Tools and Equipment

You can use the same tools and equipment with Creative as you would use with Clay. When switching between the two types of metal clay it is best to clean tools and equipment using warm soapy water and a soft brush. However, we recommend you use a stainless brush for Precious Metal Clay and a separate brush for Copper and Clays. When using a barrel polisher you must use a separate barrel for the Copper Clay. (You can use the same barrel for your copper and bronze pieces but do not use it for pieces.)

Essential Tools

 Teflon or Work mat  Acrylic spacers and rollers (1.5mm)  Olive oil dispenser or spray bottle  Clayshaper  Paintbrush and water  Small pot for creating paste  Professional Hand held Torch- Please note a kitchen torch will not be strong enough for firing this type of clay.  Torch block  Kiln  Kiln Pillow  Pyrex dish  Picklean granules (Safety Pickle)  Brass Brush

Torch Firing Copper Clay

Copper Clay can be torch fired using a professional butane gas torch providing the piece is no thicker or larger than approximately a 50 pence piece. Heat the piece and let the binder burn off. Once the piece starts to glow red begin timing for a minimum of 7 minutes. After firing, quench your items immediately in pre-mixed Picklean solution and warm water, providing there are no gems set. If you have gems in your items then leave the pieces to cool for an hour before using Picklean solution.

Torch firing Bronze Clay

For best results with Creative Bronze Clay fire using a kiln.

Bronze Clay can be torch fired using a professional butane gas torch providing the piece is no bigger or thicker than a 50 pence piece. Place the piece on kiln pillow then on to a torch block. Use a large soft flame to fire the piece. Heat until the binder burns off. Once the piece starts to glow red begin timing for a minimum of 7 minutes. After firing, quench your items immediately in pre-mixed Picklean solution and warm water, providing there are no gems set. If you have gems in your items then leave the pieces to cool for an hour before using Picklean solution.

Kiln Firing Copper Clay

Preheat you kiln to 920 Celsius or 1688 Fahrenheit. Place your pieces into the kiln and fire for 30 minutes. It is important to wrap or cover your pieces in kiln pillow tightly prior to firing.

After firing for 30 minutes remove immediately from the kiln and quench in pre-mixed Picklean solution and warm water, providing there are no gems set. If you have gems in your items take them out of the kiln and leave them wrapped in kiln pillow for and hour to cool.

Kiln Firing Bronze Clay

For best results, kiln fire all Creative Bronze Clay pieces.

Preheat the kiln to 800 Celsius or 1500 Fahrenheit. It is important to wrap or cover your pieces in kiln pillow tightly prior to firing. Fire for 30 minutes.

After firing, remove immediately from the kiln and quench in pre-mixed Picklean solution and warm water, providing there are no gems set. If you have gems in your items take them out of the kiln and leave them wrapped in kiln pillow for and hour to cool.

After Care

Pickle immediately in Picklean solution following the steps below:

Mix 1 tablespoon of Picklean granules with 200ml of warm/hot water. Place the piece into the solution immediately after quenching and leave in the solution for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes remove the piece from the solution and brush with a brass brush.

To remove stubborn fire-scale and achieve a high shine finish, place your pieces in a tumbler barrel with mixed shot. Add half a tablespoon of Picklean granules and top up the barrel with warm water. The water should cover the shot and be approximately 1cm in depth.

Disposal

Picklean can be poured straight down any normal drain as it is bio-degradable and non-toxic. Q & A

What is the working time of Copper Clay?

Copper Clay has a longer working time than any other type of Metal Clay product currently on the market. Even if left to dry it is easily re-hydrated by adding a little water. Clay that has been completely dried can be turned back into Clay as opposed to paste.

What is the shrinkage of Copper Clay?

Copper Clay shrinks between 6% and 8%. The firing method does not appear to affect the shrinkage rate.

How long should I leave the Creative Metals to dry before firing?

We recommend leaving the Creative Metals for three times the respective drying times of PMC3. For example if you were to make the same item in PMC3 and then in Creative Metal Clay treble the drying time for the Creative Metal Clay. To speed up the process you may want to consider using a hair drier, dehydrator or a food warming hotplate. Can I re-fire the Clay?

Copper Clay can be re-fired at any time as many times as you wish.

How do I know if the Clay has been fired completely?

Both Creative Metal Clays if not fully fired have a clay like appearance to them. You will notice what appears to be a powdery look to the surface of the metal. If fired correctly it should feel and look as you would expect metal to feel and look.

Can I use these metals with glass?

Unfortunately, as the Copper and Bronze are fired at high temperatures the glass would melt. So no you cannot use glass with the Copper or Bronze clays.

Can I mix PMC into the Copper Clay?

Technically you can as the shrinkage rates are similar. However, the metal particles retain the heat differently making it easy for the silver to melt. As a result we recommend creating designs whereby the components are of different metals.

Coming soon: Forthcoming issues of FineSilver magazine will show how to combine Copper, Bronze and Silver clays.

Can I mix Creative Copper and Creative Bronze Clays?

No. (Please read the next question for further reasoning)

Why? What is Bronze Clay?

There is no point in mixing copper and bronze even if you could. This is because Bronze is actually made up from approximately 90% copper and 10% tin. It is a material that was originally invented to overcome weaknesses in the two materials for use in hand tools etc. Copper was to soft and tin was too brittle. Mixing the two in this approximate ratio gave a stronger and more versatile hand tool. So mixing copper with bronze clay wouldn't make any sense.

How do I remove the fire-scale?

Either you can keep the fire-scale as it can give an instant aged effect that can be polished up with a brush and in the tumbler. It will look similar to using on Fine Silver.

Alternatively, if you would like to remove the fire-scale we recommend using a product called Picklean which is a revolutionary safety pickle. It can be mixed in small amounts using water from the kettle and is bio-degradable, non-toxic and food safe. Simply mix 200ml of hot water in a heat proof container, and then add one table spoon of Picklean granules and stir until granules have dissolved. Then Insert the Cooper piece and leave for 10 minutes. Remove from the solution and brush using a brass brush.

Achieving a high shine finish

We have tested the effects of replacing tumbler soap with Picklean. The results have been fantastic! This has nearly eradicated all issue's to do with stubborn fire-scale. It also achieves quite a high shine finish. Examples can be viewed in the gallery. Results can be seen on the bottom two rows of the gallery.

Please be aware that you must use stainless steel shot if you are going to use Picklean in your barrel. Place half a tablespoon of Picklean in the barrel and cover the surface of the shot with hot water.

Your shot will come up a pinky colour so washing the shot and barrel thoroughly between uses is recommended.

Tumble twice, cleaning the shot and barrel between uses and then replace the Picklean solution and warm water for a final tumble. Tumble for half an hour at a time.