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Post by busylittlebeads on Oct 19, 2007 17:29:23 GMT -5
this is a neat bail that I made with PMC clay. I used a bead, but this could be dne for a drilled stone or even glue on any coment?
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Post by LCARS on Oct 19, 2007 17:37:03 GMT -5
Wow, i've never even heard of PMC until I just searched it. That is really freaking cool! I don't quite fully understand the principle of it but if you would care to explain I would be interested to know how it works.
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Post by sandsman1 on Oct 19, 2007 19:56:48 GMT -5
i like it very cool -- and the stone too
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Post by docone31 on Oct 19, 2007 20:30:26 GMT -5
I do not like PMC, probably because I have little experience in it. I tend to work the clay way too much. I do not get the detail you do. Good job. Do you shock the melt to eject the investment, or do you use pickle?
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Post by beefjello on Oct 19, 2007 22:39:32 GMT -5
I too would be interested in how PMC works.. that's really nice!
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karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
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Post by karenfh on Oct 20, 2007 10:57:24 GMT -5
Very cool! I also want more info. Sounds like another new language to learn, tho! Do you shock the melt to eject the investment, or do you use pickle?
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Post by akansan on Oct 20, 2007 12:51:01 GMT -5
Very nice! I love the possibilities that PMC provides! Do you using a kiln to fire or a torch?
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AGATEGRRRL
spending too much on rocks
AGATEGRRRL
Member since October 2007
Posts: 466
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Post by AGATEGRRRL on Oct 21, 2007 17:16:54 GMT -5
Very pretty!
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RockyBlue
fully equipped rock polisher
Go U.K.
Member since June 2006
Posts: 1,719
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Post by RockyBlue on Oct 21, 2007 22:39:54 GMT -5
Outstanding.............Rocky
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pagstones
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since October 2005
Posts: 87
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Post by pagstones on Oct 23, 2007 12:39:51 GMT -5
I took a class in PMC and have been reading up on it lately. PMC is finely ground silver in a binder. You can do to it pretty much anything you can do to clay but you have to do it quickly since it dries out very fast (10-15 min) making it hard to handle without messing up something or cracking. Once it dries to the leather hard stage you can sand and/or carve it and add other hardened pieces using sliver clay slip.
You set the piece directly on the kiln shelf or fire brick to fire. To fire you use a torch or kiln that will get it to a certain temperature and keep it there for the required time. This burns off the binder then compresses and hardens the silver. What you are left with is a piece of .999 fine silver anywhere from 8 to 20% smaller then what you fired (depending on brand of silver clay). There is no fire scale so you don't have to pickle unless you add sterling silver or other metals to the piece.
You can fire lab grown stones, glass, ceramic and moonstone in the silver but you can't fire stones like jasper or agate - these need to be added after the piece is fired.
Sandy
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Post by Tonyterner on Oct 24, 2007 9:21:48 GMT -5
That's pretty darn cool. Kits are really expensive though, but if its real silver that is understandable.
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Post by akansan on Oct 24, 2007 11:10:38 GMT -5
The prices are actually coming down, Tony. About a year and a half ago I was looking at a $600 investment to get started. Now, I could get everything I would need for about $150.
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Post by larrywyland3 on Oct 24, 2007 12:34:10 GMT -5
Nice design on the bail. I would only fire the pmc in a kiln. It has to be at 1650 degrees for 10 or 15 minutes ( I can't remember exactly), but if it gets to hot its a gonner. Also, the silver will not set up right if it is not as hot. The kiln keeps it fun and easy. Set the temp and timer and no worries. It will have a white finish on it which is an effect of the silver recrystalizing. It burneshes off easy in a vib with steel shot. You then can work it like any other silver; except it is more brittle.
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