Texture & Colour

6The Art ofSilver ClayOver 30 Silver & Polymer Claybooks available to buy onlinewww.fibrecrafts.comFiring Art Clay Silver ClaysThere are three options for firing Art Clay Silver clays. The mosteconomical - and possibly most appealing to the beginner - is to fire thesilver on a stainless steel mesh sheet placed on a gas hob or campingstove. Simply position the dried clay on the piece of mesh where it isglowing red. When the clay begins to glow, time the firing for 5 minutes,turn off and allow to cool.The blow torch is much quicker and can take as little as one minute whilethe kiln offers space to fire multiple items as well as larger pieces.Read more about how to fire your clay from the Resource File, online:www.polymerclaypit.co.ukTOOLS FOR PREPARATION &FINISHING ART CLAY SILVERThese items are essential for creatingthe final finished item. The silver claysdry to a grey white colour and arefairly brittle before firing. At this stageany burrs or nicks can be removedwith a fine file or sand paper.After firing, the silver has a whitematt coating. This can be burnishedor brushed to create the familiarshiny surface. The tools you use willdepend on the finish you want. A finestainless steel wire brush is the bestplace to start, then coarse grit sandpaper, working up to the finer grituntil the surface is smooth.The final tool to use after all markshave been removed is a burnisher.Rub the surface with the burnisher toharden and smooth the silver and togive it a mirror shineStainless Steel Bristle BrushesUse these brushes to remove the white, crystallinesurface which occurs after the silver has been fired.The short bristled brush is ideal for rings as you canbrush inside the shank while the long brush is goodfor high relief and delicate piecesA) long bristled £3.86 SSBRULGB) short bristled £3.45 SSBRUSTSAVE MONEY NOWJoin the George Weil SocietyBuy a membership with your nextorder and receive immediate savingsand free delivery! See page 3 toread more about the great benefitsC) Super Fine Stainless Steel BrushA double-ended brush with fine stainless steelbristles for brushing into the tiniest nooks andcrannies. One end with sloping bristles, the otherstraight. 3mm wideeach £5.10 SSBRUFIND) Half Round FileFine half round needle file for shaping and refiningArt Clay Silver, before and after firingeach £3.20 FILFINABSanding Pads PackPack 3 mini sanding pads 7 x 5.5cm (one of eachgrit, superfine, ultrafine & microfine)pack 3 £2.25 SANPAD3E) BurnisherBurnishing compacts and smooths the surface ofthe silver and gives a mirror like polish once all thescratches and burr have been removed with thewire brushes and sanding pads. If you burnish over‘flaws’ these will become permanenteach £5.50 SILBURNF) Agate Tipped BurnisherSee above for useeach £11.55 AGATEBURNMANY MORE PRODUCTSAVAILABLE ONLINE AT:www.polymerclaypit.co.ukCDEFView and shop online at www.polymerclaypit.co.uk