Platinum PMC?

I have been searching in vain for about Platinum PMC. I
know it exists, and is at least available in Japan. Does anyone know
if there is anyone who imports it to the US? Even if not, if I am
able to get some somehow from a contact in Japan, does anyone know
how I can find out on how to work with it? I have someone
who wants very badly to design her own wedding rings using platinum
clay, and I am trying to find out if this is possible.

Thanks for any advice.

jodi

Platinum clay is available in Japan and requires a special kiln to
fire, if I remember correctly, it has to be oxygen free. You can
email your question to tech @ PMC Guild.com (remove spaces) and you
will get a prompt response.

My impression is that platinum clay will not ever be available here.

Why not have your client make her wedding ring in silver clay, then
mold it and cast it in platinum? More cost effective way to go
anyway.

Elaine

Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay

I have worked with the pmc I find them interesting However I do
stick to more traditional metal working techniques. In my experience
I found the final pmc product to be very soft. I am taking about the
silver as this is what I used. any of the pmc metals will be too
soft for rings. What I like to do with pmc is make a piece in silver
mold it with rubber of course silicone will work. Then cast it into
whatever metal “alloy” you like. Alloy is the key word to obtain the
hardness needed. I would suggest your client-friend make the ring in
silver when she is happy with it have it molded and cast into 900
pt. Just plan on making the master 1/2 size larger than needed.

Mike

I have been searching in vain for about Platinum PMC.
I know it exists, and is at least available in Japan. Does anyone
know if there is anyone who imports it to the US? Even if not, if I
am able to get some somehow from a contact in Japan, does anyone
know how I can find out on how to work with it? I have
someone who wants very badly to design her own wedding rings using
platinum clay, and I am trying to find out if this is possible. 

I’ve not heard of it as a jewelry product, but the first thought
I’ve got on that regard would be that most jewelers would not have
funace capabilities capable of sintering a platinum pmc product.
Remember that if it’s a true pmc, you’ll have to be able to heat it
to somewhere near it’s melting point in order to sinter it, and this
is MUCH hotter than gold or silver PMC products, if the platinum
product is a reasonably high percentage of platinum…

the subsequent thoughts are that all PMC products tend to be
somewhat softer than the “cast” versions of the same metals. I’m not
sure you’re going to want to use a platinum pmc for a wedding band
that’s softer than dead soft annealed cast platinum alloys. Perhaps
they’ve alloyed it with something to improve this adequately, but I’d
be wary.

And then there’s cost. With PMC products usually commanding a price
that’s a significant percentage higher than the plain metals they
contain, I’d guess a platinum PMC would end up being a very costly
way to make a platinum ring… PMC products are indeed fascinating
materials, and different in working method and result from
traditional metal working. But just intuitively, I’d guess a platinum
PMC would be a rather more difficult and costly material to work with
than the gold and silver products. Perhaps I’m wrong, but that’s my
first intuitive reaction…

Why not just do this the traditional way? Help your client design
her rings in wax, and have the results cast normally, in platinum.
There are soft waxes you could choose that would work rather like a
clay…

Peter