Prometheus® Copper Clay Syringe 10 gr

Prometheus® Copper Clay(PCC) is an extraordinary medium that will help you transform your imagination into fine jewelry and artistic pieces made of copper. You can easily model it by hand, using some simple tools and even on a potter's wheel. Burning for Prometheus® Copper Clay is easier than ever; only 30 minutes at 920 ° C or 90 minutes at 850 ° C or 10 minutes with a torch.

Features

 

What is Prometheus® Copper Clay?

Prometheus® Copper Clay is a clay material that turns into pure, solid copper when burned in a kiln. It is a mixture of microscopic copper powder, water and organic binder. It can be shaped by hand, rolled into flat surfaces or braided like a rope. It can be used with molds, textured or even molded on the potter's wheel. Prometheus® Copper Clay can be burned with most laboratory-created semiprecious stones (cubic zirconia), tested natural semiprecious stones, glass beads, ceramic or porcelain.

When the clay is burned in the furnace, the organic binder burns and what remains is pure, solid copper. After wiping, if necessary, put in a pickling solution to remove any residues left after oxidation and finish.

You can create unique jewelry, ornaments, statues, sculptures and many other decorative objects.

Unleash your imagination and fingers when working with metal clay.

The process of working with PCC® is similar to that used for Prometheus® Bronze Clay, polymer clays, plasticine for modeling and ceramic clays. It is very easy to use.

The normal consistency PCC®does not stick to hands or plastic work surfaces. However, a little oil on your hands or on the work surface helps and will not damage the clay (olive oil is preferable).
Remove the clay from the plastic bag and place it on a clean plastic surface or waxed paper.
Use your fingers, roller, spatula, clay modeling tools, modeling knives, even toothpicks or other simple tools to shape it, texture, etc. Clay can be textured with the help of stamps, textured surfaces, leaves, paper and other interesting textures. The stage in which the clay is removed from the package and processed is called the "wet stage". Try not to stay too long at this stage to prevent the clay from drying out; at the same time do not rush the modeling of the piece, PCC it gives you enough time to finish it. If you still see cracks on the surface of the part, immediately apply a little water with a brush or spray and fill those cracks with a little paste to repair it. To join two parts, simply moisten the points that will make contact and / or add a little paste (to create the paste mix a little clay with a little water until it reaches the consistency of a fatty yogurt) for a solid connection.

The remaining clay is stored in a plastic bag that can be closed to prevent it from drying out. Any pieces of clay cut from the piece during processing must be put in the bag immediately and it is tightly closed.
If you do not plan to work with clay soon, put the plastic bag in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. A damp sponge placed at the bottom of the jar will keep your clay in good condition until the next use. If you store the clay for a long time, keep an eye on the sponge and add water if necessary.

Drying

Before burning the copper clay must be completely dry. You can use a dryer or it can be placed on top of an oven. Alternatively, a fruit plate or dehydrator can be used.
To check if the clay is completely dry, remove it hot from drying and place it directly on a cold mirror. After 10-20 seconds it moves to check for condensation. This test is extremely important for large and / or thick parts. If the part has not dried completely, there is a risk of cracking, breaking or air bubbles appearing on its surface during combustion.
Quick drying is not recommended for large parts as it can cause cracks. For these parts it is recommended to leave it at room temperature for a few hours and then continue drying at a moderate temperature.

Dry stage

Although dry PCC is durable, care is still needed during processing. Its surface can be sculpted, sanded, drilled with hand tools or micromotors and engraving devices. To join dry parts, wet the connection points with a brush and apply paste. After completing the design, uneven surfaces are easy to sand using sandpaper and sanding sponges. It is much easier to do this step now, before the clay burns.

 

Burning methods for Prometheus® copper clay

1. Conventional method (*)

Place the dry part (or parts) on a stainless steel mesh and place in the preheated oven at 920 ° C. Allow the oven to reach the target temperature again, then let it burn for 30 minutes.

When the combustion is complete, remove the part, place it on a thermally insulated surface and allow it to cool or, ideally, cook in water while it is still hot. (***) Most oxidation residues come off the part. . If there are still residues present, leave the piece in a hot pickling solution for a while.

(*) This method is especially recommended for large pieces, statuettes, etc.
(**) Most ovens are colder nearby, so it is recommended to place the pieces towards the bottom of the oven. Most kilns are cooler near the front door, so put them close to the back of the heating chamber.
(***) Beware of water vapor.

2. Coal method

This is a 2 step method.

1. Place the dry piece (or pieces) on a stainless steel mesh and place in the preheated oven at 500 ° C or place on a kitchen stove. Burn for 10 minutes, then place on a thermally insulated surface and allow to cool.

2. Place about 3 cm of activated carbon on the bottom of a steel container. Place the pieces at least 1,5 cm apart and fill the container with activated carbon, cover and place in the preheated oven at 850 ° C. Allow the oven to reach the target temperature again and burn for 90 minutes. When the combustion is finished, leave the container to cool or carefully remove and place on a fireproof surface until the parts cool enough to be removed from the container. Another burning program is 2 hours at 800 ° C. This program is preferred when copper clay is combined with bronze.

3. Burn the cake

Place the dry piece on a stainless steel net and place the net on a solid brick. It burns homogeneously to an orange-reddish color for 5-10 minutes depending on the size of the piece.
After the combustion is finished, let the piece cool or cook in water. In the event that there are residues left after burning on the piece, leave the piece in a hot Picklean® solution until they disappear.

Finishing for Prometheus copper clay

Brush the piece with a metal brush and, if necessary, place it in a hot stripper. (*)

After pickling, rinse the piece in water, then dry. The result should be a warm reddish color. Various patina solutions can also be used to obtain other colors

Polish the part with a grinder, sandpaper, cleaning drum or a grinding motor. Using grinding solutions can improve the gloss of your parts.

Protection measures