Copper Clay Tutorials

This page is packed with copper clay tutorials covering all brands of copper metal clay. It also outlines the evolution of copper clay brands.

Copper clay evolution

The inventor of Copprclay™ is Bill Streuve which is available from several suppliers.

Hadar’s clay

Hadar Jacobson sells bronze and copper clay in powder form which you mix yourself. Hadar has also developed a copper clay with a short firing schedule which doesn’t require an oxygen free environment – download the firing schedule here.

Art Clay Copper

The makers of Art Clay, Aida Chemicals have launched their own copper clay. This has a much simpler firing schedule than the other copper clays available.

Prometheus copper clay

Prometheus Copper Clay is also now available. This has a short firing schedule and requires no special firing pan. And it comes as syringe clay as well as lump clay.

Meteor copper clay

In December 2010, Meteor bronze clay was launched by a French developer and then Meteor copper clay was released in January 2011.

In January 2014, Hadar Jacobson launched Friendly Copper. This new copper clay fires in one step only (no second phase required), at the same firing schedule as Champagne Bronze and Low-shrinkage Steel XT. All three clays, on their own and in combination with each other, fire in carbon for two hours at 1750°F (brick kiln)/1830°F (muffle kiln).

In March 2014, Metal Adventures launched White Copprclay. NOTE: WHITE COPPRclay is composed of copper and nickel. Customers within the European Union, please be aware that this item contains nickel and may not be in compliance with EU regulation EN1811-2011.

Aussie metal clay

Aussie Metal Clay launched in 2014 and became available worldwide in 2015. It is available in a wide range of bronze colours, copper, 960 silver and 999 silver.

July 2015 – Hadar Jacobson has simplified her product range. Download a map of her clay products here. You can also check out her new clay names here.

Cyprus Copper Clay

Cyprus Copper Clay was released in November 2018. Developed by Cindy Silas, Cyprus Copper Clay is an excellent base metal clay medium for jewelry, crafts, sculpture and models. Offered in lump (wet) form, this clay is waterbased, air dries and fires to .999 pure copper. Economical, easy to form, fire and finish, the fired clay presents as beautiful on its own or as the perfect platform for enameling projects.

Copper clay tutorials and information

Content checked July 2021.

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AMCAW Tutorial Collections

The Alliance for Metal Clay Arts Worldwide (AMCAW) have lots of information for all skill levels in their learning center. Members also have access to tutorials and presentations by top metal clay artists from all over the world. Membership costs $60 for a year.

Craftcast Metal Clay Video Classes

Craftcast has a huge range of tutorials from international metal clay masters at all skill levels. They cover many techniques and combinations of stones, glass, color techniques, mixed media – you name it, Craftcast has it!

 

copper ammoniteAmmonite in Copper Clay

Quick copper clay tutorial on how to get a realistic copper clay ammonite using a polymer clay mould.

Art Clay Copper Booklet

PDF guide to working with Art Clay Copper Clay from Art Clay World.

Beading Arts – General Instructions for Working with Copprclay

Brief and useful copper clay tutorial featuring the Copprclay brand.

Copper Feathers Project – Metal Clay Ltd

This simple copper clay tutorial is suitable for all levels.

Cyprus Copper Clay Instructions – Cool Tools

Developed by Cindy Silas, Cyprus Copper Clay is an excellent base metal clay medium for jewelry, crafts, sculpture and models. Offered in lump (wet) form, this clay is water based, air dries and fires to .999 pure copper. Economical, easy to form, fire and finish, the fired clay presents as beautiful on its own or as the perfect platform for enameling projects.

Finishing Fired Metal Clay – Hadar Jacobson

Hadar says, ” Even if you are familiar with the finishing process, I suggest that you read it through to refresh your memory. I have been teaching it ever since I started teaching silver clay in the year 2000, but sometimes we get to the finishing part at the end of the workshop, when people are tired and ready to go home. I also recommend it for anyone who intends to take a workshop with me in the future. It will give you a better idea of what to expect.”

Bronze and copper necklaceFire Mountain Gems – Double Stranded Necklace with Bronzclay™ and Copprclay™

Learn how to make tube beads in bronze metal clay and copper metal clay with this great copper clay tutorial. Good pictures.

Firing and Enameling Art Clay Copper – Pam East

This blog entry has lots of great tips and hints on firing Art Clay Copper and then enameling it.

Firing Schedule for Bronze and Copper Clay using Evenheat or Sierra Kilns – PMC Connection

This short and easy to understand copper clay tutorial gives specific instructions for firing bronze and copper clay using the Evenheat and Sierra kilns. From PMC Connection.

Hadar Jacobson – Compatibility of Hadar’s Metal Clays

Great overview of the firing schedules for mixed metal clays using Hadar’s range of bronze and copper clays.

Hadar Jacobson – Copper and Bronze Clay Blog

This blog has tips and hints about using Hadar’s Copper and Bronze clay powder. Well written and illustrated.

Instruction Manual for Hadar’s One-Fire Clays – Hadar Jacobson

This downloadable copper clay tutorial PDF was added in January 2017.

Married metalsMary Ellin D’Agostino – Alloying Silver and Copper Metal Clays

In this tutorial Mary Ellin shows how to combine silver and copper clays to create alloys and “married metal” projects.  She has developed this technique through extensive experimentation and testing.

Meteor Copper Clay

This is the Meteor clay blog, it’s in French. To buy the clay and find out more click here.

Mixing Instructions for Copper and Bronze Clay Powder – Hadar Jacobson

This copper clay tutorial pdf tells you how to mix copper clay powder.

Mokume GaneMokume Gane with Bronze Clay, Copper Clay and Paper Clay – Cindy Silas

Download this great copper clay tutorial about making mokume gane with the base metal clays.

Mokume ganeMokume Gane without an Extruder – Hadar Jacobson

The three clays which create the pattern of colors are Friendly Bronze, Friendly Copper, and Pearl Grey SteelXT. Most of the mokume-gane techniques in metal clay are done with an extruder. Here is a beginners’ project for mokume-gane which does not require an extruder. It is a downloadable PDF called “Twist and Slice.”

Prometheus Copper Clay Information

Prometheus Copper Clay fires in 30 minutes at 850 degrees C and requires no special firing pan. And it comes as syringe clay as well as lump clay.

Prometheus Copper Clay Firing Instructions

Full instructions on the various ways of firing Prometheus Copper Clay.

Tricks for Sealing Your Metal Work – Wanaree Tanner

Great article showing how to seal patina or preserve the surface color of metal without losing the qualities of the color.

Understanding Metal Clay – Hadar Jacobson

Very useful and informative article by Hadar. It explains the sintering process that all metal clays go through during firing. Hadar demystifies the alchemy of metal clay firing and talks about all types of metal clay.