Firing Silver Clay in a Kiln

If you are planning on working with silver clay when you make your own handmade jewellery, you'll need to learn how to fire it in a kiln. This process can be tricky at first. However, once you understand all of the steps involved and remember to take your time when using the heating devices you'll be able to fire silver clay in a kiln like a pro. In no time whatsoever you'll be making some absolutely beautiful handmade jewellery creations.

Firing the silver clay is the fun part of the process, mainly because this is when your clay burns away to leave behind a precious metal - shaped and molded by you. In order for your silver clay to turn out correctly you'll need to ensure that you follow all the appropriate steps. If you don't, the end result won't be what it should be - strong and durable.

If you happen to under fire the silver clay you will end up having a weak area in your piece of metal and if you over fire the piece you will melt it. You can fire the clay with a handheld gas torch, a hob or by using a device known as a kiln.

Before you can fire a piece of clay you will have to let the material dry out first. By doing this you can ensure that it isn't damaged whilst it's being fired. You should leave it in a warm area of your home for a day or you can also use your oven or hair dryer to dry out the material.

Once the silver clay is dry you can start to mold it into the preferred shape or design using sandpaper to make the edges smooth. You do not want the edges of your piece to be brittle as it could quite easily break. It is a good idea to spend plenty of time finishing up your project and sand out all of the rough spots - so that it is perfect - before you start the firing process.

You should use a kiln that can hold anywhere from 650 C to 800 C for firing silver clay. Kilns can be used as well as ceramics, enameling or glass fusing projects. This device is very safe and easy to use because there is not a huge risk of over firing. You can use the kiln for multiple projects aside and they can fire large amounts of materials at one time. The downside to using a kiln is that they are very expensive to purchase and they are the slowest firing option available.

Be sure to follow all of the instructions provided with your kiln when you fire your clay to make sure that you carry out the process correctly. It has been recommended by many who work with silver clay, as well as other types of metal clay, to use the highest temperature setting possible on a kiln. However, you should read the directions carefully and use your own judgment when it comes to working with a kiln.

A kiln is an incredibly useful tool for those who make handmade jewellery. This article provides a guide to firing silver clay in a kiln.