The PMC Studio Ltd. 17 Chiltern Business Centre 63 - 65 Woodside Road, Amersham Bucks, HP6 6AA Phone: 0870 850 0151 Fax: 01494 728 629 E-mail: info@thepmcstudio.com Website: www.thepmcstudio.com, www.pmcinfo.co.uk

© The PMC Studio Ltd. 2008

An Introduction to

Precious Metal Clay Deluxe kit

The PMC Studio

The PMC Studio is the official UK distributor of Precious Metal Clay. The heart of PMC’s European operation*, the PMC Studio was founded in August 2005 by Helen O’Neill and is dedicated to providing a full range of clay, tools, equipment and training for the PMC artist. In addition, it offers accredited certification courses. These courses, which run regularly throughout the year, are suitable for anyone wishing to learn everything there is to know about PMC. The PMC Studio also offers a full range of products on-line through its website (www.thepmcstudio.com), *There are also PMC distributors in Iceland, Sweden and Spain. For all other European countries please contact The PMC Studio in the UK.

Precious Metal Clay - An exciting new medium

Precious Metal Clay (PMC) is one of the most exciting and versatile forms of 21st century craftsmanship. A complementary medium to Sterling Silver, it is a fascinating new way to create patterns and textures - not just because it can be sculpted but because it can be re-fired many times which provides the chance to remodel or embellish an exciting piece any time.

Finishing To achieve the best finish, refine your piece as much as possible prior to firing, repeatedly filling any small cracks with paste and then once dry, sanding with fine sandpaper. Once fired your PMC piece will look white, due to the uneven textured surface. By polishing the surface the molecules compact and a high shine can be achieved. Step 1 :Matt Finish Use a stainless steel brush to smooth the surface and achieve a matt finish. Step 2: High Shine finish Continue to smooth the surface by burnishing with an agate or metal burnisher. (A dremmel or polishing mop can also be used.) Step 3: Add strength & Shine The use of a barrel polisher/tumbler will Polish and Compact your PMC thus making it stronger. Maintaining your PMC As PMC is pure silver the rate of tarnish will depend mainly on the way the piece is worn. PMC can be polished using silver polish.

What is PMC? Precious Metal Clay (PMC) is made by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation in Japan using ground silver particles, a non-toxic organic binder and water. During firing (using a butane torch or kiln) the binder burns off and the water evaporates, leaving you with a piece that is 99% pure silver. As such, it can be hallmarked as Fine Silver. It is also available in 22K gold.

Hallmarking PMC Items with a weight of more than 7.78g of silver or 1g of gold PMC can be hallmarked as either Fine silver (.999) or 22K gold. Due to the structure of the PMC particles The PMC Studio recommends Assay offices to use 3D laser technology to hallmark items.

Assay Offices London 0207 606 8971 Birmingham 0121 236 6951 Sheffield 0114 275 5111 Edinburgh 0131 556 1177

Fused silver particles after firing

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

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Sample of 3D laser hallmarking - London

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Firing Getting started

Product type

Temperature Firing time

Approx. Shrinkage

PMC3 1290 F/700 C 10 mins 10 %

PMC+/Gold 1650 F/900 C 10 mins 15 %

PMC Standard

1650 F/900 C 2 hours 30 %

Torch firing

Suitable for items approximately the size and thickness of a 50 pence piece as you need to keep the entire item heated. Both PMC3 and PMC+ can be fired with a torch. Place your item on a torch block. Switch on the torch and gently heat your PMC item. After a short while you will see a flame appear - this is the binder burning off. Once the binder has burnt off the PMC item will start to glow orange. (Be careful not to let the piece glow dark orange or red as it will melt.) This is where you need to start timing the sintering process. Time at least two minutes. Quench your piece in a water or leave to cool before polishing. Firing in a kiln Ideal for firing multiple items and where PMC has been combined with other materials such as other metals, glass, ceramics, wood clay or organic materials. The Evenheat PMC kiln is pre-programmed and can also be used for glass fusing, slumping and enamelling.

The PMC Studio Deluxe Starter Kit includes: • 1 x 25g PMC3 clay • Instant ignition Torch • Torch Block • Teflon sheet • Workmat • Badger balm (release agent) • Paintbrush • Clay shaper • Roller and spacer set • Sandpaper • Rubber block • Metal Burnisher

A starter kit is the perfect introduction to the fascinating and limitless creative world of precious metal clay. It will enable you to design and make your own fine solid silver jewellery in a few quick and easy steps.

Not included: cup of water, straw, and butane gas (available from news-agents).

Interested in learning more? Courses The PMC Studio runs an extensive range of courses from beginner’s to advanced. Unable to attend a course? Why not look at our range of books and DVDs. For details of courses, books and DVDs look at www.thepmcstudio.com. Kits Further kits available are the Enamelling Kits and Ring Kit. For details look at www.thepmcstudio.com

www.thepmcstudio.com Tel. 0870 850 0151 www.thepmcstudio.com Tel. 0870 850 0151

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It is best to design your piece prior to getting started, that way the clay won’t dry out and you can allow for the shrinkage of about 10 per cent. Start by rubbing a little Badger balm onto your hands. Place the Teflon on the worksheet and use your spacers and roller to roll out the clay. Take a fresh leaf and roll onto the clay to create an imprint. Alternatively, you can also use a rubber stamp mat, piece of lace, buttons or any other texture. Return any unused clay back into the pouch and add some wet tissue to keep it moist. Cut out around the leaf. Smooth the edges using a damp paintbrush. Now create a hole for adding a jump ring by using a small straw. Leave the pendant to dry. Once dry, use fine sandpaper to gently smooth the back and edges of your piece. Keep any PMC powder as this can be re-constituted into paste by adding a little water. Your PMC piece is now ready for firing. See page 6.

A range of stones can be brought from the PMC Studio website; www.thepmcstudio.com Set the table of the stone level with the clay so that the girth is safely embedded once the clay has shrunk during firing. See diagram on the right. Simple push in method Ensure the depth of the clay is sufficient to take the height of the stone. Place the stone on top of the clay and use the clay shaper to press the stone into the clay. Raised bezel Create your base piece. Create a simple bezel with a second piece of clay making sure the depth of the combined pieces is equivalent to the height of the stone. Press the stone into the top section. Now use a damp paintbrush or PMC paste to join the two pieces together. Press the top section to ensure both pieces are securely joined leaving no gaps between the top and bottom sections. Coil bezel Roll a thin coil and wrap around a small straw. Use the excess clay to wrap around the stone making sure the height of the combined pieces is equivalent to the depth of the stone.

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Textured Pendant Setting a fire-proof stone

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