Back to the Drawing Board

Well, after two tries, my sterling silver is getting too brittle to use in the PMC. There comes a time to say, is it worth all this for a simple clasp. I was trying to see if I could make a tongue clasp without using any solder on the PMC. The answer is no. In order to use sterling silver as the tongue, I will have to solder it onto the PMC.


Now onto my next project...

Experiments in Metal Clay using Traditional Jewelry Working Techniques - Making a tounge clasp

I fired the metal clay clasp. It turned out fine. No warpage, just smaller due to shrinkage. I fired it for 2 hours at 1290 degrees. Pictured on the left is an un-fired clasp box and on the right the fired clasp box with tongue clasp.
I have a problem with the tongue clasp. The ball I attached as a press button is too close to the top of the box. I am unable to compress the tongue clasp. So, I am going to cut off the tongue clasp and make this box the receiver box.
I have made a new tongue clasp box with a longer tongue and shorter button.
This is the top view of the new clasp.
This view shows how I have attached the clasp to the box. Now its time to fire this one!

Experiments in Metal Clay using Traditional Jewelry Working Techniques - Making a tounge clasp

I have made this pendant in PMC with an enameled center. I am going to string it on some Turquoise beads. I want a custom clasp on it so, I have decided to make a matching tongue clasp.
I made two boxes in PMC. One will be the receiver for the tongue clasp and the other will act as the tongue. I want the button, that works the clasp, to mimic a Turquoise bead.  The button will hover over the two textured boxes. This is a photo of the un-fired box that has the tongue attached to it.
I used 26 gauge sterling silver  and fabricated the tongue. It must be made from sterling silver instead of PMC because PMC would be too soft. I depleted the sterling silver sheet and formed it into the clasp. I attached the tongue to one of the carved boxes. Attached the PMC button onto the sterling silver tongue. Now I need to fire (sinter) it. This is the experiment part. By completing depletion on the sterling silver, will it hold in the PMC? Will the PMC box hold its shape when it shrinks? Or will the sterling silver cause it to warp? Will be bond on the button and tongue be strong enough?
Here is a side view of the tongue box. I will post the outcome shortly!!

Experiments in Metal Clay using Traditional Jewelry Working Techniques

I am presently experimenting working in PMC3 using my knowledge from traditional jewelry fabrication. This last month I have experimented using the granulation decoration in PMC.


Granulation decoration consists of minute grains or tiny balls of gold  applied to a surface in geometric or linear patterns or massed to fill in parts of a decoration. First used as early as the 3rd millennium BC, it was known in western Asia and Egypt. The technique was practiced by the ancient Etruscans and Greeks. Greek jewelry consisted of granulation from 3000 BC to the inauguration of the Roman Empire.

In my first experiment with granulation I created a dome in PMC3 and attached it to a flat surface, and then applied the fine silver balls. After sintering (firing it) I found that the shrinkage of the PMC3 worked against me. As the dome shrunk while attached to the base, it warped the base and disfigured the dome. The shrinkage also worked against the granulation.

Working again with the dome and flat base, I fired them each separately allowing them to keep their shape as they shrank the 12% that PMC3 does. I then used clay paste with oil mixed in it and glued them together and re-fired them. This worked perfectly. I now have my "canvas" to create my art!

I used a technique I learned in metal working and applied my granulation. It took several firings to get everything to hold, but I finally ended up with my granulated piece!

I used a technique I learned in metal working and applied my granulation. It took several firings to get everything to hold, but I finally ended up with my granulated piece! This ring is called "Paths". The granulation represents choices we make in our lives.
I then decided to create a two sided pendant using granulation. I made a two sided dome, cut opening into each edge for the chain to string through, and then fired them together. I cut out an opening for my stones to sit, made prongs for each stone using syringe paste. Fired it again. I hand finished the base shaping it and then hand polished using Micro Sanding pads. Finally I added my granulation.
Each side has a different color stone and texture adding  versatility to the pendant. Lastly, I added a dangling teardrop to the pendant. The teardrop swings freely, and can be twisted around showing one or the other side.

Now onto my next experiment. Fabricating Clasps in PMC3 using traditional jewelry working techniques without soldering!