The Best Tools to Use for Working with Precious Metal Clay

The most expensive piece of equipment you need for working with PMC is a kiln. I highly recommend that you use a kiln, although I will list other firing options in this lens. I believe that you get your best quality result with PMC when you fire with a kiln. Most PMC kilns start around $500 new. This kiln is not designed specifically for PMC, but will work nicely and can also be used for other jewelry techniques.

KILN SATELLITE OVEN JEWELERS/DENTAL

Product Description
New Timework J-100 Kiln. This is a new Timework J-100 kiln. This kiln is excellent for single pieces or large scale production work. Can be used for copper enameling, plastics, heat treating and lost wax casting. Constructed of heavy gauge, galvanized sheet metal hammertone gray finish. Has a top vent for moisture and wax escape. Has a side opening door. Instruments are mounted on the front panel for easy viewing. Has a stepless control. The easily controlled temperature advances from 0 F to 500 F (0 C to 260 C) within 15 minutes and from 500 F to 1,100 F (260 C to 593. C) within 45 minutes. Maximum operating temperature is 2,000 F (1,093 C). Operates on 115V, 60Hz, 14 Amps, 1680 Watts. The chamber measures approximately 8 1/2" x 9" x 6 1/4" (216 x 229 x 159 mm). This kiln measures approximately 13.5" x 14" x 18" (34 x 35.5 x 46 cm).

First, the "n" really is silent, at least according to the American Heritage Dictionary. There are kilns as big as your house, used for cooking everything from grain to stone, but we don't need to concern ourselves with those. Even in the sub-sub-category of benchtop electric kilns there are plenty of questions. Let's take a look at a few:

What are my options?
In descending order: programmable, pyrometer, and unregulated. The first option includes a device that monitors the power and turns it on and off as needed to maintain a specific heat. The second includes a device that measures the kiln's temperature and displays the temperature inside the kiln. You'll need to regulate the heat manually, but you can read the temperature and know what changes to make. In the last category are kilns without a temperature indicator. For these you use a separate pyrometer, temperature indicator pellets, or instinct.

Does the choice of kiln have anything to do with the type of PMC I'm using?
Sort of. A programmable kiln will handle any version with ease and confidence. If you are controlling the heat manually (option #2 above), the shorter firing times and various temperature goals of the newer versions of PMC make the process a lot easier. You could think of it like an archery target. Original PMC must be held at 1650°F for two hours. That's a small circle. PMC+ can be fired at temperatures ranging from 1470° to 1650°F and needs to soak for as little as 10 minutes. That makes it a bigger target. PMC3 can be fired at temps as low as 1110°F and is safe up to 1650°F.

What's the advantage of a programmable kiln?
A programmable kiln can read the temperature inside the kiln and adjust the power to maintain a consistent temperature. They can also be set to turn off at a particular time. The primary advantage of these features is convenience, since a programmable kiln will not require the same constant attention required by a manual or unregulated kiln. But it offers other advantages too, including more consistent results. Because the kiln maintains an even temperature, you can be sure that the fusing process has been optimal. In addition, some buildings experience electrical surges or spikes, so even a carefully watched manual kiln can jump to a high temperature unexpectedly and ruin a batch of work. The programmable kiln operates on heat, rather than current, so whether the heat rises gradually or on a spike, when the temperature gets to the desired setting, the power is immediately shut off.

Can I use the same kiln for pottery and PMC?
Ceramic kilns reach high enough temperatures to fire PMC, but most ceramic kilns are large enough that they have hot and cool zones. This variance is potentially too large to guarantee a successful PMC firing. That is, when the pyrometer reads 1650°F, some areas of the kiln chamber might be 1750°F, a temperature that will melt PMC. That said, the newer, more versatile versions of PMC are easier targets to hit, so ceramic kilns become more viable. The PMC will do no damage to the kiln.

Can I use a caster's burnout oven for PMC?
When PMC was first released, we recommended the Neycraft burnout oven as the most appropriate kiln available at the time. If you already have a burnout oven, you can use it for PMC. Again, there is no danger or maintenance issue in using the same kiln for both purposes. However, if you don't already have a burnout oven, a programmable kiln is only a little more money, and is well worth the investment.

Is one brand better than another?
I don't think so. Choose the features you want and can afford. Kilns with similar features are probably of equal merit, so make your choice based on the kiln's size and cost. The big difference you'll find is that some kilns are made of brick and others use a lightweight refractory foam. Aside from the weight, which only matters if you'll be moving your kiln around, the brick units take longer to reach temperature.

How dangerous are kilns?
Kilns are probably safer than toasters - first, because they are enclosed and second, because we don't take them for granted. Locate the kiln so it has at least 8 inches clearance all around and set a couple bricks or ceramic tiles in front to catch anything that might roll out. If there are children or pets in the area, take appropriate precautions.

How about maintenance and repair?
Kilns are really quite simple and consist of a heat-resistant box, a coil of metal that warms when electricity is passed through it, and a switch, in some cases a switch linked to a temperature reading device. If the "box" breaks, it can be mended with cement from a pottery supply. If the coil breaks (and this is uncommon) you'll need to contact the manufacturer for a replacement. The switch is probably the most fragile part of a kiln. In a simple unit you might be able to buy a replacement at the local hardware store. Replacement programmable devices can be purchased from the manufacturer and wired into a kiln pretty easily.

Can I work in PMC if I don't have a kiln?
Yes. One of the reasons the Mitsubishi scientists developed the ultra-dense PMC3 was to create a silver clay that would fuse at low temperatures in a short time. This opens the door to two unique opportunities - torch firing and Sterno furnaces. With a little practice anyone can use a jeweler's torch to sinter PMC3
Other options include kilns you rig up from other heat sources, such as a jeweler's torch.

