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I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this lens! :)

From the lens Setting Gemstones in Metal Clay (Precious Metal Clay / PMC or Art Clay Silver and Gold).

  • designsbyharriet Apr 28, 2012 @ 2:27 am | delete
    I searched the internet for info in faceted stones in PMC and was taken to this lens. I found just what I needed to set a diamond cz and I can't wait to try it.
    Thanks.
  • MSchindel Apr 28, 2012 @ 3:22 pm | delete
    I'm delighted to hear that you found exactly the information you were looking for in this lens! Thanks so much for letting me know. :)
  • Kim Apr 5, 2012 @ 9:20 pm | delete
    great lens Margaret, thank you!
  • MSchindel Apr 5, 2012 @ 9:51 pm | delete
    Kim, I'm so glad to hear from you (on FB) that you learned about a new gemstone setting technique from this lens. Thanks for letting me know! You know I'm a huge fan of your metal clay art. :)
  • Kim Apr 5, 2012 @ 9:20 pm | delete
    great lens Margaret, thank you!
  • MSchindel Apr 5, 2012 @ 9:50 pm | delete
    Thanks so much, Kim! :)
  • moonlitta Mar 26, 2012 @ 2:20 pm | delete
    As beautiful as it is practical it may be. Loveable lens!
  • MSchindel Mar 26, 2012 @ 2:23 pm | delete
    Thank you SO much for your wonderful comment and your SquidAngel blessing! I am honored!
  • designsbyharriet Feb 19, 2012 @ 10:06 pm | delete
    A very informative lens,but I wish their had been more pictures of set stones. The video is great, but I learn a lot more from images within the description. Hope you do that in the future. I love your lenses and have been reading them to learn more about PMC and how to work with it.
  • MSchindel Feb 20, 2012 @ 12:17 am | delete
    Harriet, thanks very much for your helpful feedback! I will definitely add your suggestion about adding more images to my to do list. :)
  • sanjeevkumaaar Feb 10, 2012 @ 2:40 am | delete
    HI MSchindel, It's really great lense about gemstones, I also love to write about gemstones. Have a look at once on my gemstones related lense.
    Thanks :)
  • MSchindel Feb 10, 2012 @ 12:39 pm | delete
    Thank you! I will.
  • KarenTBTEN Sep 13, 2011 @ 9:19 pm | delete
    It's good to see a content expert using the platform to put up materials that are original, show a lot of care... and are posted in just the one one place. In a world where it's tempting to put up quick internet signposts, this is an example of professionalism. Blessed by a questing SquidAngel.
  • MSchindel Sep 13, 2011 @ 9:46 pm | delete
    Karen, thank you so much for your wonderful feedback as well as your kind blessing, which I value and appreciate deeply. You truly are an angel!
  • Freakingcat Aug 18, 2011 @ 2:39 am | delete
    Great lense!
  • MSchindel Aug 23, 2011 @ 6:29 pm | delete
    Thanks very much! :)
  • wildlens Jul 5, 2011 @ 1:09 pm | delete
    Great and very, very helpful lens. I was looking for info about firing synthetic gems. Thanks so much!
  • MSchindel Jul 5, 2011 @ 6:26 pm | delete
    Thanks so much for the great feedback, Wildlens! I'm delighted that you found the information you needed here. :)
  • lastlittlebird Feb 23, 2011 @ 2:32 am | delete
    This is a really awesome lense, I always wondered how stones were placed in metal clay... now I know!
  • MSchindel Feb 23, 2011 @ 9:20 am | delete
    Thanks for the lovely compliment! There are many things that make metal clay a wonderful material to work with. One of them is the ability to set gems and other stones (and found objects) in so many different and attractive ways that would be far more time-consuming and difficult to do using traditional "bench skills." I'm so goad you found this lens interesting! :)
  • LisaAuch Sep 9, 2010 @ 3:43 pm | delete
    to be able to take a precious stone and metal and create unique items, is such a creative talent, this is wonderful
  • MSchindel Sep 9, 2010 @ 4:10 pm | delete
    Thanks so much, Lisa! I used to do mosty beaded jewelry before I discovered metal clay, and since all my jewelry designs are one-of-a-kind, metal clay opened up a whole new world for me. It meant I could create my own findings and components for my beaded jewelry, and also make pieces in which I designed and created every component from scratch. It's such a rewarding material to work with. Thank you so much for your wonderful compliment!
  • MSchindel Sep 9, 2010 @ 4:10 pm | delete
    Thanks so much, Lisa! I used to do mosty beaded jewelry before I discovered metal clay, and since all my jewelry designs are one-of-a-kind, metal clay opened up a whole new world for me. It meant I could create my own findings and components for my beaded jewelry, and also make pieces in which I designed and created every component from scratch. It's such a rewarding material to work with. Thank you so much for your wonderful compliment!
  • im2keys Aug 19, 2010 @ 3:48 pm | delete
    you are so in depth in your article, I am totally impressed! my little pmc page pales in comparison... thanks for all your information!
