Silverclay handbook
Silver Clay FAQ
- Does Art Clay Silver contain real silver?
- How long does silver clay last?
- What is silver clay made of?
- What happens to the water and binder?
- Is Art Clay Silver safe to use?
- Is the final result strong?
- How long should I dry silver clay?
- My piece broke before firing. How can I repair it?
- My piece broke after firing. What caused this?
- How can I fire silver clay?
- My clay is fired, what now?
- Can I fire silver clay onto my own silver ring?
- How can I store silver clay?
- My clay has dried out. Can I restore it?
Does Art Clay Silver contain real silver?
Yes, Art Clay Silver contains real silver particles. After firing, the clay transforms into pure silver, usually 99.9% fine silver (.999). Silver clay consists of microscopic silver particles, binder, and water. The binder holds the silver particles together and keeps the clay soft and workable.
During firing, the water evaporates and the binder burns away, leaving only pure silver behind. The finished piece can then be treated like traditional silver jewelry. It can be polished, soldered, oxidized, engraved, and finished in the same way as other silver items.
After firing, Art Clay Silver 950 Professional consists of 95.0% real silver, with the remaining percentage consisting mainly of copper.
How long does silver clay last?
Unopened silver clay generally has a long shelf life, often several years when stored correctly. Once opened, the clay may slowly dry out if not sealed properly.
Silver clay should be stored airtight at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, excessive heat, and moisture. Storing silver clay in a refrigerator is generally not recommended.
What is silver clay made of?
Silver clay and other metal clays are not natural clay taken from the ground. They are called “clay” because the material is soft and moldable like clay.
Silver clay consists of three components:
• Microscopic metal powder
• Binder
• Water
The binder helps retain moisture and keeps the metal particles together, making the material flexible and workable.
What happens to the water and binder?
As the clay dries, the water evaporates into the air or through the use of a heat source. The clay changes from soft to hard.
It is extremely important that all moisture has fully evaporated before firing. Remaining moisture can cause the piece to crack or break during firing.
The binder is made from cellulose-based materials. During firing, the binder burns away at higher temperatures, similar to paper burning.
Is Art Clay Silver safe to use?
Yes, Art Clay Silver products are considered safe and non-toxic when used properly. Art Clay Silver products carry the ACMI “AP” seal.
The manufacturer of Art Clay Silver is a member of the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI). This certification means the products have been tested for toxicological and chemical safety and are considered safe for regular use.
Is the final result strong?
The strength of the final piece depends on several factors, including:
• The type of metal
• Firing temperature
• Firing duration
• Thickness and construction of the design
Copper and bronze clays are naturally stronger than fine silver clay. Fine silver clay becomes stronger when fired at higher temperatures and for longer firing times.
For regular Art Clay Silver, we personally recommend firing around 820°C for at least 10 minutes. Longer firing times, such as 1–2 hours, generally improve strength even further.
Art Clay Silver 950 Professional is significantly stronger than standard fine silver clay. This clay consists of a mixture of silver, copper, binder, and water. After firing, the alloy contains 95% silver and is approximately 60% stronger than regular fine silver clay. This makes it ideal for rings, commissioned jewelry, and pieces that require additional durability.
Art Clay Silver 950 Professional must be fired in two stages:
• Stage 1: 500°C for 10 minutes
• Stage 2: 870°C for at least 1 hour
Allow the kiln to cool completely before removing the workpiece.
How long should I dry silver clay?
Drying times depend on the thickness of the piece and the drying method used.
Approximate drying times:
• Conventional oven (100°C): approximately 10 minutes
• Hair dryer: approximately 20 minutes
• Air drying: approximately 24 hours
Very thick pieces may require additional drying time. Art Clay Silver 950 Professional also requires slightly longer drying times.
You can test whether the piece is fully dry by placing it on a warm mirror. If condensation appears on the mirror, the piece still contains moisture and requires additional drying.
My piece broke before firing. How can I repair it?
Dried silver clay can often be repaired using silver clay paste or syringe clay.
Before applying paste, lightly moisten the dry clay so it does not absorb moisture from the paste too quickly. Paste is a thinner version of silver clay and can be diluted with a small amount of distilled water if necessary.
Art Clay Silver 950 Professional is currently only available in clay form, but paste can easily be made from leftover clay mixed with distilled water.
Regular Art Clay Silver and Art Clay Silver 950 Professional can also be combined for certain repairs and applications.
My piece broke after firing. What caused this?
Silver clay consists of microscopic metal particles that fuse together during firing. The particles partially melt at the surface and bond together while retaining their shape.
The longer and hotter the clay is fired within the recommended range, the stronger the bonds between the particles become.
Breakage after firing can occur when:
• The piece was not fired long enough
• The firing temperature was too low
• Connections between components were weak
• The design was too thin
• The piece was not fully sintered
In many cases, repairs are still possible using Overlay Paste or silver clay paste.
How can I fire silver clay?
Regular Art Clay Silver can be fired in three different ways:
- On a gas stove using a firing grate
- With a gas torch or micro torch
- In a special kiln or enamel kiln that can hold the temperature.
