PMC 101
- Mr E
- Dec 20, 2019
- 2 min read
Precious Metal Clay (PMC), was developed by Mitsubishi Corporation for use in origami, but has been overshadowed by creativity of many sculpting styles and is especially useful in jewelry making. PMC is now made by a number of manufacturers and comes primarily in variations of silver, but it is also made in gold, copper, brass, and other metals.
The basis for the product is actually a by product of tech recycling. While breaking down tech to recycle, after the initial take apart, things like circuit boards are shredded, passed by magnets, centrifuged and processed other ways until you have little piles of metal dust.
The silver dust is mixed with binders (clay, organic material, glycerin, water, etc.) to create clay types with different properties, like fine (.999) or sterling (.925 or higher), and different firing qualities, temperatures, shrink rates, and ramping requirements.
One interesting feature of PMC is the shrink rate. Because the binder and other materials burn away, the PMC object shrinks a predictable percentage. For instance, PMC sheet has 90% silver and 10% other materials that will burn away, so you should be aware that the finished product after the kiln will be 10% smaller. This also makes the details finer, and generally improves the look of the object in every aspect unless you are wanting it bigger. For some items made with PMC clay like rings, jewel mountings, or beads, the shrink rate will need to be considered otherwise the final object will not fit the size requirements. Conversion tools like ring sizers tend to be readily available, just be aware to match up your PMC's shrink rate with the right tools. So it is generally easiest to start with some very established formulas of PMC, like from the originator Mitsubishi, so that you can very easily make successful projects from the start instead of wasting time trying to learn a uncommon discount formula that is not as supported.
One final note, this is not a cheap hobby. In the beginning, PMC has many details that are not difficult, but I wish I had set myself for better success by investing more in my materials upfront so that I could have satisfying successes from the beginning instead of trying to save a couple of bucks by going off brand and fighting uphill to get something to show someone. Just a thought.
Be God's,
Mr E
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