If I can torch fire PMC, why should I buy a kiln?
Owning a kiln has changed my life. Okay, that's a bit overblown, but they are great things to have. I have used my PMC kiln to sinter all kinds of PMC, to fuse enamel, and to anneal metal. They can also be used to anneal glass, burnout flasks for casting, slump glass, and make dichroic glass. And if by some chance you find you don't use your kiln, they are easily resalable. The Guild web site offers a new feature called "Buy, Sell, Swap" where I often see people requesting used kilns.

How much do kilns cost?
The cheapest kiln I know of is the Ultralite, which sells for $130. There are a number of annealing kilns sold for glass work that come in around $400 to $450, and the programmable PMC kilns are running around $550.

Another option is to get a PMC Hot Pot. This is not my first choice because it is very limited on what it can fire. But it is an inexpensive way to get started with PMC.

Limitations are:

It can only be used with PMC3.
It can only fire small pieces.
It can only fire a few pieces at a time.
You cannot fire glass in it.
You need to keep buying fuel for it.
(With a kiln, once you buy the kiln, you don't need anything else.)

PMC Hot Pot Kits

Create silver sculpture as easily as working with clay! Precious Metal Clay consists of powdered metal and organic binder, that when fired becomes 99.9% solid silver. Ceramic Hot Pot Kit - These 2 kits come with a Hot Pot, instructions, materials and tools for making a ring or earrings and a pendant. Hot Pot Project Kit - These 3 refill kits include clay, instructions and tools to make a bead, a pendant or another earring and pendant set. These kits come with a Hot Pot, instructions, materials and tools for making a ring or earrings and a pendant.

Buy PMC Hot Pot Kits

Needle File Set 6pc

This popular set has single and double-cut teeth * Includes 1/2-round, round, square, equaling, 3-square, and knife shapes * Ideal for all delicate work * Knurled tang for easy gripping * For wood, plastic, and soft metals * 6 per card

Sephora Brand Professional Emery Board

I have two of these that I have had about 10 years now that I use and reuse to green finish my pieces.

Melissa & Doug Fine Paint Brushes
(set of 4)

Inexpensive children's paint brushes are all you need here. Do not spend a lot of money on these because they will get full of clay.

Xacto X5282 Basic Knife Set

Product Description
- For type "A", "B", and "C" Handles Set Contains: - #1 Knife: For precision cutting and trimming - #2 Knife: For precision cutting of medium to heavy weight materials - #5 Knife: For precision cutting of heavy weight materialsBlade Fits "A" Handle: - #7 Straight Edge Blade - #10 General Purpose Blade - #11 Fine Point Blade - #16 Scoring Blade - #17 Lightweight Chiseling BladeBlade Fits "B" & "C" Handle: - #2 Large, Fine Point Blade - #18 Heavy Weight Chiseling Blade - #19 Angled Chiseling Blade - #22 Large Curved Carving Blade - #24 Deburring Blade

Buy Studio by Sculpey Clay Cutting Tools

Add special and unique touches to polymer clay projects using these tools. All tools are designed to be comfortable and easy to use. This tool includes 4 interchangeable blades: rigid, flexible, wavy, and rick-rack. A set of handles is also included.

Buy Amaco Hard Acrylic Roller



Use this 8" long, 1" diameter solid acrylic rod to smooth polymer clay. It's portable for home, studio, or field use! The non-stick, acrylic surface wipes clean with alcohol.

Buy Wire Brush and Other Tools

This brush is an essential tool that you will need to finish your pieces once fired.

Dremel 300-N/55 300 Series 1.15 Amp 5,000 to 35,000 RPM Variable Speed Rotary Tool with 55 Accessories

From the Manufacturer
The Dremel 300 Series rotary tool offers the precision and control required to complete a wide range of projects--from fine art to home repair. Its variable speed control allows you to set the speed of the tool to match a particular accessory or the task at hand. The 300-N/55 Kit includes mid-size Storage Case & 55 Accessories.

Buy Barrel Tumbler (this is the one I use)



Polish all your metal clay pieces to a matte shine in this barrel tumbler. Uses 2 lb steel shot, sold separately. This is the tumbler I use and it was one of the best investments I ever bought. I have had mine now for 9 years and it still works just fine. If needed the barrel is replaceable. With a tumbler, it really cuts down on your finishing time.

Buy Stainless Steel Shot for Tumbler

Make sure that you order stainless steel shot so it doesn't rust.

These items are necessary for working with PMC, but you can buy them in your grocery store or drug store if you don't already have them.

Playing cards--preferably old ones from an incomplete deck

Olive oil

Graph paper

Page protectors (plastic sheet)

PVC or plastic rollers--can be a piece of PVC pipe about 1/4 inch to 1 inch in diameter and about 6 inches long.

I prefer to work with PMC+, but you have to have a kiln to fire PMC+.

If you are a beginner, and don't have a kiln, then you should use PMC3.

Metal Clay Starter Kit

This is the most common form of PMC. PMC+ is available as a Clay, Paste, or Sheet. It has a shrinkage rate of about 10%, and fires in 10 minutes in a kiln. Use the Paste to coat organic objects such as leaves or pine cones to create an exact replica in silver, or build it up around a completely organic form to create a hollow piece. The water-free Sheet won't break or crack and can be folded like origami paper. Note - Because PMC product is pure silver and gold, prices are subject to change based on market fluctuations.