[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ background_image=”https:\/\/silverclayschool.co.uk\/newsite\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/pink-background.jpg” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” transparent_background=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font_size=”16″ text_letter_spacing=”2px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
I was teaching this weekend and as I always do, I was chatting to my students before we got down to the nitty gritty of making beautiful jewellery with silver clay. And one thing that came out loud and clear was the confusing array of silver clay varieties in the market place today and the need to have the different types of silver clay explained.<\/p>\n
And I get it. When I started on my silver clay journey there was *cough* only one type of silver clay available and two manufacturers. A bit like the famous cola varieties out there \u2013 two companies making basically the same product.<\/p>\n
But not anymore.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n There are a lot more varieties of silver clay out there and there are a number of new suppliers too. And it\u2019s confusing, don\u2019t you think? When you are ploughing through the internet trying to find as much information as you can and just getting more and more confused as a result?<\/p>\n So, I thought I would create a wee blog to give you the heads up. And if you want a more in depth description of silver, the types and varieties of silver clay and who makes them, then please download my FREE Beginner\u2019s Guide to Silver Clay<\/span><\/a> which is a great reference document for you.<\/p>\n Another thing to say to you \u2013 it is worth shopping around for silver clay as there can be quite a large difference in price between the better-known clay brands such as PMC and ACS and the lesser known ones like Aussie Metal Clay and FYI.<\/p>\n If you are importing from another country, you will need to take into account exchange rates, shipping costs and possible tax charges applied when the package arrives in your country.<\/p>\n This is the original one that was first to market. Fine silver is the purest form of silver you can get as in 99% silver and it is softer than other silver varieties.<\/p>\n This is a fine silver clay widely available. It can be fired by hand using a torch or it can be fired in a kiln. UK supplier \u2013 www.pmcshop.co.uk<\/a> US supplier \u2013 www.riogrande.com<\/a><\/p>\n This is a fine silver clay widely available. It can be fired by hand using a torch or it can be fired in a kiln.<\/p>\n UK supplier \u2013 www.metalclayltd.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 US supplier – www.artclayworld.com<\/a><\/p>\n This is a fine silver clay, not as widely available as PMC and ACS, but they do have distributors outside of Australia, although some distributors may not supply the silver clays.<\/p>\n This fine silver clay must be fired in a kiln.<\/p>\n Global supplier \u2013 www.aussiemetalclay.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/u><\/p>\n This is a fine silver clay, only available from one outlet in the US. This clay must be fired in a kiln.<\/p>\n Global supplier \u2013 www.metalclays.com<\/a><\/p>\n This is a fine silver clay, only available from Val Lewis who is based in Canada. This clay must be fired in a kiln.<\/p>\n Global supplier \u2013 www.vallewis.net<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sterling silver, is perhaps the most recognisable type of silver in the market place. But what you may not realise is that sterling silver is an alloy of silver and copper. To be precise it\u2019s 925 parts silver and 75 parts copper. Making a commercially available sterling silver clay was once, considered to be impossible but thanks to Lisa Cain\u2019s successful experimentations combining copper clay and fine silver clay \u2013 Mitsubishi were convinced it could be done. Their Sterling Silver PMC was launched in 2011. To date, it is the only true Sterling silver clay out there \u2013 more on that in a minute.<\/p>\n Sterling silver clay needs to be fired in a kiln and it needs a two-stage firing process. The first stage is to fire on an open shelf to burn away the binder. The second stage has to be in a firing pan, submerged with carbon.<\/p>\n Sterling silver clay is the strongest silver clay on the market because of the additional copper content. But the firing process did put a lot of people off.<\/p>\n UK supplier \u2013 www.pmcshop.co.uk<\/a> US supplier \u2013 www.riogrande.com<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is the most recent change to the market of silver clays and some might find the most confusing. Enriching the fine silver clay with a higher copper content \u2013 where the silver clay would have additional strength BUT could be fired much more easily \u2013 in a kiln but without the carbon part, was the brainchild of Celie Fago. She had the idea of combining Sterling silver clay with fine silver clay \u2013 which made a mix she christened 960. And for a while, lots of us were doing the mixing of these clays by ourselves. In fact, it\u2019s still something I like to do.<\/p>\n Last year, Aida, manufacturers of Art Clay Silver (ACS) launched their own version of this enriched silver clay and called it ACS950 closely followed by Mitsubishi who launched Sterling One Fire. Whilst the copper content varies very slightly between the two products, they are basically the same \u2013 fine silver clay with a small percent of copper for added strength (5% in ACS950 and 6% in Sterling One Fire). Other manufacturers followed suit and there are now a number of brands with very similar products.<\/p>\n All have slightly different firing schedules and you should refer to the packet for more details. But they all need a kiln to fire.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n UK supplier \u2013 www.pmcshop.co.uk<\/a> US supplier \u2013 www.riogrande.com<\/a><\/p>\n UK supplier \u2013 www.metalclayltd.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 US supplier – www.artclayworld.com<\/a><\/p>\n Global supplier \u2013 www.aussiemetalclay.com<\/a><\/p>\n Global supplier \u2013 www.metalclays.com<\/a><\/p>\nFine Silver Clay<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
PMC3 by Mitsubishi<\/u><\/h6>\n
ACS by Aida<\/u><\/h6>\n
Aussie Metal Clay .999<\/u><\/h6>\n
Metal Magic Silver Clay<\/u><\/h6>\n
FYI Silver Metal Clay<\/u><\/h6>\n
Sterling Silver Clay<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
Enriched Fine Silver Clay<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
PMC One Fire<\/u><\/h6>\n
ACS950<\/u><\/h6>\n
Aussie Metal Clay .999<\/u><\/h6>\n
Metal Magic Sterling 960 Metal Clay<\/u><\/h6>\n
FYI 960 Sterling Metal Clay<\/u><\/h6>\n