• 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.

COPPRclay guide.

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.