Art Clay Silver Range of Products
The Art Clay Silver 650 series
Type
Art Clay Silver Slow Dry Type
As this product name describes, this clay is specially formulated to remain pliable for up to four times longer than 650 Clay type. The advantage of using Slow Dry type is in its extended working time, meaning that you can create small, delicate pieces without the edges cracking as quickly due to drying while modeling. Flower petals, stems, etc., can be formed and joined easily. Also, Slow Dry type allows you the time to extrude the clay through an empty syringe into long ropes or strips which then can be woven, braided, or otherwise manipulated without cracking.
Art Clay Silver Paste Type
The only difference between Paste type and Clay type is the amount of water portion in the mixture. Paste type comes in the consistency of melted ice cream and you should only transfer the amount needed from the jar to a small tray and dilute with water to create the desired thickness. It is used in several ways:As a glue to join two pieces of dry or wet clay together.As a gap-filler for pits and cracks that appear in dried pieces.To attach silver findings (screw eyes, bailbacks, brooch findings, etc.) to dried or wet clay pieces. During firing, the normal contraction of the clay bonds the findings.When applied in separate layers onto organic forms such as leaves, dried flowers, paper-origami, etc, Paste type creates a perfect impression of the form.
Art Clay Silver Syringe Type
Art Clay Silver Syringe type is 10gm of Art Clay Silver in a pre-loaded syringe. Syringe type comes packaged in three ways: with color-coded tips (blue, green and gray), each an increasingly larger diameter; a one tip (green nozzle) package; and packaged without any tips.
Each of the tips is reusable and only needs to be purchased once. The diameter of each syringe nozzle is; Blue Nozzle: 0.41mm, Green Nozzle: 0.84mm, and Gray Nozzle: 1.19mm. The consistency of Syringe type is totally different from that of Paste type and it is not to be thought of as just paste in a syringe. Syringe type is thicker, more controllable and allows more workability. It is used in several ways:
- To decorate pieces, much like using cake decorating tips. Lines, filigree, faux cloisonné borders, and even hollow balls can be made with Syringe type.
- As a repair “glue” to fill cracks and gaps.
- To attach findings to wet or dry clay pieces.
Overlay Silver Paste
This Art Clay product is specifically formulated to bond to non-porous or glazed surfaces such as ceramic, porcelain, and glass. Overlay Silver Paste can be used in a variety of ways:
- Paint directly, full strength, onto bisque, glazed porcelain or glass pieces.
- Used in a technique called sgraffito, whereby a thin layer of Overlay paste is applied to the glazed porcelain or glass, allowed to dry, and then a pointed tool is used to scratch a design into the layer so that the porcelain or glass beneath appears, giving a stenciled look.
This product is fired at 650℃ / 1200˚F for 30 minutes.
Art Clay Silver Basic Series
Clay type
There are two kinds of Clay types with the original formula, the original “Clay type” and “Slow Dry Clay type”. The maximum firing temperature is 870℃ / 1598˚F for 10 minutes, or 800℃ / 1472˚F for 30 minutes. After firing, clay contraction is 9-10%. The finished piece is 99.9% fine silver and also can be hallmarked like the 650 series.
Art Clay Silver Paper type
Art Clay Silver Paper Type is a unique, paper-thin sheet of silver clay that needs no drying time. You can easily fold, bend, punch or cut shapes with a pair of scissors or paper punches just like you do with regular paper. You can apply techniques from Origami, paper crafting, fabric and leather crafting to design your piece.
Paper type comes in 75mm square sheets, which is 10 grams of clay with nearly all of the water removed. There are other unique features:
- Paper type needs to be fired from a cool kiln, below 150℃ / 300˚F and should take at least 15 minutes to reach the firing temperature.
- If you add excess moisture to your working piece, Paper type will lose its shine and begin to degrade. Fire at 800℃ / 1472˚F for 30 minutes.
Art Clay Silver Oil Paste type
Art Clay Silver Oil Paste is an oil-based paste and it is formulated to act as a bond between fired silver pieces. Oil Paste provides a solid weld between pure silver findings, or between two fired pieces.
It comes in two separately sealed jars. One has 10gm of very thick paste, the other contains a thinner that is used to keep the paste at working consistency. Both jars must be kept tightly capped.
Silver findings also can be attached to the piece with Oil Paste, and then re-fired for adhesion. Fires at 800℃ / 1472˚F for 30 minutes or 850℃ / 1562˚F for 10 minutes.
Art Clay Silver Slow Tarnish (ST) Series
The Art Clay Silver Slow Tarnish (or ST) series comes in three basic forms, Clay type, Paste type and Syringe type.
Silver products, whether they are made of pure silver or sterling silver (SV925 or 950) have a tendency to tarnish due to the chemical reaction between the metal and the air.
Although Art Clay products tarnish slower than sterling silver, a piece made of ST series tarnishes even slower than any other Art Clay series products. A piece made of Slow Tarnish clay can maintain its shine even longer with regular jewelry cleaning.
The ST series remains 99% high quality silver after firing. It fires at one temperature setting of 800℃ / 1472˚F for 30 minutes..
