How to create perfect fitting fine silver precious metal clay capped crystals, part 1

It took me 20 years to realize the way to make a perfectly fitted cap for crystals and other objects was right under my nose!
I've been quiet about the exact process for several years ... but after purchasing my newest selection of crystals, I felt compelled to share my secrets.
This is part one of how to make perfectly fitting caps for even the craziest shaped crystals and objects. Considering the myriad factors in making a cap that fits, this technique was a revelation. It's all about retarding the shrinkage and here's how it begins.
The next video will be forming the metal clay around the caps, making the bail and then securing the finished caps onto the crystals.
Side note ... Overall, PaperClay doesn't shrink. but I mentioned as I'm making the PaperClay cores that it shrinks when air-dryed. That shrinkage is VERY modest and really doesn't affect the outcome of the piece. Drying the cores in a low temperature oven (250F for 1 1/2 hours should do it) negates the shrinkage altogether.
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Creative PaperClay: amzn.to/3CAS0Q1
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#pmc #crystals #talismans

[@sebeckley]

Thank you for sharing such hard earned knowledge! Many people wouldn't. ❤

[@tendingahandmadelife]

You are so welcome! It's a really good thing to share ...

[@theindigomuse]

You truly have a calming presence! I look forward to seeing more in this series 🥰

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Thank you! I do love sharing these little videos!

[@cindyeckols8523]

Thank you soooo much for sharing this. I am so excited to try this. You are such an angel for sharing.

[@tendingahandmadelife]

It feels good to let it go out into the world!

[@marchbaby370]

Thank you so much for sharing. Just found you & I could watch you for hours and hours ❤❤❤❤ 😊

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Oh golly, thanks so much! It's so gratifying to hear folks like my little channel!

[@gerlander5]

Love this video!!!

[@Creativeassemblages]

Thanks for sharing your processes. Wonderful relaxing video of watching you work.

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Thank you! Always nice to know my little videos are well received! 🙏

[@HONEYBADGER-hp4wv]

oh Wow , your imperial topaz is a great find ! Beautiful work .

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Thank you! I found a terrific Brazilian vendor with his own mines and a nice guy as well.

[@jscreatedesign]

Thank you for showing this. I hope to try one day.

[@tendingahandmadelife]

I hope this helps … good luck! 🙏

[@Trisha-Poxon]

Thank you so much for this amazing video x

[@tendingahandmadelife]

🙏 🙏🙏

[@laurar8486]

Thank you! Looking forward to your next one!

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Just posted #2!

[@laurar8486]

@@tendingahandmadelife thank you! I watched and enjoyed it! 💜

[@ocelotcat]

Thank you 💕🙏

[@cross40]

Thank you for sharing! Loved this video. I subscribed and will go watch more :)

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Thanks so much! Hope you enjoy perusing my little channel ...

[@trishseal]

Thankyou!

[@user-jf7oo7iz8c]

👍

[@butai__]

Excelente video aprendí mucho y lindas piezas de joyería. Cómo se llama la arcilla que no se recoge o reduce ? La que usas para mantener el bisel en su tamaño. Gracias ✨🌞

[@tendingahandmadelife]

🙏🙏🙏 Creative Paperclay, a.co/d/dMlZ967

[@butai__]

@@tendingahandmadelife thank u

[@jusisossamon]

Looking for a rotary tool to cut my stone. You mentioned using a diamond cut off wheel. Anything you would specifically recommend as far as brands for the Dremel?

[@tendingahandmadelife]

I don't really have any brand preferences for tools and tend to buy what's available from the wholesale supplier, Rio Grande. A couple of other options to consider, www.cooltools.us/ and contenti.com/ . Both good companies with quality products.🙏

[@noahk7985]

Very interesting. Just curious have you tried firing the stones after putting the PMC on the stones?

[@tendingahandmadelife]

There are some stones that will survive firing, but the crystals I use will not. Stones like amethyst or citrine or topaz May survive, but the color burns out. Things like jasper or opaque stones like turquoise and lapis, have too many inclusions and will blow up. Stones that survive firing are corundum (rubies and sapphires), garnet, peridot (fired at a lower temp) and a few others.

[@maryannmonaco2673]

I subscribed when is part 2 coming and do you have more videos of other processes??

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Part 2 is in the works … filmed and ready to be edited down along with other post production bits.

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Other process videos are in a playlist of jewelry demos.

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Just posted #2

[@user-ny7wh3gi3j]

🙏🏽 beautiful thank you May l ask why all jewellers in America call solder 'soder'? I mean no disrespect just noticing it lots . ✌🏽✨🌼

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Oh golly, start with that one and the list of different pronunciations would go on for quite a ways. Just us Yanks messing with the language!

[@thebutterfluffman6855]

Im not into the whole stone thing but they look very pretty.

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Thank you!

[@jasminepetal3972]

It would be a good idea to get a stand so you can put your filming device right above you so its like were looking out of your eyes cuz its hard to see what's really going on from the side at a horizontal view....

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Thanks. I've thought about that, but I so rarely do these kinds of demonstrations, not sure it's worth the investment. If I find myself drawn to making more of these kinds of videos, I'll definitely look into a different setup.

[@petipeti775]

Can those crystals withstand the high temperatures when firing silver art clay?

[@tendingahandmadelife]

No, not at all. The videos show how I make the caps separate and then affix them afterwards. Good luck!

[@user-kw6cr3wu9k]

*Paste solder* - what is this? Can be more?

[@tendingahandmadelife]

tinyurl.com/3e79tx75

[@BobbieWilsonATX]

What temp do you cook the clay at?

[@tendingahandmadelife]

I fire to 1650 for two hours.

[@BobbieWilsonATX]

@@tendingahandmadelife The paper clay.

[@tendingahandmadelife]

It's all fired at the same time ... PMC3 and PaperClay. Part 2 with the rest of the process is in the works.

[@BobbieWilsonATX]

@@tendingahandmadelife The first part, after you put the paper clay into the bezel, you state you bake it a low temperature but not what temp to dry it.

[@tendingahandmadelife]

@@BobbieWilsonATX Hi again. Apologies that I wasn't clear in the first video. The paperclay and the metal clay are fired together. I'm just now uploading Part 2 and hopefully that will solve your questions and give you a better visual for how it all works. Let me know if it all makes sense after watching Part 2!

[@koyemin7069]

hi friend. I am myanmar. I am interesting. What you doing. I was also a goldsmith woman ten years ago but I stopped it after I married.

[@tendingahandmadelife]

I work with fine silver Precious Metal Clay (silver-clay.com/). Metal clay is available in a variety of forms and metals. I fire my pure silver metal clay in a small kiln to 1650F for 2 hours. Some varieties can also be fired with a jeweler's torch.

[@tendingahandmadelife]

Also, here is a FaceBook forum just for Metal Clay, facebook.com/groups/331626427043474

[@user-jf7oo7iz8c]

👍