[Jewelry making - Article 00081] - [Orchid] Article: Minimal Metalsmithing

[Nanz Aalund]

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Dear Elaine,

>     Here are some of the strengths of Precious Metal Clay (R): Fast,
>     fast, fast. Faster than metalsmithing, faster turn around time than
>     casting. Here are some of the weaknesses of PMC: I feel that some of
>     the PMC stone setting methods are clunky and ugly. 

    I read your article and found that the major weakness of metal clay
    continues to be omitted from the discussion. The fact that sintered
    metal clay, depending on the formulation is over 200 times more
    porous than cast metal. This porosity seriously impacts the
    longevity and wearability of jewelry objects made from this product. 

    I was approached by the Mitsubishi Corporation in the mid-1980s (as
    where dozens of other bench jewelers) to experiment with the as yet
    un-named new product of metal clay. We were to see if the product had
    properties that could make it usable in commercial jewelry
    production. Since the sintered metal clay could not be forged, filed,
    soldered, or even handled too roughly without breaking, and it shrank
    during sintering, it was not a viable candidate for model making or
    jewelry production. 

    Yes, it is fast and tons of fun to play with, allowing many people
    who might never be able to make jewelry any other way to express
    themselves creatively. But, the quality of the jewelry produced is
    seriously inferior to traditionally fabricated or cast jewelry due to
    the physical properties of metal clay. 

    The differences could be compared to furniture made from solid oak or
    furniture made from medium density fiberboard (MDF). 

    This is a critique of the material, and not the objects made from
    it. 

Nanz Aalund
Associate Editor / Art Jewelry magazine
21027 Crossroads Circle / Waukesha WI 53187-1612
262.796.8776 ext.228
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