[Jewelry making - Article 00437] - Re: [Orchid] PMC in general

[M'lou Brubaker]

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>     One problem I have with PMC is that I have seen some of it sold as
>     "sterling silver" and I think that is incorrect. 

    Right, it is not sterling, it is fine silver, which is silghtly more
    valuable than sterling, and softer. 

    I am an experienced metalsmith who tried PMC and did not like it
    very much. Since I have casting capabilities, there is a lot I can do
    with various waxes that I think works better. The material is what I
    would call "short", that is, it breaks and crumbles like shortbread.
    Stones set in it look sloppy to me, compared to hand setting in
    bezels or with engraved beads. I think it is at its best when used
    with a lot of freedom in terms of not trying to look too neat and
    tidy. Each material is best when used as itself, not in imitation of
    something else. So, of you want to do PMC, then have fun using that
    rough crumbly edge, and the free, malleable look of it all! It is
    what it is. 

    I see PMC as an interesting bridge for potters and other
    craftspeople to get into using precious metals. Some of them may even
    choose to develop traditional metalsmithing skills. If they don't,
    they will come up against problems when they decide to assemble
    things with anything fancier than just a hole through the piece. 

    Please don't get me wrong; I respect all materials. I just didn't
    like working in the stuff very much, myself.

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