Metal Clay or Metalsmithing? Why Not Both?
Metal Clay is an amazing medium, but is it always the best medium to use? That depends on several factors including durability, cost of the finished product, tools available, and aesthetics.
There are many jewelry artists that look at metal clay as a technique or just another tool in the toolbox versus a separate practice. Looking at it this way, and comparing the pros and cons of the media, considering the intended result, and comparing the tools and overall training investment required can help determine if an individual path or hybrid working method is better.
When determining whether or not to use metal clay or metalsmithing techniques, there are things to consider. The higher cost of metal clay as a raw material, specifically when working with silver or gold, can make it less appealing, especially for certain executions that would be less expensive and/or easier in wire or sheet. However, the lower cost of investment in tools could outweigh the materials costs in some instances.
The end goal of having a unique one-of-a-kind piece can be achieved regardless of the media. And both media can often be united in the same piece. There is truly little that is extremely difficult or impossible to achieve with one, or the other, or both nowadays.
Aesthetic
Metal clay can mimic a variety of aesthetics. It can be highly polished, intricate, heavily textured, organic, minimalist, or run the gamut in between. Metal clay excels at capturing both subtle and complex textures. Intricate cutout designs are easily achieved using a pin tool in the wet clay stage versus needing to saw the same designs in sheet metal. For fireable stones, relatively straightforward setting techniques are available in either the wet clay or greenware stages. Unique textures and cutouts can also be easily created in the greenware stage using hand-held files, diamond bits, or rotary tools. Sculpting is also an area that is readily accessible to metal clay artists.
Metalsmithing excels, however, in achieving other goals. For instance, creating a mirror finish in metal clay requires more preparation at all stages of construction than a similar fabricated piece requires. Due to the porosity, even of well-fired and burnished metal clay, a mirror finish may be more difficult to achieve and maintain than the same fabricated or cast design. If the desired aesthetic is a smooth, highly polished finish, fabrication may be the preferred route.
Pierced silver clay using a pin tool on wet clay
Fabricated Swing Locket
Copper sheet pierced with a jeweler’s saw
Embedding a sterling silver band into metal clay
Durability
When determining if metal clay is the right medium for a specific piece, looking at the intended use can help. Is it a piece of jewelry meant to be worn all the time, such as a wedding or engagement ring? If yes, is kiln firing for strength or use of enriched silver product (like a 950 or 960 variety) available? Fine silver, an inherently soft metal, is not ideal as the primary metal for most rings even when milled metal is used. The ability to craft the piece from enriched or sterling silver will result in a more durable finished piece. Also, the ability to solder a sterling silver band to a unique fired metal clay embellishment marries the strength of traditional fabricating and the artistry of metal clay.
Are there construction techniques that can be used to increase the strength and/or wearability of the piece? Very delicate, thin pieces of fine silver metal clay are going to have less durability than thicker or well-supported pieces. It is for this reason that embeddable prong settings are often preferred over making thin prongs from the clay itself. Can wire be fired in place for use as prongs if a premade setting can’t be used or is incompatible with the aesthetic?
A thin, unadorned cuff made from fine silver or even enriched sterling metal clay would be at an increased risk for breaking at stress points, especially if not put on and removed properly. Additionally, it would be exponentially more expensive than using sheet metal. These kinds of considerations should be taken under advisement when deciding if the best material for the job is metal clay.
Metal clay topper on a sterling silver band
Simple metal clay tool kit
Tools
One of the biggest benefits of torch-fireable, fine silver metal clay is the low cost of entry. Even though the raw material is more expensive than traditional milled metals or casting grain, the financial investment for equipment at the outset is far less expensive than what is required for a more traditional metalsmithing studio.
With the proliferation of micro torches and the number of clays that can be fired either without kilns or in economical small kilns, the firing equipment costs for a casual hobbyist to get started in metal clay can be under $50. These same micro torches can also be used to fabricate small pieces, which can reduce some of the entry-level equipment costs between metal clays and metalsmithing.
With metal clay, a rolling mill and steel texture plates are replaced by rubber stamps, silicone texture sheets, carved rollers, and a PVC pipe or wooden dowel. Shears, punches, and steel disc-cutting tools are replaced with cookie cutters, straws, craft knives, and plastic templates.
Using inexpensive tools from other mediums, like polymer clay and pottery, provides a wide variety of shapes and sizes for cutting shapes from metal clay. Noticing and capturing textures from nature or your living environment (leaves, fabric, wallpaper, etc.) becomes a fun habit for the metal clay artist.
