• Tools used for working with bronze and copper metal clays, which cannot be washed (like jeweler's files), must be dedicated to working with bronze and copper metals to avoid cross contamination between them and any other metal clay.
• Bronze and copper metal clays must be fired in an oxygen free environment in a kiln to achieve a proper sinter (fusing the metal particles together with the use of high heat).
  • A stainless steel pan and coal carbon or coconut carbon are ideal tools for creating this environment
  • You should wear a mask when working with the carbon to avoid inhaling the fine particles and dust




Everyone's kiln will yield different results Results from firing to firing, within your own kiln, may vary It is best to test your kiln by firing copper and bronze test pieces prior to firing the work you have spent time on, to determine what firing schedule works for your kiln It is best to fire the copper and bronze metal clay pieces as high up in the chamber of the kiln as possible Raise the pan inside the kiln by placing it onto stacks of pieces of kiln shelves or kiln feet

• There are various firing schedules being used--Hadar Jacobson's firing schedule has worked well with my kiln, which is a front loader with a thermocouple located in the back wall, like the Paragon kiln shown, and has a programmable controller.

1st Phase

	Pour carbon into the pan until it is a little more than 3/4 full.
	Place pieces into the carbon so they are positioned along the back wall and sides of the pan; avoid the front of the pan for front loading kilns as this area does not necessarily achieve the full temperature needed for a good sinter.
	Program the kiln to ramp up at the speed of 1,750 degrees Fahrenheit to a set temperature of 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit; hold for 30 minutes. Let the kiln come down to room temperature.

2nd Phase

	Carefully remove the pan from the kiln.
	Remove any carbon that turned white during the firing.
	Using the same type of carbon, add more to the pan, filling to the top, although not so full the lid doesn't sit flush with the top of the pan.
	Place the lid on top.
	Place the pan back into the kiln. Ramp up at full speed to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit and hold for 3 hours.
	Remove the pan using the firing fork or let the kiln come down to room temperature.
	Remove your test pieces.

Customer Comments

We would like to share some of the customer comments we received in response to the article, "Metal Clays--Tips for Working with Copper and Bronze Clay," featured in a newsletter. Please keep in mind that the comments expressed below are those of our customers and do not reflect the views of Fire Mountain Gems and Beads.