VICKY BELL METAL CLAY

ART CLAY COPPERBRONZE CLAY

PREPARATION METAL CLAY IS WATER-BASED AND DRIES NATURALLY IN THE AIR USE CLAY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER OPENING THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE THE CLAY SHRINKS DURING FIRING 10%

WET STAGE Put the clay in some cling film and knead it gently for a few seconds, just to soften it a little before you start working. Cut off us much clay as you need, and put the rest in cling film. If you are using cutters or rubberstamps, oil them slightly before use to stop them sticking to the clay.

SHAPE CLAY Keep a small pot of water and a brush next to you. If you are using cutters or rubberstamps, oil them slightly before use.

DRYING/PRE-FIRING Drying guideline for drying a piece up to 1mm thick, 5g: hot air dryer: mins natural air drying method: more than 24hrs If the piece is larger than this size, drying will need more time. The dried clay will become hard like plaster, it is now ready for the process of drilling, filing and sanding.

PRE- FIRING Sand and drill dry clay before firing

FIRING Kiln firing: Copper clay - preheat kiln to 970°C / 1778°F. for 30 minutes. Quench in water Kiln firing: Bronze clay – preheat kiln to 800°C for 30 minutes. Quench in water.

TORCH FIRING Heat the piece and let the binder burn off. Once the piece starts to glow red, time for 5 minutes. Quench in water

REMOVING SCALE Fired piece quenched immediately with water

FINISHING Place the fired piece into a solution made with pickling solution to take away any oxidized layers on the surface. After firing, the piece is now pure copper or bronze Polish with a metal brush, burnisher, polishing points, a tumbler etc.

FINISHING CLAY Stainless steal brush and burnisher

Due to the differences between Copper clay and Silver clay, the clays may contaminate each other at the wet stage.