• Firing Temp.: Ramp at full speed to 1,700°F–1,800°F (927°C–982°C) and hold for 3 hours (total firing time, including ramp-time, will be about 4 hours). Most firings perform well at 1,700°F; however, if you discover that your pieces are not sintering properly, try firing them at 1,800°F. If blistering occurs at 1,800°F, slightly decrease the firing temperature. If you plan to enamel the piece, please follow the recommended firing schedule listed in the included instructions.
Welcome to COPPRclay™!
COPPRclay™ is easily sculpted, molded, carved and formed,
and becomes solid copper when fired. Your imagination and
just a few simple tools will allow you to create solid copper
pieces, from jewelry to sculptures! And because COPPRclay
is pure copper, it’s great for those artists who enjoy applying
enamels (note the required firing requirements on back).
Working with COPPRclay™
COPPRclay™ is just that: a clay. Like clay, it’s highly workable
but it also dries quickly. You’ll notice the clay stiffening and
cracking when it begins to dry. Some tips to keep in mind:
• Keep COPPRclay™ refrigerated until you’re ready to use
it and in between sessions.
• Rub a dab of olive oil on your hands before you begin
working with the clay.
• While working the clay, refresh it periodically with a
small amount of water using a spray bottle or brush.
• Wrap pieces that you are not currently working on
in plastic and place to the side.
• Avoid using tools that absorb water.
• When not in use, keep the clay tightly wrapped in plastic
and place the wrapped piece in a sealed plastic bag for
added protection. Store all unopened packages (as well
as opened packages) of COPPRclay™ in a refrigerator
when not in use.
Making Slip
Slip will quickly become one of your favorite tools for
working with COPPRclay™, and it’s easy to make. Simply mix
tiny pieces of clay (filings, small dried or wet pieces, etc.) with
water (we recommend distilled water for a longer shelf-life)
until you reach a toothpaste consistency. Keep your slip
stored in a sealed container. Note: Slip will last for about
one week, so make only enough for your immediate need.
Drying the Clay
Once you’ve finished your piece, you will need to dry the clay
before firing it. Gently place the piece on a warming surface
such as a coffee mug warmer or on the top of a kiln (be
careful to keep pieces away from the kiln’s vents); an
inexpensive vegetable dehydrator works well, too. Once
dry, you’ll notice the clay is leather hard, making it very
easy to add finishing touches such as filing, drilling, sanding
and carving. Once COPPRclay is fired, it’s much more difficult
to finish, so take advantage of this pre-fired stage to do as
much of your detailed finishing work as possible.
Firing
To reduce oxidation, the piece(s) must be embedded in
coconut shell–based activated carbon during firing. Important:
Some coal-based carbons may
not fire COPPRclay properly; we recommend using coconut
shell–based activated carbon.
Firing COPPRclay™ is a two-step process that uses low
heat to vaporize the binder, then high heat to sinter the alloy.
1) Spread 1" of coconut shell–based activated carbon
granules on the bottom of a stainless steel firing
container .
2) Place the piece on top of the layer; if firing two or more
pieces, leave at least 1/2" between pieces, more if the
pieces are large.
3) Pour more activated carbon granules on top of the pieces
until the container is filled 1" from the top, making sure
there is a 1/2" layer of granules on top of the pieces.
Again, if you are firing many pieces in layers, make sure
there is at least 1/2" of space between the vertical layers
as well. Note: Do not fire more than 100 grams of clay at
once; overloading may cause poor sintering.
4) Put the stainless steel lid on the firing container and
place it in the kiln on stilts to allow good heat circulation.
Note: Front-loading kilns are cooler in the front near the
door, so the front of your firing container will be cooler
than the other sides. Compensate for this by placing the
pieces closer to the sides and back of the firing container,
making sure you leave at least 1" of space between the
pieces and the front of the firing pan. If you have a
top-loading kiln, there’s no need to adjust.
For COPPRclay™ pieces that will not be enamelled:
Regardless of thickness (embedded in coconut shell–based
activated carbon): Ramp at full speed to 1700°F–1800°F
(927°C–982°C) and hold for 3 hours (total firing time,
including ramp-time, will be about 4 hours). Most firings
perform well at 1700°F. However, if you discover that your
pieces are not sintering properly, try firing them at 1800°F.
Please Note: Blistering may occur at 1800°F; if this occurs,
slightly decrease the firing temperature.
For COPPRclay™ pieces that will be enamelled:
Follow the two-phase firing schedule below if you plan
to enamel your piece.
Phase 1 (open-shelf fire)
For pieces 3mm thick or less: Place the piece directly on the
firing shelf. Ramp at 500°F/hour (278°C/hour) then hold at
560°F (293°C) for 15 minutes.
For pieces thicker than 3mm: Place the piece directly on
the firing shelf. Ramp at 200°F/hour (93°C/hour) then hold
at 560°F (293°C) for 15 minutes.
Phase 2 (sintering)
Regardless of thickness: Embed the piece in coconut
shell–based activated carbon inside a firing pan. Ramp
at full speed to 1750°F (954°C) and hold for 31/2 hours.
Allow the piece to cool naturally inside the kiln.
Finishing
Once fired, the COPPRclay™ piece is a solid piece of
metal. As with other metals, it can be sawn, drilled,
sanded, patinaed or soldered using traditional jewelry
tools and materials. Keep in mind that many
finishing techniques will be easier to perform at
the dried, pre-fired stage.
Safety
The binder in COPPRclay™ is non-toxic, and no toxic fumes
will be present during firing. Though rare, it is possible for
some individuals to experience
some sensitivity to COPPRclay™.
We recommend wearing a dust
mask while working with the
activated carbon.
Silver .999 | No |
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