Always fire silver clay long enough. Slightly longer firing is generally safer than firing too short. Larger pieces require longer firing times to ensure proper sintering.
Art Clay Silver 950 Professional must only be fired in a kiln.
Regular Silver Clay fired at a gas stove.
Smaller pieces of regular silver clay, approximately 10 to 15 grams, can be fired on a gas stove. Place the workpiece on a firing grate positioned where the flame directly touches the grate.
Make sure the clay is fired long enough. Firing slightly longer will generally not harm the silver, but firing too short may result in weak or brittle pieces that can break easily. Start timing once the silver begins to show an orange glow. This is the stage where the silver particles are sintering together.
The silver will normally not melt on the grate because the grate absorbs and disperses part of the heat.
PLEASE NOTE:
This firing method is not suitable for Art Clay Silver 950 Professional.
- Regular Silver Clay firing with a burner.
Firing with a gas torch requires some practice and careful control of the heat. When using a torch, there is a risk that the workpiece may become too hot and melt.
To prevent overheating, move the flame continuously in circular motions over the piece rather than heating one spot constantly. This helps maintain control over the firing process.
Once the piece begins to glow orange, it is important to maintain this temperature long enough for proper sintering.
Always fire on a heat-resistant surface such as a fiberboard, ceramic tile, firing brick, or charcoal block.
PLEASE NOTE:
This firing method is not suitable for Art Clay Silver 950 Professional.
- Regular Silver Clay fired in a kiln.
When firing silver clay in a kiln, it is important that the temperature is set correctly to prevent overheating or melting of the workpiece. A firing temperature of approximately 800°C is commonly used for regular silver clay.
A kiln provides much more control over the firing process, which significantly reduces the risk of breakage when fired correctly.
An additional advantage of kiln firing is the ability to combine silver clay with other materials such as glass, gold foil, gold paste, enamel, and other metal clays.
- Art Clay Silver 950 Professional firing in a kiln.
Art Clay Silver 950 Professional must be fired in a kiln.
Place the workpiece into a cold kiln and heat the first stage to approximately 500°C for 10 minutes to allow the binder to burn out gradually.
After this stage, continue heating steadily to approximately 870°C and maintain this temperature for a minimum of 1 hour.
Allow the kiln and the workpiece to cool down to at least 200°C, or preferably completely to room temperature, before removing the piece from the kiln.
.
My clay is fired, what now?
Once your clay has been fired, you can check whether it has sintered properly after it has completely cooled down. Gently drop the piece onto a hard surface. A properly fired piece should sound like metal. If the sound is dull, the silver may not have fully sintered. In that case, fire the piece again until the silver is fully sintered.
After firing, brush the silver with a very fine steel wire brush to bring out the silver surface. You can then use abrasive mats, abrasive discs (for example with a Dremel), polishing papers, or tools such as a polishing needle to achieve a high-gloss finish.
Can I fire silver clay onto a sterling silver ring?
Sterling silver used in traditional jewelry usually contains 92.5% silver combined with other metals, most commonly copper. Sterling silver is harder than fine silver (.999), but it also oxidizes more easily at high temperatures.
When firing silver clay onto sterling silver, it is important not to fire above approximately 750°C to reduce the risk of embrittlement and excessive oxidation of the alloy. Sterling silver is preferably fired in active carbon, which helps reduce oxygen exposure and minimizes black oxidation on the metal.
Keep in mind that silver clay shrinks approximately 9% during firing because the binder burns away. Make sure the silver clay design mechanically holds onto the sterling silver piece securely so it does not loosen during firing.
How can I store silver clay?
Silver clay should be stored airtight in a cool, dark place. A sealed package of silver clay can usually be stored for approximately one year.
Once opened, the clay is best wrapped tightly in cling film and stored together with a slightly damp cloth inside a sealed container or jar. Small airtight containers such as cosmetic jars or film canisters work very well for this purpose.
If the original packaging contains a resealable strip (such as some 20 g or 50 g packages), the original packaging can also be reused for storage.
My clay has dried out. Can I restore it?
Yes, in many cases dried silver clay can be restored.
Break the dried clay into very small pieces, for example by crushing it gently with a glass bottle. Do not use metal tools for this, as polishing the silver particles may affect the clay structure.
Place the crushed clay into cling film and add a few sprays or drops of distilled water. Wrap the clay tightly in the cling film together with a slightly damp cloth and place everything into a sealed container.
Allow the moisture to slowly absorb into the clay for several hours or preferably overnight. The longer the moisture is allowed to distribute evenly, the better the result.
After resting, knead the clay through the cling film to check the consistency. If hard pieces are still present, allow more time for the moisture to absorb. Add only very small amounts of water if necessary. Too much water may make the clay sticky and difficult to use.
Properly restored clay should no longer stick excessively to your hands or the cling film. If the clay becomes too wet, allow it to air dry slightly at room temperature. Avoid heat sources, as the clay may dry too quickly and unevenly.