Following on from the last blog where we discussed the different brands of Silver Clay and the different types of silver (Sterling, Fine and Britannia), I thought it might be a good idea to break down what type of Silver Clay there are and what they are used for.<\/p>\n
Different Types of Silver Clay<\/span><\/h3>\nThe larger brands of Silver Clay (i.e. ACS and PMC) offer a set of products within their brand. The main difference between all of these is their consistency and by that I mean the amount of water which has been added to each product\u2013 this will become clearer as I go on!<\/p>\n
Lump<\/span><\/h3>\n![\"Silver](\"https:\/\/silverclayschool.co.uk\/newsite\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/10g-silver-art-clay-new-formular-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>Silver clay lump comes in a pack like this<\/p><\/div>\n
As the description suggests this is a lump of clay! Each of the brands mentioned above, do a ready-made version of this, which means you can take it straight from the packet and start rolling with it.
It\u2019s the most versatile of the products and you can use it for ring making, construction projects like beads and boxes, chains and simpler projects like making flat or curved pendants, earrings and charms. It\u2019s also perfect for moulding too. And what\u2019s great is that if all you have is the lump version, you can add water to it and make your own paste and clay for extruding.<\/p>\n
The lump comes in various weights and this is different for each brand and variety but they generally all have a small bag weighing in between 5 and 7 grams which is usually big enough for a pendant or a charm. The biggest bags weigh in at a big old 50 grams and you can make piles of things with that amount! Obviously it tends to be cheaper gram for gram to buy bigger packs, but sometimes the budget just won\u2019t stretch that way.<\/p>\n
![\"Flat](\"https:\/\/silverclayschool.co.uk\/newsite\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Module-3-Flat-stacker-ring-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>Rings made with ‘lump’ clay<\/p><\/div>\n
Take a good look when working out the costs of the clay. Some retailers in the UK, for example advertise the price without VAT and when you go to the checkout suddenly the price jumps up 20%! Also be aware that the PMC bags have 2 weights on them, which can be slightly confusing \u2013 especially when the retailer is advertising the heavier weight, because that is NOT the silver weight, it\u2019s the pre-fired weight which includes the binder. The second weight (the lighter weight) displayed is the fired silver weight. So when you are looking at price comparisons, break down by gram how much the fired silver weight costs, then you\u2019ll have a fair comparison. ACS only show the fired silver weight on their bags of Silver Clay.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Syringe<\/span><\/h3>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Silver](\"https:\/\/silverclayschool.co.uk\/newsite\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/PMC3-Syringe-150x150.png\")
<\/a>Silver Clay Syringe<\/p><\/div>\n
This clay is diluted with a bit more water, so it can be extruded easily from the syringe it comes in. The syringe will come with a nozzle in the packet which you place on the syringe body when you are ready to start working. The tip of the nozzle is very fine, so the clay extruded is very thin. Aida sell separate nozzles which have varying thicknesses so that you have a choice. However, when I finish a syringe I never throw the nozzle away, I always keep them, that way I can trim it down to whatever thickness I need for the job I am doing.
A syringe is a great accessory to working with lump, because you can use it quickly to make repairs (if there are nicks or gaps in your work that you don\u2019t want), join pieces together or make pieces with syringe detail or decoration.<\/p>\n
![\"Silver](\"https:\/\/silverclayschool.co.uk\/newsite\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Demo-Scottish-Bead-Fair-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>Silver Clay pendants decorated with syringe<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s unlikely that you will use an entire syringe at one time, so when you are not using it, keep the syringe tip submerged in water so it remains wet. The clay will not dry out.
Both ACS and PMC produce their version of syringes with similar weights \u2013 the PMC syringe weighs 9g and the ACS weighs 10g.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paste<\/span><\/h3>\n![\"Silver](\"https:\/\/silverclayschool.co.uk\/newsite\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/PMC-Paste-pot-150x150.png\")
<\/a>Silver Clay Paste<\/p><\/div>\n
Paste is further watered down from the syringe and is the consistency of single cream. It is used for filling and repairing and joining pieces together. It is also great for organic projects, like painting leaves and seed pods and for painting detail onto clay.
As with the syringe, it\u2019s unlikely that you would use an entire pot at one time, so make sure the paste pot top is screwed on tightly when you are not using it. You can add a little bit of distilled water if you know you\u2019re not going to open it for a while.
Both main brands offer silver clay paste \u2013 ACS comes in 2 pot sizes, 10g and 20g whilst PMC has 1 size, a 15g pot.
You can make your own paste very easily. Use a pot which is airtight, add some lump clay and then some distilled water. Leave the water to permeate overnight, then return and stir. Add more water if required. This is also a great way of using clay that has dried up.<\/p>\n
Paper or sheet<\/h3>\n
![\"Silver](\"https:\/\/silverclayschool.co.uk\/newsite\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/10g-silver-art-clay-new-formular.jpg\")
<\/a>Silver clay lump comes in a pack like this<\/p><\/div>\n
As the description suggests this is a lump of clay! Each of the brands mentioned above, do a ready-made version of this, which means you can take it straight from the packet and start rolling with it.
