By Debbie Rijns
Precious Metal Clay
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[1]
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[2]
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[3]
Project 1
Requirements
- Photopolymer Plate
- Exposing Unit
- Dense black permanent pen i.e. Sharpie
- A nice sunny day or a UV lamp
- Drawing of choice on clear acetate
- Nail Brush
- Bull dog clips
- Water
Instructions
- Decide on the design you like and use your black pen to draw on the clear acetate. Make sure your lines are very dark so no light can shine through.
- Keep the exposing unit and clear acetate with drawing nearby. Remove the glass plate from the exposing unit and make sure the glass is very clean. In a darkened room, remove the photopolymer plate from the black bag. Cut a piece about ¾” larger, all around the drawing.
- Determine on which side the plastic protective layer is on then place the photopolymer plate on the sponge and peel off the protective layer.
- Determine how you want the print to show on your silver clay. Place acetate drawing accordingly on top, and in the middle of the photopolymer plate. Then place the glass directly on top. Clip the layers together with bulldog clips. Do not place the clips over the photopolymer plate as it will create an unwanted mark on your final stamp.
- When process is completed, place the unit against your stomach (photopolymer plate towards you) and head out to the sun. Hold the unit facing the sun directly for 2 ½ minutes. Do not twist the unit as the sun rays could enter under the drawing and compromise the sharpness of the drawing.
- After the 2 ½ minutes, go to your kitchen sink. Remove the clips, glass plate, and drawing. Take the photopolymer plate and nailbrush, and under a small stream of running water, start to brush the surface in a circular motion. The water will foam up as you remove the part of the plate that did not cure under the sun. Keep checking the plate as you scrub. If the lines look fuzzy, it means that they have not been cleaned of excess polymer. The lines have to look crisp and clear.
- When happy that the plate is nice and clean, dry with a clean cloth by tapping water away. Replace in the exposing unit and post expose for 5 minutes to make sure the polymer is fully cured.
Project 2
Requirements
- PMC3 Clay
- Clay roller and 2 rolling strips
- Resist for hands (Bizzy Balm)
- Brush for spreading resist on plate
- Craft knife
- Teflon sheet for rolling clay on
- Photopolymer plate
- Liver of Sulfur (optional)
Instructions
- Rub a small amount of resist (Bizzy Balm) on your hands and any tools that come into contact with the silver clay.
- Open packet of PMC and condition in the palms of hands by rolling a tight ball.
- Put clay on Teflon sheet. Place the rolling strips vertically on the Teflon sheet on either side of the clay.
- Using the clay roller, gently roll the clay out to the size required.
- Give the photopolymer plate a good smear of resist. This will prevent the clay from sticking.
- Place the photopolymer plate on top of the clay and very gently press down until you see the clay force its way into the grooves.
- Gently remove the photopolymer plate by lifting the plate and clay off the table and peeling it off.
- Trim clay to desired size and dry until bone dry.
- Sand and smooth piece then drill a hole for a jump ring.
- Torch fire piece for approx. 5 minutes. Then kiln fire at 800°C for 1 hour.
- Brush and burnish piece to make it shine. Oxidation with Liver of Sulfur is optional.