Silver Clay
I love this stuff so much that I'm even prompted to actually make an entry in my LJ.
It's Silver Art Clay or Precious Metal Clay ( PMC) depending on what brand you buy. Basically little lumps of clay or syringes full of clay that you can pipe .... shaped into whatever you like .... fire it in a kiln ... hey presto you have a 99.9% silver piece of whatever it was you shaped it into.
http://www.pmcguild.com.au/home.htm
http://www.chockadoo.com/Newsletter/silverartclay.html
For some stunning examples of what can be made with silver clay, join this yahoo group and spend hours ooohing and aaaahhhhing while you trawl the photo section ...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MetalClay/
Apparently there are Japanese forums and groups online that have the most incredible designs, but damned if I know how to google them. I've decided they're mythical places, spoken about in hushed tones to annoy me because I can't find them. Probably best I don't ever discover where they are though. I'll be so overwelmed by their fabulous examples that I give up and never touch my own supplies again.
There's lots of links. Just google silver clay/PMC/silver art clay etc. PMC in Australia is quite a bit more expensive than the Silver Art Clay for some reason. They both work the same, so I just buy whatever's cheapest.
Absolutely brilliant. I love this material almost as much as a napoleonic time agent in Fuck Me Boots. I said almost.
I bought some last year and had a tinker, but I pulled out all my tools and supplies again last night to have an earnest go at it this weekend. Niece has a charm bracelet and is nagging for some custom charms, so it's time to get creative, although surprise surprise most of the things I made last night seem to be for me, not her. *evil cackle*. Do you think she'd be upset if I made her a pair of tiny silver Fuck Me Boots? Or a charm showing two familiar Time Agents shagging? She's 11. I'm sure it's perfectly suitable and her mother will thank me.
I'm rubbish at piping with the syringe, although it's great fun. Tried to make fine elaborate filigree but ended up making strange blobs instead. I'm having the best results by using texture mats to put patterns on the clay when it's soft then carving into the clay with all my deadly scalpels and dental-type tools when it hardens up .
Has anybody used this stuff before? Anybody planning to? It's an expensive hobby but So. Much. Fun!
It's Silver Art Clay or Precious Metal Clay ( PMC) depending on what brand you buy. Basically little lumps of clay or syringes full of clay that you can pipe .... shaped into whatever you like .... fire it in a kiln ... hey presto you have a 99.9% silver piece of whatever it was you shaped it into.
http://www.pmcguild.com.au/home.htm
http://www.chockadoo.com/Newsletter/silverartclay.html
For some stunning examples of what can be made with silver clay, join this yahoo group and spend hours ooohing and aaaahhhhing while you trawl the photo section ...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MetalClay/
Apparently there are Japanese forums and groups online that have the most incredible designs, but damned if I know how to google them. I've decided they're mythical places, spoken about in hushed tones to annoy me because I can't find them. Probably best I don't ever discover where they are though. I'll be so overwelmed by their fabulous examples that I give up and never touch my own supplies again.
There's lots of links. Just google silver clay/PMC/silver art clay etc. PMC in Australia is quite a bit more expensive than the Silver Art Clay for some reason. They both work the same, so I just buy whatever's cheapest.
Absolutely brilliant. I love this material almost as much as a napoleonic time agent in Fuck Me Boots. I said almost.
I bought some last year and had a tinker, but I pulled out all my tools and supplies again last night to have an earnest go at it this weekend. Niece has a charm bracelet and is nagging for some custom charms, so it's time to get creative, although surprise surprise most of the things I made last night seem to be for me, not her. *evil cackle*. Do you think she'd be upset if I made her a pair of tiny silver Fuck Me Boots? Or a charm showing two familiar Time Agents shagging? She's 11. I'm sure it's perfectly suitable and her mother will thank me.
I'm rubbish at piping with the syringe, although it's great fun. Tried to make fine elaborate filigree but ended up making strange blobs instead. I'm having the best results by using texture mats to put patterns on the clay when it's soft then carving into the clay with all my deadly scalpels and dental-type tools when it hardens up .
Has anybody used this stuff before? Anybody planning to? It's an expensive hobby but So. Much. Fun!