It\u2019s the most versatile of the products and you can use it for ring making, construction projects like beads and boxes, chains and simpler projects like making flat or curved pendants, earrings and charms. It\u2019s also perfect for moulding too. And what\u2019s great is that if all you have is the lump version, you can add water to it and make your own paste and clay for extruding.<\/p>\n
The lump comes in various weights and this is different for each brand and variety but they generally all have a small bag weighing in between 5 and 7 grams which is usually big enough for a pendant or a charm. The biggest bags weigh in at a big old 50 grams and you can make piles of things with that amount! Obviously it tends to be cheaper gram for gram to buy bigger packs, but sometimes the budget just won\u2019t stretch that way.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Rings made with ‘lump’ clay<\/p><\/div>\n
Take a good look when working out the costs of the clay. Some retailers in the UK, for example advertise the price without VAT and when you go to the checkout suddenly the price jumps up 20%! Also be aware that the PMC bags have 2 weights on them, which can be slightly confusing \u2013 especially when the retailer is advertising the heavier weight, because that is NOT the silver weight, it\u2019s the pre-fired weight which includes the binder. The second weight (the lighter weight) displayed is the fired silver weight. So when you are looking at price comparisons, break down by gram how much the fired silver weight costs, then you\u2019ll have a fair comparison. ACS only show the fired silver weight on their bags of Silver Clay.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Syringe<\/span><\/h3>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/a>Silver Clay Syringe<\/p><\/div>\n
This clay is diluted with a bit more water, so it can be extruded easily from the syringe it comes in. The syringe will come with a nozzle in the packet which you place on the syringe body when you are ready to start working. The tip of the nozzle is very fine, so the clay extruded is very thin. Aida sell separate nozzles which have varying thicknesses so that you have a choice. However, when I finish a syringe I never throw the nozzle away, I always keep them, that way I can trim it down to whatever thickness I need for the job I am doing.
A syringe is a great accessory to working with lump, because you can use it quickly to make repairs (if there are nicks or gaps in your work that you don\u2019t want), join pieces together or make pieces with syringe detail or decoration.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Silver Clay pendants decorated with syringe<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s unlikely that you will use an entire syringe at one time, so when you are not using it, keep the syringe tip submerged in water so it remains wet. The clay will not dry out.
Both ACS and PMC produce their version of syringes with similar weights \u2013 the PMC syringe weighs 9g and the ACS weighs 10g.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paste<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/a>Silver Clay Paste<\/p><\/div>\n
Paste is further watered down from the syringe and is the consistency of single cream. It is used for filling and repairing and joining pieces together. It is also great for organic projects, like painting leaves and seed pods and for painting detail onto clay.
As with the syringe, it\u2019s unlikely that you would use an entire pot at one time, so make sure the paste pot top is screwed on tightly when you are not using it. You can add a little bit of distilled water if you know you\u2019re not going to open it for a while.
Both main brands offer silver clay paste \u2013 ACS comes in 2 pot sizes, 10g and 20g whilst PMC has 1 size, a 15g pot.
You can make your own paste very easily. Use a pot which is airtight, add some lump clay and then some distilled water. Leave the water to permeate overnight, then return and stir. Add more water if required. This is also a great way of using clay that has dried up.<\/p>\n
Paper or sheet<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Silver Clay Syringe<\/p><\/div>\n
This clay is diluted with a bit more water, so it can be extruded easily from the syringe it comes in. The syringe will come with a nozzle in the packet which you place on the syringe body when you are ready to start working. The tip of the nozzle is very fine, so the clay extruded is very thin. Aida sell separate nozzles which have varying thicknesses so that you have a choice. However, when I finish a syringe I never throw the nozzle away, I always keep them, that way I can trim it down to whatever thickness I need for the job I am doing.
A syringe is a great accessory to working with lump, because you can use it quickly to make repairs (if there are nicks or gaps in your work that you don\u2019t want), join pieces together or make pieces with syringe detail or decoration.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Silver Clay pendants decorated with syringe<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s unlikely that you will use an entire syringe at one time, so when you are not using it, keep the syringe tip submerged in water so it remains wet. The clay will not dry out.
Both ACS and PMC produce their version of syringes with similar weights \u2013 the PMC syringe weighs 9g and the ACS weighs 10g.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paste<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/a>Silver Clay Paste<\/p><\/div>\n
Paste is further watered down from the syringe and is the consistency of single cream. It is used for filling and repairing and joining pieces together. It is also great for organic projects, like painting leaves and seed pods and for painting detail onto clay.
As with the syringe, it\u2019s unlikely that you would use an entire pot at one time, so make sure the paste pot top is screwed on tightly when you are not using it. You can add a little bit of distilled water if you know you\u2019re not going to open it for a while.
Both main brands offer silver clay paste \u2013 ACS comes in 2 pot sizes, 10g and 20g whilst PMC has 1 size, a 15g pot.
You can make your own paste very easily. Use a pot which is airtight, add some lump clay and then some distilled water. Leave the water to permeate overnight, then return and stir. Add more water if required. This is also a great way of using clay that has dried up.<\/p>\n
Paper or sheet<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Silver Clay Paste<\/p><\/div>\n
Paste is further watered down from the syringe and is the consistency of single cream. It is used for filling and repairing and joining pieces together. It is also great for organic projects, like painting leaves and seed pods and for painting detail onto clay.
As with the syringe, it\u2019s unlikely that you would use an entire pot at one time, so make sure the paste pot top is screwed on tightly when you are not using it. You can add a little bit of distilled water if you know you\u2019re not going to open it for a while.
Both main brands offer silver clay paste \u2013 ACS comes in 2 pot sizes, 10g and 20g whilst PMC has 1 size, a 15g pot.
You can make your own paste very easily. Use a pot which is airtight, add some lump clay and then some distilled water. Leave the water to permeate overnight, then return and stir. Add more water if required. This is also a great way of using clay that has dried up.<\/p>\n