DIY Network

PMC Silverware Rings (Pt. 2 -- Finishing Touches) by Sherri Haab From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-504

In this second segment guest jewelry designer Sherri Haab applies the finishing touches on her PMC Silverware Rings.

Experience Level: Intermediate

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Guest jewelry designer Sherri Haab shows you how to add a stone to your Precious Clay Metal band ring.

Materials --

Paper ring pattern-prepared on copier
PMC3® silver metal clay
Non-stick paper
Clear tape
Water in spray bottle
Olive oil

Tools --

Craft knife
Ring mandrel
Plastic roller
Mat strips
Mat cutting blade
Paintbrush
Prepared clay slip
File
Sanding papers
Kiln shelf or firebrick
Butane torch with fuel
Patterned silverware (butter knife)
Brass brush
Mallet

PMC Silverware Rings (Pt. 2)

1. Fire the ring with a small butane torch or in the kiln following manufacturer's instructions.

2. To fire it with a butane torch, place the ring on a firebrick (figure A) -- which is a heatproof surface.

Safety Tip: Anytime you are using a butane torch, you need to wear protective goggles.

3. Turn the torch on and as soon as you have a flame, place it over the ring. Hold the torch approximately an inch from the ring and move it around the ring in a circular motion, keeping the heat nice and even. As you start to fire, you will notice a little flame will pop out (figure B). That is the binder firing away from the metal clay, and it will go away in a few minutes. As soon as you see it start to glow an orange-red color, keep it moving for two minutes. Make sure that the ring doesn't start to shimmer or turn silvery looking. That means that you need to pull back a little because you can melt the ring.

Figure A

Figure B

4. As soon as it is fired, do not touch it and allow it to cool down. After it is cooled down, it will look white (figure C).

5. To bring up the silver, you need to burnish the ring. To do that, you brush the piece vigorously with a brass brush (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D

	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G

6. To burnish the inside of the ring, use a polishing paper (figure E). After it is polished, rub with a burnishing tool (or silver spoon, knitting needle, etc.) to give it extra sparkle and to bring out the design. When it is finished, you have a pure silver ring!

7. To add a stone to the ring, roll a small ball of metal clay and press the stone right in the center (figure F). Press it so that it is a little deeper than the surface of the clay -- the clay will shrink.

Note: It does not hurt cubic zirconium to heat it -- it is a strong material.

8. Use a little slip to attach the stone to the ring before it has been burnished (figure G). Let it dry completely and then it is ready to fire.

Tip: Attach the stone onto the ring at the seam. If there are little cracks, you can use a brush and water to smooth them out.

9. Cubic zirconium stones are sturdy and can be torch fired, but for more sensitive stones, you can use a kiln. Once it has been fired in the kiln, it will come out white and ready for burnishing.

RESOURCES :

Metal Clay Products and Supplies:
PMC3® Silver Metal Clay
Ring Mandrel
Sanding papers
Brass Brush
Torch or Kiln
All available from Rio Grande
Toll-free: 800-545-6566
Website: www.riogrande.com

Non-Stick Craft Sheets
Available online from Suze Weinbert or Ranger:
Websites: www.schmoozewithsuze.com OR www.rangerink.com

The Art of Metal Clay
0823003671
Sherri Haab
February 2004
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Watson-Guptill Publications

GUESTS :

Sherri Haab
Sherri Haab Designs
Phone: 801-489-3885
E-mail: sherrihaab.com
Website: www.sherrihaab.com