Steel Clay Updates
Georgia did it again. You may remember that she was the one who originally discovered the compatibility of copper and bronze clay. As soon as she laid her hands on steel clay, she combined it with copper and fired.
So now we know that steel and copper clay can be fired at the same temperature, without interfering with each other’s sintering.
Although I haven’t yet been able to repeat Georgia’s experiment, I have been able to combine steel and copper clay in a single firing, meaning that both copper and steel clay were fired in green state.
Click on the photos to see the full picture. The one on the left is an overlay of copper clay on steel clay; the one on the right is an inlay of copper in steel clay.
There is a good reason to fire them both in green state: if one of them is fired first, the second shrinks over metal that has already shrunk. Since the firing takes place in a kiln and is not done with a torch, the shrinkage of the second metal is too high and causes it to crack.
Why not bronze and steel? The firing temperature for steel is too high for bronze. However, it is possible to combine them by firing steel clay first:
Yes, that last photo is a ring. It’s been a long time since I made any rings. Here are some more. They are incredibly light, and though I’m not sure of the exact shrinkage rate, it seems to be very low.
Here are some pieces that do not involve a single firing. The components were fired separately and then assembled.
This last piece is not the one that is featured in my third book. That piece was made with silver leaves. The piece above is made with steel clay.
So when is steel clay going to be available for shipping? Hopefully around Thanksgiving. I am off this weekend for a 4-day workshop in San Diego, and plan to start stocking as soon as I get back.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Too exciting for words! I am so looking forward to trying it Hadar!
November 18th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I can’t wait to get my hands on some! Oooh the possibilities will be endless. Did I mention that you’re amazing Hadar? 😉
November 18th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Really enjoy the last photo – of the leaves. Quite stunning to see something so organic made from this material! :o)
November 19th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Hadar, are you using both stainless steel and regular steel clays, or just one?
November 19th, 2009 at 8:52 am
I’m anticipating this steel clay a lot. I use annealed steel wire in my jewelry and like the darker look with my beads so the steel is not only cost-effective but the perfect material for my designs. Thanks, Hadar!
November 19th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Hi Cheryl,
These are all regular steel. At least for now.
November 19th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Awesome, let me know when you have it in stock as I will need to order tons…. all your ozzie friends will be wanting it that is for sure.
November 20th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
So cool Hadar, thank you for all your work. Cant wait to try it. I love the darker color.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:26 am
OK .. I admit I’ve been out of the loop for the last five or six months with stressful family-related things, but I didn’t think I was so far out that I’d totally miss the fact that a whole new clay has been created! Is there a link or blog entry that explains the beginnings of steel clay?? Please, please, please .. point me in the right direction! : )
November 21st, 2009 at 8:21 am
Karen,
Steel clay was introduced on this blog on a posting from October 30. Please follow up from there. When it’s available it will be from my website and blog.
January 21st, 2013 at 12:25 am
Where can i find information of the size of the rings working with hadar’s clay?
January 21st, 2013 at 9:38 am
Beatriz, The last page of my book “Metal Clay Practice”, which is mostly projects for rings, has a shrinkage chart for the different clays.