Media Reviews: Working with Precious Metal Clay

Working with Precious Metal Clay
by Tim McCreight
published by Brynmorgen Press Portland, ME, 2000.
Hardcover, color, 9 x 11, 128 pages, $29.95

Reviewed by Linda Kaye-Moses.

In 1995, jewelers in this country were introduced to a new material, Precious Metal Clay® (in 1999, PMCplus became available). Almost immediately, a need developed for a manual on the use of the two materials. After five years of researching PMC, Tim McCreight has published Working with Precious Metal Clay. McCreight's informal style sets the tone of this benchtop manual, and his attention to detail, immediately evident in his choice of sturdy covers intended for heavy use, and spiral binding, designed to lie flat on the workbench, make this an easy-to-use text that answers many of the questions about PMC.

The body of this book is divided into three main sections: 50 Projects; Technical Tips; and Tools You Can Make. There are two additional sections: a preface and an appendix, the ladder of which is explained in detail later. The preface contains a general list of tools useful for working with PMC (PMC Tool Box) and a brief discussion of PMC Basics. This discussion includes: a description of the characteristics and methods of handling PMC; a review of simple tools; methods of joining or assembling parts; drying; firing; and finishing. McCreight keeps the preface brief and simple, with clear references to more complete discussions of each topic later in the volume.

Each project for making jewelry and other objects included in Part One: 50 Projects is accompanied by: clear instructions; a photograph of the completed piece; a chart which indicates the amount of PMC required to complete the project, the amount of time required in addition to firing time, the skill level, and simple color illustrations of the steps for completing each project. Although imbedded in the instructions, it would have been helpful to list the tools and/or materials for each project separately preceding the projects. However, the thorough instructions are easy to follow and the projects are engaging and challenging.

For additional information pertinent to each project, the reader is directed to other sections of the book, keeping each project page uncluttered and, therefore, more readable, without sacrificing completeness. The projects designed to introduce the material to beginning students are so carefully described that a beginner will have no difficulty navigating through them. There are enough challenging projects to sustain the interest of the more experienced "PMClayer" while improving their understanding and skills.

For each project, McCreight is careful to indicate which material, PMC or PMCplus, would be suitable. The author also makes certain that the beginner's projects contain additional aids and information. For example, the "Simple Button" project contains templates to gauge the shrinkage of the buttons.

The "Technical Tips" section surveys aspects of PMC that are unique to the medium. In addition to thorough explanations of shrinkage, rehydrating PMC, and ring sizing (chart included), McCreight also examines mold making, stone setting, firing tips, and finishing/assembling PMC elements.

The third section, reflecting McCreight's goal to keep things simple by making tools from easily acquired materials and equipment, describes the construction of 10 tools, including: a textured rolling pin, stamps, a polishing stick, and a tumble polisher. Some of the tools may be superfluous for the reader with access to a jewelry studio, but all will find the tools easy to make.

The appendix contains seven separate sections, "Health and Safety" being the first. The issue of safety in the jewelry studio is addressed here and throughout the book. The use of active ventilaiton for some of the processes should have been strongly encouraged - the "Raku Donut Bead," for example, or wherever oxidation or patination is suggested. The other sections of the appendix are: a chart of relative sizes (B&S gauge, millimeters, inches, drill sizes), resources (including pertinent non-profit organizations and magazines), PMC suppliers, and an index. There is also a thorough list of tool and equipment suppliers, though this list would improve with annotations indicating which specific, PMC-related material/supply/tool each supplier offers.

There are some small "blips." For example, although there is a reference to an explanation of burnable bead cores (page 47), the page to which the reader is directed does not exist. Since beginners would most likely be unfamiliar with bead core materials, such an examination of the types of bead cores would have been helpful. Although this examination was originally intended, McCreight must have simply forgotten to include it.

The author's goal, to present an introduction to using PMC, makes Working with Precious Metal Clay an easy way for the inexperienced student to become familiar with PMC. The book will also find an interested audience in experienced jewelers. In fact, Working with Precious Metal Clay is so immediately useful that those using PMC will want to keep the book within easy reach from the workbench.