Search results matching tag 'bronze clay'

Re: BRONZclay information resource

MSchindel — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:31:31 GMT

Hi Roni, thanks for the great feedback! When I was doing online research on bronze metal clay, I was confused by the large amount of conflicting/contradictory information about working with BRONZclay. I realized that I'd need to talk with several experts as well, including BRONZclay inventor Bill Struve. What I found out was that a lot of the information published online about BRONZclay is either incorrect or out of date (even the "official" guides published by distributor Rio Grande contained outdated information because they were written and printed while the clay was being formulated). So I realized there was a need for a central source of reliable information vetted by experts to help clear up some of the confusion about this material and to provide some techniques and tips to help artists avoid common problems, such as stiffness/stickiness of the clay, inconsistent sintering, etc.

I really appreciate your letting me know that my lens was helpful to you!

Thanks again and best wishes,

Margaret

New metal clay technique: Catherine Davies Paetz teaches you how to make inlay designs with bronze clay and copper clay

Jill Erickson — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:25:00 GMT

Getting your hands on new materials is inspiring for artists. The newest additions to the metal clay family (bronze clay, and copper clay) inspired artist Catherine Davies Paetz to push this medium into new territory. You can learn about her techniques for creating inlaid designs with these clays in the November 2009 issue of Art Jewelry magazine. Subscribers can download instructions to Catherine's bonus technique, read Art Jewelry's editors' experiences when we tested bronze metal clay, and brush up on kiln terminology with our kiln diagram. All registered Web users can check out Mardel Rein's 20-page primer on working with BRONZclay.

While I'm on the subject of metal clay, here's a link to our latest technique series video on metal clay basics. This series walks you through the basics of working with silver metal clay, and includes a PDF of a beginner level project to get you started. As always, let us know what else you'd like to see us demonstrate and write about here at Art Jewelry magazine. Cheers, Jill :)

Silver on bronze? Firing help.

ahronya — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:09:56 GMT

1. I was wondering if a fired piece of bronze clay can be painted or plated with silver paste and then fired again?

2. Also, where can I find specific firing schedules for Copper and Bronze Clay? I can find adequate ones for silver Artclay and silver PMC.

3. And could a piece of copper or bronze be fired in a kiln that may go only as high as 1550? could it be fired longer at a lower temp? I think I found that it needs about 1700, but again, I'd like to get more info on this! And what is the absolute smallest bin of charcoal that could be used? 5" x 5" x 3" high?

Thank you all! This site is great!!

BRONZclay information resource

MSchindel — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:54:29 GMT

There have been many questions about BRONZclay on this forum, so I wanted to let everyone know that I've published a Squidoo "lens" that you may find helpful. My goal was to pull together the best and most up-to-date information I could find on BRONZclay into a single, convenient resource organized to make it easy to find whatever information you' need. I spent several months doing research and interviewing many of the top BRONZclay artists and instructors, as well as BRONZclay inventor Bill Struve, Kevin Whitmore of Rio Grande, and Hadar Jacobson, author of "Silver and Bronze Clay: Movement and Mechanisms." There is detailed information for every stage of the BRONZclay process, including several recommended firing schedules to try and some great BRONZclay "eye candy." It does not cover every possible topic, but it's fairly comprehensive. I hope you find the information useful! Here's the link:

http://www.squidoo.com/bronzclay

Margaret

Re: Firing Bronze and Copper Clays

Margretdzn — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:36:17 GMT

I have been using silver clay for 2-3 yrs., and am now experimenting with bronze and copper......

I have an evenheat 360 and I can do them all, as well as fused glass......Another popular metal clay kiln is the sierra---SC-2 is one model......they are both very similar, minor differences......I would recommend either one.......

Blessings, Margaret

Re: help with bronzeclay..panic and blame!

Tatia — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:04:04 GMT

I found that making slip for joints it really need to be thick. Very, very little water. I roll 'n thin 5mm sausage, let it lay in a little bit of water (half the depth of the sausage) en then mushing (if there is a word like that) with a small spatula as I go along and use that very thick mushing slip for the joints. Also if you do it in two firings - one without the carbon, then do the repairs there are (there always seems to be some) and then do the proper firing in the carbon, there is almost no repairs then.

soldering bronzeclay and post fired working..

pixiemog — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:00:54 GMT

2nd post ever, on a roll, thought I might as well add in this query too....

Once bronzeclay has been fired - hopefully successfully(see previous post, ahem) - can it be soldered? can it be heated again with silverclay without compromising structural integrity?

I have seen the other post below ask about torch firing silverclay on fired bronzeclay.... is this do-able?

Also, I presume that any further heating/working will remove the colour patina from firing in the activated carbon?

If we wanted to shine the bronze up and then get those beautiful rainbow colours onto it, would we use liver of sulpher? And, to get some of those wonderful crusty blue/green patinas on bronze, what do we need?

Thanks again - ciao 4 now! Gia.

help with bronzeclay..panic and blame!

pixiemog — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:51:28 GMT

Wotcha,

I have had a read of lots of other posts regarding this and they are directing me to similar info and posts, so I know I'm being a bit impatient by posting a new post about it - but its my 1st ever post and its an emergency!!

I am proficient with metal clays - the silvers - and have had bronzeclay knocking about for a while but not used it yet. Aanyway, a project at uni needed me to make a master of something I've designed and to do it quite fast. Since I don't yet have good wax working/control I opted to turn to my old familiar, metalclay. But because I'm poor as a church mouse at the moment decided to try the bronze.

I spent hours and hours laboring over my model and getting it perfect - a bit daft considering I have never fired or used this different clay!!lol.

Anyway, after firing its split and ruined to hell. I followed so much guidance and advice over firing, and was meticulous about everything. All the comments to other firing "problems" I did. Yet it still cracked up. It took a beautiful patina and has come out strong and bronze - but split, as if it had a core material causing it to stretch (it didn't)

I wondered if the carbon got into the holes of the piece and acted like a core? but I thought I had to eliminate as much "space" as poss?

I demand perfection and a clean and professional look from most of my pieces (allowing sometimes the process of naturalities) but in the main I don't want them to look homemade, I want them to look fabricated and modelled/structured. So, I ask you - am I not really suited to bronzeclay? should I persist? can it be controlled?

I don't mind the complex firing, but it does make me want it to turn out right 1st time! because its so long!! I was gutted this morning when i saw that I've been set back a whole project!! Panic set in and I blamed the bronze! lol. I'm sorry bronzey, but i did do all that was required, so what gives?

I'm going to have to do this again in silverclay and bear the expense, but I really want to know more about this bronze and how to master it - for future ref.

what a wonderful community we artists share here with each other eh?

questions, answers, comments and product lust!! lol.

thanks to any with guidance and patience to read my rant. (O:

Gia. x

Move over silver, bronze, and copper metal clays — aluminum clay is here!!

Addie Kidd — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Alternative metal clays are all the rage right now: bronze clay is very popular, and copper clay is so new that everyone is clamoring to get their hands on some.

Well, aluminum clay has just been announced!!
It's not for sale yet, but you can see some prototype photos and sample shots on Pam East's blog.

I can't wait to get some in to test here at the Art Jewelry headquarters.

~Addie~

My first bronze piece

childeroland — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:16:24 GMT

I wanted to try something really simple for starters but I had just made these cool seahorse molds and couldnt resist using them. The bronze looks so good on rawhide!