  • MSchindel Sep 9, 2010 @ 4:06 pm | delete
    Hi! Thanks for the lovely compliment, and sorry for the belated reply. I think your lens is very nice! It does a good job of showcasing your designs.
  • MSchindel Feb 8, 2010 @ 11:57 am | delete
    Hi, thanks for your question. Any natural gemstone can be set in metal clay by embedding a setting and then setting the stone after firing. There is no single list of natural gemstones that can be fired in place in metal clay successfully, partly because natural gemstones have unique inclusions that can cause fractures during firing. Several of the links I've provided in the section titled "More Information on Setting Gemstones in PMC and Art Clay," above, include lists of gemstones that different people have test-fired at different firing times/temperatures. These will give you a good idea on which stones should never be fired in place and which ones are a reasonably good bet for firing in place. Whenever you plan to fire a natural gemstones in place, I advise first test-firing the stone BY ITSELF at the same temperature and time as you plan to fire it in the metal clay. If the stone survives the test firing with no ill effects and no change in color, then it probably will react the same when it is fired in place in metal clay. If not, you have ruined only the stone instead of both the stone and the metal clay design. Also, you might want to take a look at a copy of Derek Metzger's book (see the section on "More Books on Setting Gemstones in Metal Clay," above). I hope this information is helpful.
  • Gemstones_Lover Feb 8, 2010 @ 10:41 pm | delete
    Thanks a lot for this info... It was very helpful.
  • Gemstones_Lover Feb 8, 2010 @ 1:43 am | delete
    Can you give me the list of natural gemstones that cab be set in metal clay ? Actually we can use this metal clay for lots of other purpose...
  • MSchindel Jan 7, 2010 @ 11:20 am | delete
    Glad you're finding the information helpful! I don't know the official shelf life of PMC, but in general it's recommended to use the clay within 6-9 months of purchase. However, I've used 2-year-old clay with no problems, other than needing to rehydrate it a bit with distilled water. The real question is whether the binder degrades over long periods of time; I haven't been able to find a definitive answer to that. I'd suggest you try rehydrating/reconstituting it and trying it out. If it's totally dried out, try chopping it into tiny bits and then grinding it with a yard-sale coffee grinder (dedicated to metal clay use) or a mortar and pestle. Then mix in distilled water a few drops at a time, cover tightly, and let it sit for a few hours to overnight. Scrape it onto a piece of heavy plastic wrap and start to knead it through the plastic. If it needs more water, knead in another drop, wrap it tightly (you can clip the twisted plastic with a clothespin), let it sit for a while, knead it again, and repeat, if necessary, until the clay is a good consistency. If necessary, you can add a TINY bit of glycerin from the drugstore, but that can make your dried, unfired pieces a little too flexible to sand/file easily. Roll out, texture, and cut a simple shape from a little of the clay, add a hole, and fire it, and see how it comes out. Good luck! :)
  • HealthFreak2009 Jan 7, 2010 @ 3:01 am | delete
    This is a great lens! I have PMC but have never used it. Do you know if it ever goes bad? I've had it for about 5 years now.
  • MSchindel Feb 25, 2009 @ 8:18 pm | in reply to Noadi | delete
    Thanks so much, Sheryl! I'm delighted that you found the information helpful. If your CZs are colored, I encourage you to test-fire them loose at the same firing schedule as you plan to fire your finished piece to make sure the color doesn't change. If the stones survive the heat without changing color, you'll know it's safe to embed them in your metal clay.
    Thanks again for the great feedback! :)
  • Noadi Feb 25, 2009 @ 5:44 pm | delete
    Great lens! 5 stars for you! I'm just getting started with metal clay and this lens is a big help because I want to add these lovely cubic zirconias I bought to my pieces. Quite an adjustment from using polymer clay.
  • MSchindel Feb 17, 2009 @ 11:54 am | in reply to IsabellasBeads | delete
    Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback, Isabella! I really appreciate your adding this lens to your web site's blog roll. You may find some of my other lenses about metal clay here on Squidoo to be useful to you as well. Thanks again! :)
  • IsabellasBeads Feb 15, 2009 @ 8:14 am | delete
    I LOVE this lens! Thank you for something so informative. I wanted to find information on how to fire a gemstone (onyx) into a metal clay ring that I am making, and you gave me that and so much more! I have added this lens as a favorite obviously, and I have also added you to the blog roll on my website's blog page, www.isabellasbeads.com/blog. I hope you keep providing us with this wonderful and educational material. Thanks again!
  • Glyphman Sep 3, 2008 @ 10:19 am | delete
    Super duper lens!