Polymer clay texture
Copper metal clay set in a bezel
Costs (Monetary and Time)
For many items, especially those with lower commonly perceived value and low technical requirements like stacking rings, metal clay is likely not the ideal material. For heirloom pieces, memorial pieces, or other highly personalized pieces, where the intrinsic value supersedes other considerations, the expense of metal clay is more easily absorbed. The immediacy of it can also make up for the cost.
For example, fingerprint charms can be done easily in metal clay with a fast turnaround time – they can often be made while the client waits. By comparison, fingerprint charms made using wax or 3D printed models created from scans and traditional metalsmithing techniques take considerably longer to complete a finished product. Metal clay lends itself as the ideal medium for such personalized impulse buys and experiential purchases.
The same is true with items like leaves and other ephemeral materials that may hold significance. Petals from a wedding bouquet or leaves from a meaningful location can easily be made permanent in silver – for jewelry or decor. The equipment, and the cost of said equipment, for such endeavors is minimal in comparison.
Gingko leaves painted with silver clay slip
Perception
When metal clay originally came to market, traditional metalsmiths often perceived it as being less versatile due to shrinkage issues and kiln firing requirements. As performance and quality issues could arise if firing schedules were not meticulously followed, metal clay was deemed less appealing for those accustomed to more traditional jewelry design practices.
Furthermore, as a new medium without a proven track record and minimal information readily available, the public at large did not understand the nature and potential of metal clay. The learning curve was perceived to be too steep for some to attempt. Although information about metal clay has vastly improved, even today many still do not understand that fired metal clay is actually metal and not just metallic-looking clay. All this to say, the perception of the medium by the art community at large could influence whether or not to use it as the primary material.
However, with decades of practice in metal clay arts, greatly expanded and accessible literature on the medium, and given the technological advancements in metal clay’s density, strength, and firing protocols, the performance of today’s metal clays can more easily simulate or even outperform traditional metalsmithing practices. In addition, combining metal clay and metalsmithing techniques and utilizing the strengths of each in a single piece has become increasingly popular.
Enameled silver clay
Additional uses
Fine silver is ideal for enameling. Pieces made from metal clay for enameling have the advantage of being able to be constructed in ways that could be quite difficult to fabricate due to the need to solder elements together.
Metal clay offers the option to create pieces separately, either in the greenware stage or post-firing, then combine them using more clay and refiring. It is a very streamlined process. Creating similarly complex pieces using traditional metalsmithing techniques is dramatically more difficult, potentially requiring greater skill development and additional equipment, such as having a more precise and hotter torch.
While items like simple chains and plain, flat pieces can be created with metal clay, these items may be better constructed from wire and sheet metal from both a cost and durability standpoint.
Metal Clay also allows for the creation of multiples without having to have casting equipment or a wax master setup. The ability to make molds from inexpensive materials such as 2-part silicone or polymer clay and press the clay into them without any additional equipment opens design and production opportunities. For artists looking to create reproducible elements in smaller quantities, even for use with traditional fabrication techniques, metal clay offers an easy and affordable path.
2-part silicone molding compound
Conclusion
Metalsmithing and metal clay are 100% compatible, both as media and as techniques. With some caveats, metal clay can be added to traditionally fabricated pieces, and many metalsmithing techniques can be used on both unfired and fired metal clay, to different degrees. Fabricated elements can be added to metal clay and fired in place. Likewise, metal clay elements can be combined with traditionally fabricated pieces. Laser welding and fusing adds additional versatility to combining traditional fabricated pieces with metal clay.
Summary
Metal Clay Pros:
- Easy to work with and accessible to all skill levels.
- Quickly create pieces.
- Low cost of entry for tools when using torch-fireable, fine silver clay.
- Tools are readily available – specialty stores are not required.
- Textures and shapes can be easily created with basic tools.
- Easily modified.
- Suitable for children and those with hand/body strength or endurance limitations.
- Raw materials are easily reconstituted prior to firing. Very little product is lost at any pre-fire stage, allowing for the freedom to experiment.
- Mold making and creating multiples are easily and cheaply achieved.
- Safe for use around pets and children.
- Typically, does not involve any tools or materials that would be forbidden for those who rent their home.
Metal Clay Cons:
- Raw materials have a higher fabrication cost resulting in a premium price.
- The air-dry property requires a quick working time and may cause issues in climates at either extreme.
- Incorrectly fired pieces may have structural issues.
- Softer and more porous than milled metals.
- Public perception of the material can affect the perception and acceptance of the finished pieces.
- Shrinkage can create issues in sizing, warpage, and distortion.
Whether you’re a metalsmith or a metal clay artist, both disciplines can live happily together if you consider the best approach for your design.
Author: Brandy Boyd, Editors: Julia Rai, Loretta Hackman