Precious metal clay

Robert Mayo

Robert Mayo

Joined
Oct 13, 2005
Messages
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Have any of you used this before i was wondering how it is to work with.
Thanks for any info you can give me. I am going to use it to embelish fittings for my tanto.

Bob
 
Good Morning Bob, I'll watch this thread with interest as I've wondered about PMC too. The different grades seem to have different rates of shrinkage. Maybe Stacy will give us some tips.
 
PMC is a very expensive way to get precious metal into shape, it has advantages in that you do not have to be a metalsmith to use it (it basically makes jewelry making accessable to non metalsmiths) Personally I think you are better off carving wax, (or forming something that becomes solid that a silicone rubber mold can be made of) and having your fittings lost-wax cast (or sand cast if it is a shape that works for that) PMC shrinks, considerably, and I just looked, PMC3 is currently selling for 36.50 per 25 grams yeild, that's almost $50.00 per troy ounce, silver is currently at $16.52 per ounce, so buying it from a refiner for casting, maybe $18-20 per ounce

Also fine silver (your result from PMC) is really soft and doesn't hold up to wear very well which is why 75 parts per thousand copper is added to make sterling which is more durable

-Page
 
sunshadow said:
PMC is a very expensive way to get precious metal into shape, it has advantages in that you do not have to be a metalsmith to use it (it basically makes jewelry making accessable to non metalsmiths) Personally I think you are better off carving wax, (or forming something that becomes solid that a silicone rubber mold can be made of) and having your fittings lost-wax cast (or sand cast if it is a shape that works for that) PMC shrinks, considerably, and I just looked, PMC3 is currently selling for 36.50 per 25 grams yeild, that's almost $50.00 per troy ounce, silver is currently at $16.52 per ounce, so buying it from a refiner for casting, maybe $18-20 per ounce

Also fine silver (your result from PMC) is really soft and doesn't hold up to wear very well which is why 75 parts per thousand copper is added to make sterling which is more durable

-Page
Click to expand...

That's good but i read all that info on the web already. I am looking for info from some one that has experience with this material. Thanks for taking the time to check it out.
 
David Wesner said:
Good Morning Bob, I'll watch this thread with interest as I've wondered about PMC too. The different grades seem to have different rates of shrinkage. Maybe Stacy will give us some tips.
Click to expand...

David i will do a few small things to test it out and let you know how it is to work with.

Bob
 
Bob,

I've used PMC just "playing" around. Yes, it's expensive to play around with :D However, while is correct with his statements, especially the part about it being fine silver (or gold if you go that route), I really think it has it's place for embellishment. I have contemplated using it for bolter enhancement since I can't 'grave worth a crap. Since it is softer and more succeptable to wear, I was looking at milling a portion of the bolster / guard / buttcap away and leaving a surrounding lip of the harder steel / nickel / brass / whatever to protect the inlaid portion. If you do go this route, please keep the thread updated as I would really be interested in the results! Hope this helps and best of luck.

P.S. Love your work!
 
We had a lengthy thread about a year or two ago on PMC. I personally don't use it. I am told by those who do that the end product is too brittle to be used on anything like a knife, unless it is just a showcase piece.
That said, I read about PMC regularly in the trade journals. They have improved it.
With gold over $900 I would suggest doing any experiments with silver PMC.
Stacy
 
to be brief it's a pain in the a$$. It would be easier to use sheet and solder or wax cast.

Chuck
 
One thing to keep in mind also is that the stuff shrinks about 8%.
(from being clay to being solid metal)
 
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