Trying to Get Started With PMC Metal Clay?
If you are just getting started with PMC, this lens is full of tips, tutorials and tricks to help get you started along with where to buy materials and links to lots of projects.
A couple of things to start off with--if you are going to invest in a kiln, I recommend working with PMC to start off. If you are going to buy a hot pot to fire with, then you need to get PMC3 (the low temperature version).


What is Precious Metal Clay?
Pure silver or gold
PMC+®Description: Work, roll, cut, shape and fire versatile PMC® like clay. After firing, it comes out of your oven as a pure silver object. PMC+ shrinks less and has a stronger molecular bond than original formula PMC. It fires at a lower temperature, allowing you to combine sterling findings with your PMC+ before firing. Create jewelry, beads, components-anything you can do with clay, you can do with PMC! Please Note: Pricing is based on the precious metal content at market prices.
PMC+®
Specification: Composition: 90% fine silver powder, 10% water and organic binder;Color: Pickle white;Shrinkage: 12%;Physical Properties:-- Firing temperature: 1650°F (899°C) for two hours to achieve highest hardness and maximum durability; or 1470°F (800°C) for 30 minutes; or 1560°F (850°C) for 20 minutes; or 1650°F (900°C) for 10 minutes. -- Melting point: 960°C (1762°F);-- Density after firing: 9.15 S.G. (rolled silver = 10.5 S.G.)
Please Note: PMC® has a strong adverse reaction to contact with aluminum. Do not use aluminum tools or allow your PMC to come into contact with any aluminum object.
Metal Clay Safety
- Getting Better Results with Liver of Sulphur
- There are many ways to finish your Precious Metal Clay pieces, but I like to use Liver of Sulphur the best. I am going to tell you how I like to finish my pieces with Liver of Sulphur and how I have learned to control the results I get. ...
- Dispute with Owner & PMC - Right to Information
- Respected Sir, I Mr. Hitendra A. Chudasama want to know about the rules of termination of Contract given on Labour with Shuttering Material for Constrution of Factory and PMC (Project Managment. ... they are just delaying me to use my shuttering material from date 15/10/09 to till date even thought they had done my labours in there side by giving them money and dream of full work to them by removing me and they are doing the same job, first PMC was having Problem with the ...
- Genea-Musings: Three APG/PMC Presentations Available to View
- Do you want a peek at some of the presentations made at the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) Professional Management Conference (PMC) in September 2009 at the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) conference in Little ...
- The Difference Between Art Clay Silver and Precious Metal Clay
- What is the difference between Art Clay Silver and Precious Metal Clay? Really they are basically the same material. However, they are enough chemically different that you cannot combine them in one project. You can use the same methods ...
Basic PMC Tips

1. Keep your PMC sealed in the package until you are ready to use it.
2. Once out of the package, keep your PMC moist with a spray bottle.
3. Never, never, never waste any of the PMC.
4. Use PMC slip to "glue" your pieces together.
5. Don't use expensive tools. They will get ruined.
Introduction to Precious Metal Clay
Introduction to Precious Metal Clay
Amazon Price: $17.96 (as of 11/07/2009)![]()
Product Description
Introduction to Precious Metal Clay from Wardell Publications art glass introduces precious metal clay, one of the most remarkable developments in silver and gold metal working since lost wax casting was developed thousands of years ago. An easy to understand teaching style is presented in this step by step book to guide crafters through the process of hand forming this remarkable clay material to produce distinctive silver and gold jewelry. Artist and instructor MaryAnn Devos uses 18 engaging projects to impart a broad understanding of the fundamentals. It looks, feels and is shaped just like potters clay but after firing all that is left is solid precious metal. The fabrication process requires much less equipment and training than traditional metal work, making it easily accessible to artists, hobby crafters, and fine jewelers. The material is so user friendly that people of any age or creative background can be instantly successful. It can be combined with many materials such as semi precious gems, glass, porcelain, ceramics, sculpture, and mixed metals, among others. Every successful artist develops a unique personal style. This product is available in fine silver and 24K gold. It is composed of microscopic metal particles, a non toxic organic binder and water.
The Cardinal Rule of PMC
Do not waste a spec of your Precious Metal Clay. It can be reused or reconstituted.

PMC is a wonderful material to make beads.
