PMC scraps?

lbowman1 · #1 2010-03-02, 7:09pm

I know when Precious Metal Clay is fired it becomes fine silver not sterling. I was wondering if little bits of fired PMC can be incorporated into beads like fine silver wire? Has anyone tried this?

I have a little cup of bits and pieces of PMC from projects that didn't work out. I don't have enough to melt and pour but I didn't want to throw them out. They are silver after all.

Lori

glass_affair · #2 2010-03-02, 8:10pm

I believe they can.... don't throw them out yet! Someone else done this?

jamie lynne · #3 2010-03-02, 8:13pm

If nothing else you could probably fume with them.... don't know about actually putting it IN a bead.

Over the Moon · #4 2010-03-02, 8:33pm

I fume with Metal Clay scraps all the time. Another alternative is to accumulate and send in your scrap metal to a reclaimer (example www.monsterslayer.com) They give you 75% of the market value. Have fun!

one hot beader · #5 2010-03-02, 10:10pm

They'd have to be really small. Filings even

I had a really nice bead crack on me thorough a silver dot that was too big. It would have been barely 2mm.

funkibeads · #6 2010-03-03, 8:04pm

Yep, I tried putting a few tiny bits of fired PMC silver into some poked holes once (104). Warmed them up on the torch mounted marver first then dropped them in to the concave depressions. Encased in clear and then did some gravity swirling around them. Sort of worked, but the beads cracked - I was only using Vermiculite at the time. I should really retry this ... Note to self - put it in the diary when I get some more silver bits... Greg

one hot beader · #7 2010-03-03, 11:09pm

It'sa not a very good pic, but here's the cracked bead.

Right through the silver dot!

lbowman1 · #8 2010-03-04, 9:04am

Hmmmm...I see that. I wonder if it's because PMC is granular? Maybe if we melt it first and cool it and then apply it to the bead?

Lori

magsllamas · #9 2011-11-20, 9:24am

I crushed mine really fine and put in the bead and it cracked. I think because of the clay shrinks. So I am going to try rolling it out really thin and then grind it in a old coffee grinder to see if that would work. You can alway use your scraps as part of a new piece for texture or wet it down to make slip.

Laura B · #10 2011-11-20, 9:29am

If it's unfired PMC scraps, there's still a binder in the substance. That might cause an unwanted reaction. Shrug

Ah, but I see you were asking about already fired PMC. Nevermind.