Silver Clay FAQs Frequently asked questions about using silver clay to make silver jewellery

[@thejarukanya]

Thank you for sharing! This is so helpful. I've been working with pmc and currently quite interested in learning more about silver clay. ❤️

[@cooksongold]

You're so welcome!

[@PBK.london]

Great video.very informative however i have one question. After the clay is heated and finished does the silver have any difference in strength and durability to normal cast silver ? Thanks

[@cooksongold]

Sian says: " I think the internal structure of the silver is different from for example cast silver that has be melted and lost wax cast. The silver particles in silver clay sinter together when heated. I've made a lot of long wire like shapes from silver clay and bent them using pliers and was surprised to see they bent like wire. That being said I can imagine if any of the silver clay had been underfired it could be brittle as the silver would not have sintered fully. If you were going to be making a large piece from silver that needed forming with hammers I'd choose sheet silver in the first instance."

[@isabelleisabelle4896]

The explanations are clear but I have a question regarding the shrinkage: is it possible to insert gems in the material, for example for a ring or a pendant, while it is still soft? Is there a risk of craks during the driying and shrinking step?

[@ayamempress1579]

This was such an informative and valuable video. Thank you for the information and education. So great

[@cooksongold]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ZebbMassiv]

Is there such thing as silver clay based 3d printer filament?

[@cooksongold]

Sian says: "Not that I know of in the jewellery section but perhaps in an industrial sector. The closest thing Cooksongold have is laser sintering, so similar to printing a cad design in wax and casting you have a cad design you then 3d sinter using powdered silver."

[@Moanapour2991]

Thank you this was so so so helpful ❤

[@cooksongold]

I'm so glad!

[@edwinj.t.p5998]

Wow Im impressed, I have never heard of this, I do have some more questions? Does a completed piece have a measurable weight? And what type of silver is in the binders? ie, raw silver ore particles, reclaimed process silver scraps, or chemical made silver material? Thanks

[@cooksongold]

Sian says: " Most of the packs of silver clay have a weight and then a silver weight on them. Packs of silver clay are available in 925 sterling silver and 999 fine silver (there are a few other combinations too). There are different brands of silver clay and most use recycled silver particles but the exact 'recipes' are not usually disclosed." A great book to read to understand more is: www.cooksongold.com/Books/Silver-Clay-Workshop:-Getting-------Started-In-Silver-Clay-Jewellery-By-Melanie-Blaikie-prcode-999-A191&query=silver%20clay%20book&channel=uk

[@edwinj.t.p5998]

Thank you so much for sharing, I think I found a new hobby. 🙏

[@shuckieddarns]

Does percentage of shrinkage refer to volume or to length? That is, when I want to embed a centimeter-wide circular (heat-nobresistant) stone, and the clay has a 10% shrinkage rate, should I make the hole 111% as wide in diameter (11.1cm, 1.00cm×(1÷(100-10)%)=1.11cm), or 102% as wide? (1.00cm×(1÷(100-3rd√10)%)=1.02cm) I ask because I want to make a pendant for a friend, but the stone I'd like to put in it is unreliable to withstand the temperature at which I would have to fire my clay. I'm just assuming this would all carry over from silver clay to copper clay. The terminology and measurements, I mean. The reason the third root is important is that if the shrinkage rate is measured at a diameter or a side length, it refers to one dimension as opposed to all three.

[@shuckieddarns]

In case you were wondering, I'll let you know what exactly I was trying to do. I don't expect anyone else to try to do it because well, honestly, it is quite out there. It is very personalized to the person I would give it to. What I am attempting to do is make it look the gemstone is coming out of a rock. The gemstone is peridot. Peridot forms in basalt, which is the rock I intend to mimic. What I shall do is I shall form the clay into the shape, excavate a properly sized cavity for the gem, let it dry, fire it, burnish the interior of the setting, set the gem, paint on liver of sulfur, skipping the burnishing process for the exterior. Afterward, I will probably paint the back side with clear nail polish or clear spray paint so that it doesn't rub against the skin as much. The backside will be flat. Because liver of sulfur brings forth a black color in copper, and because basalt is not a very shiny rock, I figure that a shiny surface of the metal would not properly mimic the rock. The most important quality is the accuracy of the rock as opposed to the shininess. That is the type of person my friend is, and so that is the quality I'm choosing to optimize for. I've never seen anyone paint on liver of sulfur, onto an unburnished surface of a metal clay piece after it had been fired. So this is very much an experimental piece.

