Finishing Metal Clay Pieces with Hand Tools

Place the fired metal clay piece on a rubber block. Check the piece for rough edges.

Using a wire brush, brush the surface of the metal piece aggressively until the desired silver finish is achieved and there are no more white areas. For your safety, hold the piece in place using a pair of tweezers to prevent any wires from getting under your fingernails.

Note: The white areas are where the silver molecules are standing straight up. Using a wire brush will flatten the molecules out to give the piece a silver finish.

Once wire brushing is finished, the metal clay will have a matte silver finish. If matte is the desired finish, continue to Step 4.

For a shiny finish, use an agate burnisher on the metal clay. For flat areas of the clay, use the flat edge of the burnisher. Use the tip to get into detail areas. The harder the burnisher is pressed onto the clay, the shinier the finish will be.

Note: Do not worry about breaking the burnisher. Agate is a very hard and sturdy stone.

Finish by adding any components or other findings as needed to complete your metal clay piece.

If desired, add patina to the lettering or other fine details to make them stand out. View the ''Here's My Heart Necklace'' how-to video for more information.

Metal clay pieces can be refined after being fired using files or lapidary-grade sand paper in water after wire-brushing is done.