    Right up my alley. Gave you the five star vote, and lens rolled you to my Bezel Setting Lens

    http://www.squidoo.com/BezelStones

    Drop by when you can and I really did enjoy your lens.

    TaoGem Gemstones
  • MSchindel Aug 12, 2008 @ 8:01 pm | delete
    Hi, Aleta - If you're making a very wide band, you might well consider going up 1/2 size. This is true for rings fabricated from sheet metal as well as those made from metal clay.

    As far as either enlarging the ring yourself with a rawhide mallet and a ring stick or taking it to a jeweler to be stretched, be sure that the ring has been fired at 1650F for 2 hours first. That will ensure that the metal is as strong as it can be. However, any metal made from metal clay will be more porous than, and therefore not as strong as, fabricated sheet metal. So there's always a risk that it could crack during the stretching process. I have stretched metal clay rings successfully with a rawhide mallet and smooth ring stick, but it requires patience, time, gentle taps, and working your way around the band evenly. If you give it to a jeweler, DEFINITELY specify that it was made from metal clay!

    In the future, fire with a ring-sizing patty to ensure the correct size.

    Best of luck with the ring!
  • Louise M Aug 11, 2008 @ 9:36 am | delete
    Absolutely superb!
    Just what I have been looking for (especially being new to PMC!).
    Many thanks,
    Louise, UK
  • Wahab Aug 10, 2008 @ 12:40 am | delete
    Outstanding, classic information and very very helpful
  • Aleta Knapp Aug 6, 2008 @ 6:31 pm | delete
    Hi all - this is my first time on this site and I was actually surfing around to see if I could find information on sizing a metal clay ring after it's been fired. I made a wide band with a set stone for a friend and she gave me her size via a tracing from an existing ring. I measured it with my ring size set to be a 5 1/2. The final ring after firing measured a true 5 1/2, but my friend said it was too small. I'm thinking that maybe if a band is wide, I should size up by a half size in the future to assure proper fit? That was the first thing I was trying to find out. The second is if anyone knows if there is any issue in taking a metal clay ring to a jeweler to have it sized up - would there be any issue because they're sintered and not cast? Would I advise my friend to tell the jeweler it's metal clay? Any help or place to find this type of information would be greatly appreciated. My e-mail address is mermaid@fuse.net. Thanks in advance!
  • JLally Jul 22, 2008 @ 7:10 pm | delete
    This lens has given me lots of new ideas about how to set gemstones in metal clay. Thanks for pulling this all together!
  • Jason Jun 20, 2008 @ 10:22 am | delete
    Brilliant information.....very helpfull and has set me off in a new direction....
  • DazzlingDesigns Mar 24, 2008 @ 3:59 pm | delete
    Very nice lens. Definitely 5-Stars. Please feel free to stop by my Unique Handmade Jewelry Lens.

    Thanks,
    Donia
    Handmade Beaded Jewelry Gallery
  • MSchindel Mar 21, 2008 @ 11:56 pm | delete
    Thanks, Deric! I'll definitely check it out! :)
    Margaret
  • Deric Metzger GJG AJA AJP Mar 21, 2008 @ 2:27 am | delete
    I just thought I should add that there is a book out there (mine) that has been out for some time and took a few years of intense research to write. It shows 107 unique stones and dozens of varieties of each. Take a look if you are into natural gems: www.lulu.com/dericmetzgerPMC
  • magscrafts Feb 10, 2008 @ 4:28 pm | delete
    Thanks for sharing, this is some great information!
  • LeslieBrenner Feb 3, 2008 @ 9:27 pm | delete
    I've never worked with PMC, but find it interesting. Thank you for the useful information.
  • DeWayne-FilmFreak May 21, 2007 @ 5:31 pm | delete
    Excellent lens! I use to sell gemstones in Tennessee and the orange sapphire is a unique gem! 5 stars!

    DeWayne(FilmFreak)- MovieDownloadMatrix.com -
  • KarenS May 2, 2007 @ 9:23 am | delete
    Clear instructions and a well written
    Lens.
    A wonderful How to Lens.
    I've added you to my lensroll.
  • Apr 24, 2007 @ 9:12 am | delete
    Awesome! 5 star len!
  • Cluny Grey Apr 15, 2007 @ 11:35 pm | delete
    Margaret, wonderful of you to generously share your knowledge with others! Excellent!
    Cluny
  • tanyaross_06 Aug 30, 2006 @ 3:27 pm | delete
    Margaret, what a wonderful article!! as always, your instructions are both clear and thorough -- keep it up!

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MSchindel

I'm the Senior Editor of Metal Clay Artist Magazine, the author of more than two dozen Squidoo lenses (three of which have been selected for the coveted... more »

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