More Resources for Learning PMC
PMC Metal Clay | Creating Design Motifs
Precious Metal Clay's unique qualities allow artists to create precious metal jewelry in a much faster way using completely different techniques than...0 points
The Best Tools to Use for Working with Precious Metal Clay
Are you interested in working with PMC or Precious Metal Clay? Not sure what tools or supplies you need to work with PMC?PMC clay is one of the greate...0 points
The Top 10 Reasons that I Love to Work with PMC
I am an avid fan of Precious Metal Clay, also called PMC, a non-toxic material made by Mitsubishi Corporation. PMC is made of metal particles bound to...0 points
PMC Metal Clay | Hollow Beads
Making hollow beads out of Precious Metal Clay is a good way to keep your pieces lighter weight, and use less PMC per piece. That means that the jewel...0 points
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The Art of Creating Jewelry
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Creating jewelry is my passion, and I have been making and selling jewelry for the past 12 years. This lens is about my journey from beader to jeweler to artist. There is definitely a difference between a beader, jeweler, and artist. And it takes a...
Precious Metal Clay Tutorials
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Working with Precious Metal Clay
Working with Precious Metal Clay (Jewellery Handbooks)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/07/2009)![]()
Product Description
Precious Metal Clay (PMC) is a material for jewellers and craft people which is as easy to manipulate as polymer clay, but when it is fired, the resulting object is 99.9per cent solid silver. This book describes how to work with PMC, including firing and finishing, and includes a set of projects.
Recommended PMC Books
This is a list of great PMC books. I have dog eared copies of most of these in my own studio, and I highly recommend that you get at least one of two of these. Books for Beginners
Technique Manuals
Advanced Books
Highlight on Tim McCreight
Tim has been working in metals since 1970 and along the way has published more than a dozen books and made four videotapes. He served a term as president of the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG), and has has been on the boards of Haystack, the American Craft Council and the PMC Guild. He has taught workshops in the United States, England, Canada, Mexico, and Japan. He writes for several magazines and consults for industry.
Tim McCreight is one of the pioneers with Precious Metal Clay, and his books are used as textbooks in art classes across the globe. His books are very thorough, and wonderful to use as reference. He is an expert on traditional jewelry design and Precious Metal Clay.
It has been ten years since Precious Metal Clay was introduced in the United States, and it is time to see what artists have done with this fascinating material. This book gathers for the first time work made by leaders in the field. A critical essay by noted designer Donald Friedlich and a technical explanation from scientist Darnall Burks make this a landmark volume for artists and collectors.
Review:
"There is no one better qualified or more appropriate to bring us this outstanding review of "The First Ten Years of Precious Metal Clay" than world-renowned metalsmith, teacher, author, jeweler and acknowledged PMC guru Tim McCreight. His prefatory remarks provide a personal look back at PMC's birth in Japan and its subsequent introduction into the United States - a process in which he played a leading role. The essay by world-class metalsmith and jewelry artist Donald Friedlich on the "Progress and Potential" of PMC is an insightful and thought-provoking exploration, not just of this medium but of art and artists' use of their media in general. And physicist Darnall Burks' explanation of "The Science of PMC," accompanied by Tina Carvalho's amazing electron microscope images of sintered PMC, breaks down the physics into simple language that all of us can understand.
But the main focus of the book is the chapter titled simply, "The Decade," which presents more than 200 pages of some of the most remarkable and ground-breaking PMC work from the past ten years. McCreight has selected a wide variety of impressive artists and striking art to represent the period, and while not all of them will appeal to every reader, it is obvious why each artist and piece was chosen for inclusion. And many of the pieces are absolutely breathtaking!
One of the most valuable features of the book is the layout of the gallery pages. Each high-quality photo is large and occupies its own page, allowing us to focus all our attention on one piece at a time and to examine all the astonishing detail inherent in each of the featured designs.
The book ends with a chronology of key historical events along with a helpful list of publications from the period.
This is a seminal work by this country's leading advocate and authority on Precious Metal Clay. It's beautiful enough to be considered a "coffee table book," but it's much richer and more valuable than mere "eye candy." I know I will turn to it again and again, both for inspiration and for the pure pleasure of appreciating the extraordinary art captured in its pages.
I highly recommend adding this satisfying and important volume to your library. "
Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing
Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing (Jewelry Crafts)
Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 11/07/2009)![]()
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
A professional metalsmith and teacher well known as the author of a standard text, The Complete Metalsmith (Davis, 1991. rev. ed.), McCreight offers a lavishly illustrated guide to techniques. As indicated by the title, this book covers metalworking fundamentals and is similar to Jinks McGrath's The Encyclopedia of Jewelry-Making Techniques (LJ 11/1/95). Photographs of other artists' pieces are interspersed throughout the text without any textual explanation, though evidently they are included as finished examples of the processes being discussed. No projects are included.
