Top tips for drying and firing silver art clay

Article Written By: Glenn J Tucker

When you have finished creating your silver art clay the next step is to dry and fire it, making the piece hard and durable enough to wear and use. You may be thinking though, how exactly do I properly dry and fire my piece? Below are some tips you may want to consider when you come to finishing your piece.

There are a number of ways in which you can fire your piece, you should choose the one which best suits your needs and feel most comfortable doing. Try to experiment and see which method you get the best results with. If followed properly then your piece will be strong, if not done correctly and you under fire the piece it can become weak and even melt.

To begin with your piece needs to be left to dry out before firing to prevent any damage. One of the methods below will speed up the process of drying it considerably:

- Leave in a warm spot for a couple of days

- A kitchen oven

- A hot plate

- Adehydrator

- A kitchen oven

- A hair dryer

When the piece is dry you can then begin to shape the piece, use a file or sandpaper for the best results. Make sure all the edges are smooth and all bits, which may come sharp or catch on materials, are removed. As the silver art clay has not been fired yet it is more likely to be brittle and break so don't apply a large amount of pressure when filing parts down and try to support the piece in weaker parts.

Filing and sanding down your piece before firing is one of the most important parts to do. If you want your piece to look clean and professional then take time out to sand it down, it won't take you long at all and the finishing results will be amazing. By sanding it down you can really add sparkle to your designs. You should always check the sanding is efficient enough by putting it under a magnifying glass with sufficient lighting. Doing this you will most likely see loads that you have missed.

You need to be 100% sure that it is fired fully and there is no moisture left inside. With larger pieces the drying time will take longer. You need to be patient with this as if you don't leave the clay for long enough then it won't be as strong after being fired.

These methods are all great as long as they are used appropriately:

- Gas torch are really handy to have and can make firing a quick, easy and fun experience. The best type of gas torch is one which has quite a large, bushy flame. This may take some practice when it comes to controlling the flame, for beginners it is best to start in a dim room so you can see the glow. Make sure your piece is placed on a ceramic fibre brick which can be placed on a heat/fire proof surface. Be careful not to melt the piece.

- Most kitchens will have a gas hob and they should be good when it comes to using with silver art clay. This is a cheap, easy and safe method. It is virtually impossible to melt or over heat the piece. Only suit to pieces no bigger than a 50p coin. The only thing to look out for is when it is done, this may be hard with the flames coming from underneath. Don't use this method if you have any burnable cores.

- A kiln that can hold 650c - 800c consistently will do the job for firing your silver art clay. And many other different types. They are extremely easy and safe. There is no risk of over firing or under. It will fire large collections all in one go. You can use it to fire cork, clay, porcelain and glass. The only downside really is it is the most expensive and slowest, but it is more accurate and is at the correct temperature throughout the whole firing process.

Now you know how to dry out and fire piece and you can experiment with the different methods to see which one suits you best.

About the Author

Glenn Tucker - art clay and art clay kits.

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