Some of us will stick anything on a bead. After all - if you don't try - how will you find the next wonderful thing?
Metal Clays - if you haven't been paying attention - have come a long way - with quite a few competing brands and more options than just Fine Silver anymore.
This is a fine powder - you mix it up yourself - from Hadar Jacobsen.
I poured some into a frit tray, made a white bicone, and then rolled the bead in the clay powder.
It needed a lot of heat to get it to stick - much higher than just getting frit to stick to a bead.
Heating the copper clay powder after applying it to the bead made the copper powder go black - no surprise there.
I then encased it, and finished shaping it, and kilned it.
Two observations: One is, I got pretty colours - intense dark reds and some purple blue.
And the other is - it is massively incompatible. Whoa-nelly - just look at those cracks!
Although - they just appear to be in the clear. I wonder if I did it again and didn't encase it ... .
PS. I don't know if it gives off toxic fumes. It's didn't smell particularly noxious - but that's not much to go on. It flared up and burned with a greenish flame at one point when I applied it to the bead, but not for more than a half-second. But the point is, I don't know if what I did was stunningly unsafe - if you choose to try this or other things like it - you do so at your own risk.
I like your idea. I don't have any clay to try it..bummer. I have tried copper foil though...it was ugly black till I kept burning and burning..it finally turned a lovely mottled green. I never did try to encase it though. Maybe if you burn everything off and then encase it...just a thought.
ReplyDeleteHope you try again...I would love to see the results!
Copper Foil can be fabulous - don't worry about it looking black - just encase and it comes out of the kiln a handsome red.
ReplyDeletehttp://dragonjools.blogspot.ca/2012/05/learning-something-new.html
If you encase it without letting the flame touch it - it actually stays copper!
Copper leaf can be combined with enamel for some interesting effects too!
Thank you so much for sharing. I am going to give it another go.
ReplyDeleteI haven't done much with powders either. Ahh so many things to try..love it!
I have used copper a lot in my fused work and I know that gorgeous red you are talking about...love it!!
Happy Sunday!!
Patty