How much PMC do I need?
November 19, 2008
Hello!
I am interested in PMC and was wondering how much material you need to make, say, a ring? I am trying to see what kind of a budget I would need to start using this medium. The websites I have been on do not seem to tell me. For example, if I purchased a 45g bag of PMC+, how much would I get out of that? Thank you for your help!
When I teach a metal clay ring class for beginners they each get a 25g (silver weight) package of PMC3 and can make at least 2 simple rings and 2 small (dime sized) charms. This amount seems to satisfy beginners in a 2 day class. Really it depends on the ring you make, I can definitely use a full 25 grams to make a very elaborate ring, so 25 grams wouldn't satisfy me, lol!
In order to make a ring, you must choose the clay fist. In this case the best thing is to use PMC+ or PMC3 because they are denser than the Original PMC, and can be fired with a kiln for 10 minutes, or with a butane torch that reduces the risk of overheating.
The PMC+ is stronger than the others and it is the best choice to make a ring because it resists the everyday stress. It is maybe a little expensive but your piece will never brake.
Also you must consider the shrinkage rate that is 12%.
The final thickness should be at least 1.12 mm or thicker to be possible to polish it.
If you will experiment with the PMC, I suggest you to buy the 45 gram lump package, because to know the properties of this clay it is good to let your imagination flow and use it all making more pieces. Then, analyzing the shrinkage rate, your ring size and the thickness you want, you can determinate how much PMC you will need for other rings.
Franchezka