What is the difference between pmc and pmc3

It is much dryer and firmer in consistency than PMC3, which makes it perfect for fine detail and textures. So again, this is a good reason to plan what you make with this product as the pay-off is slightly less than with other comparable clays. Like PMC3 it can be both torch five minutes and kiln fired, and can be hallmarked as Fine Silver, once finished. PMC Flex is one of the most advanced forms of precious metal clay.

As the name implies, it retains its flexibility once fired making it suitable for more delicate work which might break under normal circumstances.

It has an extremely long working time, which again means it can be quite sticky to handle see previous PMC3 tip about using olive oil or Badger Balm to help reduce stickiness , but it does make it the best choice for complex projects liable to take a long time to model.

Out of all the clays reviewed, PMC flex definitely has the longest drying time, so you must ensure it is fully dry before firing — ideally leave it overnight or put it in a dehydrator if you have one.

PMC Sterling is an altogether different product, and must not be mixed with other PMC clays due to it being a silver alloy as opposed to pure silver. PMC Sterling can be easily moulded, sculpted or carved and is very strong once fired making it ideal for high wear and tear jewellery items. The second-generation silver metal clay formulas contain smaller, more uniformly-sized particles of silver and less binder. They can be fired at lower temperatures and, therefore, can accommodate a wider range of inclusions such as gemstones.

They can also be torch-fired. These clays can be fired according to your choice of multiple firing schedules the higher the temperature, the shorter the minimum firing time needed.

Third-generation silver metal clay formulas can be fired at even lower temperatures than and, therefore, can accommodate an even wider range of inclusions—not only more temperature-sensitive gemstones but also glass. They can also be torch-fired although not all inclusions can withstand torch firing. They offer an even wider choice of firing schedules, depending on your needs and the inclusions, if any, you are embedding.

Again, the higher the temperature, the shorter the minimum firing time needed, and the longer and hotter the firing schedule, the stronger the metal after the clay has sintered. Glass, gemstones or other kiln-safe, heat-sensitive inclusions choose schedule based on the heat-tolerance of the inclusions. If using soap and water, rinse and dry well. Avoid touching the surface with your fingers during or after cleaning. Thin the overlay paste with water to a consistency suitable for painting it onto the surface.

Apply the paste with a small paintbrush making the past layer less than 0. PMC PRO has a surface Vickers hardness that is the same as cast fine silver, and twice that of fine silver metal clays, and much higher tensile strength and bending strength. Unlike fine silver metal clay formulas, PMC Pro must be kiln fired in activated carbon. Many artists loved the strength of PMC Pro but were not interested in working with silver with a lower purity than sterling silver.

Lisa Cain of the Mid Cornwall School of Jewelry developed a recipe and firing method and schedule for mixing hallmark-quality sterling silver clay from existing metal clay formulas, but that was not an ideal solution. PMC Pro was discontinued not long thereafter. Celie Fago pioneered the use of. At the time, the formula was not yet manufactured commercially, but rather mixed at home by thoroughly mixing equal parts of sterling and fine silver clay for about three minutes until they are completely blended.

You can read about the process of mixing sterling clay on Celie's blog and also watch a three-minute video in which she demonstrates the process. Enriched sterling clay has compelling advantages, especially strength and the ability to fire it without carbon, that quickly made extremely popular, especially among professional jewelry artists.

Suppliers started selling combo packs of sterling and fine silver clay specifically for the purpose of mixing this new formula. More than two years later, manufacturers finally are offering commercial, pre-mixed and ready-to-use enriched sterling clay formulas. Note: Since enriched sterling clay is an alloy, it's can be a good idea to knead it to redistribute the copper particles evenly throughout the silver, especially if you don't know how old the package is. This enriched sterling clay, distributed and marketed by Cool Tools, was formulated by Bill Struve, Ph.

Note: Covering the kiln shelf with thin ceramic kiln paper e. Fiber blanket AKA kiln blanket can stick to the clay and therefore is not recommended. In the following video Dr. Struve describes how he came up with EZ Sterling and explains the properties that give it so many advantages over fine and sterling silver clay formulas. PMC gold 24K was the first metal clay formula developed. However, because of the comparatively high cost of gold, fine silver clay was the first to be commercially distributed.

Art Clay World's site provides detailed instructions and firing options for using Art Clay Gold, both lump clay and paste. There are several different ways to apply gold accents to silver metal clay or milled fine silver or sterling silver metal. You can apply heavy Since this article focuses specifically on metal clay brands and formulas, I will not go into detail here about the keum-boo foil or gold electroplating options. In terms of applying gold paste to add gold accents to your silver metal clay creations, you can purchase commercially prepared Art Clay Gold paste or make your own paste by thinning gold lump clay with water or glycerin diluted with water , mashing in a few drops at a time very thoroughly until you have achieved a smooth, very creamy consistency similar to that of heavy cream or thin custard.

If the paste is too thin you won't get a nice, rich gold color. Sheet is ideal for creating large, smooth items. Due to the fact that it is sterling silver and because of the manufacturing process, sheet will be structurally stronger than PMC. However, PMC is ideal for creating patterns and textures as it can easily be moulded or sculpted.

The use of certain construction methods and polishing means that most structural issues can be overcome. A: One of the key advantages of PMC is the fact that it can be re-fired many times, which means that you can add it to an existing piece at any time. For example, if you are making a ring, you can create the band and the top separately.

These can then be put together, using paste, before or after firing.