidoo tutorial on working with metal clay. This page has links to numerous others with information about metal clay. There's everything from the brands and varieties of clay available, through to texturing, setting stones and weaving.
New Mexico Clay
Basic introduction to PMC.
PMC Introduction - Society of American Silversmiths
A comprehensive introduction to the material, tools and techniques of working with Precious Metal Clay.
PMC vs Art Clay, what's the difference? - Margaret Schindel
Brilliantly comprehensive and clear explanation of the differences between Art Clay and PMC on Squidoo.
Reclaiming Metal Clay - Maggie Bergman
Great alternative way of reclaiming metal clay from the dried stage back into workable clay.
Reconstituting dried metal clay - Angela Baduel-Crispin
Great tutorial in French and English showing how to reconstitute dried metal clay. One of the great things about metal clay is that if you make a piece and don't like it - before firing - you can reconstitute it into a lump of clay again.
Repairing breaks - Art Jewelry Magazine
Useful tips on how to mend breaks. You may have to create a free account to view this tutorial.
Top Ten Tools for Metal Clay
Useful Squidoo Lens by Elaine Luther explaining her favorite tools and how to use them.
Other Tutorials
Art Clay FAQ's - Art Clay World
Useful Q&A format for everything to do with using Art Clay. This includes useful safety information.
Abrasive comparison chart from Metal Clay UK
This chart shows you the different grits of abrasive sheets.
Art Clay Silver Lite
The makers of Art Clay, Aida Chemicals have just launched Art Clay Silver Lite. This is 93% fine silver when fired. It is mixed with glass to make it lighter. This also means it is slightly weaker than Art Clay Silver 650.
Jewellery Care Guidance
Useful guide to looking after your jewellery from Lookie Lookie.
Jewellery Care Guide
From Barb Macy – includes homemade sterling silver tarnish remover recipe.
Madison Rain
Finishing information.
New Mexico Clay
Finishing tips and hints.
PMC Guild - History of PMC
Useful article about the history of PMC. It includes the technical development of PMC and explores the development of the PMC Guild.
Laughing Girl Arts - UV Resin Tips and Hints
The following tips and hints were posted on the Yahoo! Metal Clay Group by Linda at Laughing Girl Arts.
Heat the jar of resin before use. I find it too thick to flow easily
right out of the jar but when I heat it it liquifies and flows easier.
I put the open jar on my mug warmer with the lid sitting lightly on
top to block light and stir it every 30-60 seconds until it feels
loose. When it gets where I want it, somewhere between "doesn't flow"
and "runs off the toothpick before I can get it to the piece", I turn
the mug warmer off and let the jar sit there as I work. Reheat as needed.
I use a toothpick or bamboo skewer to pick up a blob of resin from
the jar and then drop onto my piece. The blob stays attached to my
skewer until I touch it down on the piece. You may need to coax the
resin to the edges of your piece with your toothpick. Be sure to wipe
up any threads or spills as they will harden on the piece too.
Remember light cures it so don't leave the lid off the jar very long
if you're working in bright light.
I'm afraid of undercured resin so I usually give it two rounds of time
under my auto-shutoff manicure lamp just to be sure. Probably not
necessary but it eases my mind. That works fine for transparent colors
too. I haven't done opaques.
I put the bottom of a cardboard shoebox upside down over the manicure
light so that the UV light doesn't leak out. And I try not to look at
it when it's on. Bad for your eyes.
Don't let the sticky residue on the top of the cured resin throw you.
It comes off perfectly with just a swipe of the UV Resin cleaner.
Conversely, if you're doing multiple layers you don't need to clean
off the sticky residue between layers. It is really sticky though so
don't get dust in it between layers.
These pictures show a project to create fabricated earrings, courtesy of Tim McCreight and the PMC Guild
Thorough drying is important
Slip is used to stick the parts of the earrings together
Once the pieces are dry, refine the edges with a salon board
After firing, further refining can be done with files
A hole in the centre allows the earring to be hung on a hook.