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The Top 10 Reasons that I Love to Work with PMC
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I am an avid fan of Precious Metal Clay, also called PMC, a non-toxic material made by Mitsubishi Corporation. PMC is made of metal particles bound together in an organic binder which acts mostly like ceramic clay in its green state. Then once it is...
Complete Metalsmith, Professional Edition
I was blown away - this is truly complete. I hope it gets the recognition it deserves-- it's a masterpiece. -- Bruce Baker Studio
If you are a super-serious metal worker, you'll like this version, which is twice as big as the Student Edition. -- Tammy Powley, About.com
--a smart, stylish cover and larger binding rings -- expanded many topics -- a legacy for future generations. -- Tom & Kay Benham, Lapidary Journal
Complete Metalsmith: Professional Edition
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 11/07/2009)![]()
Product Description
This handsome book is twice as large as the STUDENT EDITION. IT COVERS THE SAME MATERIAL, but goes into greater depth. A rigid fabric cover and elastic band makes this a place to store sketches and notes; more than a book, it's a practical tool.
Usually ships in 24 hours
Precious Metal Clay kits make a terrific gift for any artist or hobbyist. It is fun to work with and addicting!
Push Play for PMC
Tutorial DVD
This was one of the first videos I bought on learning to use and work with PMC/metalclay - and it is still one of my favorites. The style of the video itself is comfortable and easy going, something I enjoy having on in the background in my studio. I have bought and watched I think every video DVD learning ever made on metal clay and jewellery techniques and this, in my opinion, is one of the better metal clay videos. Tim McCreight and Celie Fago are both excellent jewellers and each has a very different style so seeing them bounce thoughts off each other is a learning experience.
Listen in as two leaders of the PMC community share their thoughts and techniques for precious metal clay. Tim McCreight brings to the table two decades of experience as a metalsmith and teacher. Celie Fago began her artistic career in painting, then moved to polymer clay and now combines skills from all those areas with PMC. In a unique format, these two artists share ideas and swap jokes in a highly engaging and informative exchange.
Tim McCreight says, "It was a great treat to work with Celie. Instead of pretending to have a conversation with a camera lens, I was able to have a real dialog with a friend. I think this format allows us to be more genuine, with the result that the video is not only informative, but enjoyable. OK, at least not painful to watch, as some can be."
Clay Texture Sheets: Set B (Screen/Stripe/Check/Dot)
Texture sheets are a great way to add texture to your piece
Clay Texture Sheets: Set B (Screen/Stripe/Check/Dot)
Amazon Price: $2.85 (as of 11/07/2009)![]()
Product Description
These texture sheets are a quick way to add textures to your clay projects. Includes 4 sheets per package. Each sheet is a different pattern. Many sets of sheets available! Size of sheet: 4.75" x 6.25".
Usually ships in 3-4 business days
PMC Tutorials
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PMC Metal Clay | Hollow Beads
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Making hollow beads out of Precious Metal Clay is a good way to keep your pieces lighter weight, and use less PMC per piece. That means that the jewelry you end up with would be less expensive to the end user. It also allows you to make much bigger p...
-
The Best Tools to Use for Working with Precious Metal Clay
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Are you interested in working with PMC or Precious Metal Clay? Not sure what tools or supplies you need to work with PMC? PMC clay is one of the greatest materials to work with. You can be a beginning artist or hobbyist and end up with finished prec...
-
PMC Metal Clay | Creating Design Motifs
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Precious Metal Clay's unique qualities allow artists to create precious metal jewelry in a much faster way using completely different techniques than traditional metalsmithing. The result is highly creative pieces using precious metal alone or in com...
Precious Metal Clay Resources
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Working with PMC is Fun!
Don't get too overwhelmed. Just create. PMC is lots of fun to work with.
Paula Atwell Fine Silver Jewelry
Thanks for Stopping By
OhMe wrote...
I didn't even know the term PMC and sure learned a lot from this lens. Your work is beautiful.
3c86a4 wrote...
Lovely work! Thank you for sharing the idea of working with PMC. This looks like something I would like to try. 5 Stars.
Intuitive wrote...
I think the gallery of your own work is the best part of the lens. :) 5*
nightbear wrote...
very informative, I love the videos, great details. wonderful craft.
aj2008 wrote...
Your jewellery is so lovely Paula. My eldest daughter is very creative, I ought to suggest she tries using PMC.
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The Art of Creating Jewelry
-
Creating jewelry is my passion, and I have been making and selling jewelry for the past 12 years. This lens is about my journey from beader to jeweler to artist. There is definitely a difference between a beader, jeweler, and artist. And it takes a...
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