[@cooksongold]

The clay is made by mixing silver particles with an organic binder, as you heat the dry clay the binder burns away and this is the reason that the finished piece shrinks during firing, so the piece as a whole will be physically smaller. It's worth practicing and getting used to working with silver clay as a material but also a specific brand of silver clay as they all act/react differently.

[@cooksongold]

Loved reading this :) please let us know how you get on and if you managed to get any photos of your finished piece.

[@GrotesqueN]

Is the fired clay silver more brittle than the regular melted and beaten into shape silver ? Is it more prone to breaking ?

[@cooksongold]

Sian says: " I think the internal structure of the silver is different from for example cast silver that has be melted and lost wax cast. The silver particles in silver clay sinter together when heated. I've made a lot of long wire like shapes from silver clay and bent them using pliers and was surprised to see they bent like wire. That being said I can imagine if any of the silver clay had been underfired it could be brittle as the silver would not have sintered fully. If you were going to be making a large piece from silver that needed forming with hammers I'd choose sheet silver in the first instance."

[@seleniaribeiro6451]

Thank you. Very generous info. What is the fluid used to avoid drying?

[@cooksongold]

A pot like this is great for preventing the clay from drying: www.cooksongold.com/Precious-Metal-Clay/Silver-Clay-Moisturising-And-------Storage-Pot-prcode-855-091 Project X do a rehydration fluid: www.cooksongold.com/Precious-Metal-Clay/Project-X-X2O-Rehydration-Fluid----30ml-prcode-855-322 You can also use water but be sure it does not contain any contaminates or additional minerals.

[@noneya3563]

how much does silver clay cost

[@cooksongold]

www.cooksongold.com/Precious-Metal-Clay/

[@MadelaineCorke]

Hello! What brand of rotary tumbler do you use?

[@cooksongold]

We use this one: www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Gold-Pro-Max-Barrel-Tumbling-------Machine-With-Free-Starter-Kit-prcode-999-6025

[@maryvanderlent]

would moissanite withstand the heat? thank you!

[@cooksongold]

The short answer is yes, however it could change colour during the process but should return to it's normal colour. Moissanite is very durable but as with heating anything there is always a risk!

[@maryvanderlent]

@@cooksongold thank you so much for taking the time to reply!! I can’t wait to try🤗🤗

[@defeatingdeath6220]

Is using this clay and firing it with a blow torch safe to do indoors in an unventilated room or does it have to have good ventilation as you would with certain paints and oils and such?

[@cooksongold]

In the first instance it would be worth looking at the instructions for the specific silver clay you choose as each clay is a bit different. As a general rule you do need a well ventilated room or some form of extraction.

[@lourdesmartinez693]

Hello I have a question, can I solder my silver clay piece with any stone on it? I mean, the stone doesn't break or does it come out of place or loose color when hiting ? Or does it only work with zircons? thank you, sorry for my english, Im not native speaker!

[@cooksongold]

Thanks so much for your question :) No, you can only use stones such as CZ that can withstand high heat.

[@Nour-di7ou]

How to price my work ?

[@cooksongold]

Getting hold of some books like these can help: www.cooksongold.com/Books/The-Creatives-Guide-To-Starting-A--Business-By-Harriet-Kelsall-prcode-999-a174 www.cooksongold.com/Books/Handmade-To-Sell-By-Kelly-Rand-prcode-999-A145

[@abandonallhope.1040]

I want to try but heard the learning curve is steep.

[@cooksongold]

Nothing come easy but silver clay is really accessible and something you can do in your own home!

[@bricology]

SOOOO much repetition!

[@cooksongold]

Thanks so much :)