[9781600590252] New Clay On The Block


By Barbara Becker Simon, author of Metal Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration (Lark April 2009)

Bill Struve, a chemist and engineer, developed bronze clay after he observed his wife work with fine silver metal clay. Both the Struves wondered about using other metals such as copper and bronze as a basis for metal clay. After much experimentation and trial, Bill Struve created the perfect formula. When bronze clay hit the metal clay community in the summer of 2008, the enthusiasm was huge.

Bronze clay behaves and works pretty much the same way as other precious metal clays. All that texturing that we love, all that construction ability—it’s all there! With a few minor adjustments, you too can get great results. Plus, there are some extra attractions that make bronze clay very appealing.

Besides offering a lovely new color to your metal clay palette, bronze clay can be used for larger items such as sculptures because of its low cost compared to precious metal clays like silver or gold. Right now, most folks who use bronze clay create wearable pieces with it, but I expect to see more non-functional items as its applications grow.





The workability of this new clay is very plastic, and it’s quite lovely to manipulate. Its great strength after firing adds durability to items that suffer abuse when worn, such as bangle bracelets and chain links, very successful for those functions. Though the precious metal clays are wonderful for most jewelry, the nature of the fired clay isn’t suitable for items that need tensile strength, like jump rings. Bronze clay is so strong after firing that even a thin piece can be difficult to bend or distort. Bronze clay’s durability gives us wonderful possibilities for chains, findings, and who knows what else!

One of the neat characteristics of bronze clay is the many surface patinas that may result during firing. Depending on the type of carbon firing medium, brilliant golds, greens, and even reds will appear. Unfortunately, we are still unable to predict or control this phenomenon, so we all cross our fingers when digging out our pieces from the firing containers. Like opening presents, an unknown surprise awaits!

Naturally, bronze clay can be patinated with all manner of colorations or by heat or chemical treatment, because it is an alloy of copper (copper and tin are the components of bronze). This aspect of bronze clay opens up a new avenue for metal clay users. All the usual finishing procedures work the same with bronze as with silver and gold.

Making hollow bead forms out of bronze clay deviates from making the beads out of the classic silver or gold clay. Bronze clay fires at about 1550°F, and since the clay is subject to gravity at those temperatures, the thickness of the bead walls should be greater. If you’re accustomed to making a hollow bead with a 2-card-thick wall, increase the thickness to 3 or 4 cards (depending on the size of the bead.)

When you are ready to fire your bead, take care when you place the bead in the carbon. Position the bead so that the part that is structurally strongest points upwards and counteracts the forces of gravity that might cause slumping while the clay is very hot.

Bronze clay implants are a bit restricted. Only lab-grown czs, spinels, and corundums survive firing—no natural stones and no glass. However, diamonds are quite happy being fired in the oxygen-free atmosphere. Yay! More bling!





Bronze clay opens up a new area in the metal clay world. In my travels and teaching, I’ve found a very enthusiastic acceptance of the new kid on the block. Give it a try!