[Jewelry making - Article 00228] - Re: [Orchid] Article: Minimal Metalsmithing

[lora hart]

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Nanz,

    Are you really basing your opinion on a product you tested briefly
    in the early 90's (not 80's it wasn't developed until the early 90's
    and wasn't being tested in the U.S. until 1994)? Have you worked with
    it extensively since then as hundreds of fully trained and educated
    goldsmiths have? Don't you think the product and working knowledge
    of metal clay has changed within that time? The material that you
    worked with is now called PMC Standard and *is* a more porous version
    than the later *recipies* with 30 percent shrinkage, but the material
    has been improved and re formulated twice since then with PMC+ and
    PMC3 joining the line (not to mention Art Clay Silver's wonderful
    metal clay products). These two versions are stronger, denser and
    able to be more fully sintered than the first offering. 

    Where on earth did you get your figure that metal clay is 200 times
    more porous than cast metal? Were you talking about fine or sterling
    silver? Tim Mc Creight will be able to give definitive figures (if
    he's interested in entering the fray), but PMC3 fired at the maximum
    time and temperature is only slightly less dense than cast sterling.
    And in ten years of use, has been proven to be a viable, strong and
    beautiful jewelry making material. Certainly more durable than
    plastic animals glued to crochet (although I do love Frelieke van der
    Leest's work) or crocheted fine silver/gold (ditto Michael David
    Sturlin), resin, tin cans, hair or bakelite. Should we all start
    making jewelry the way you do? Should we stop pushing the boundaries,
    searching for new methods and materials, stop moving forward in our
    quest for beauty? 

    And I hardly want to dignify your ill worded, rude and ridiculous
    comparison with medium density fiberboard with a response. Perhaps
    if you find metal clay such an inferior jewelry making product you
    should stop committing so many pages to it in your magazine. I've
    bought every issue since the premier at the newstand price, but I'll
    help you out in the effort to stifle the advance of metal clay (and
    any other new technology) by never picking up a copy again. 

    You need to do a little more research before you make such negative
    blanket statements and I think you owe the metal clay community an
    apology. 

Lora Hart
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