Colouring PMC

Jewelry Discussion
1

Is there any way of colouring precious metal clay - either silver
or gold PMC? I suppose that simply mixing silver and gold PMC
wouldn’t work, because that just seems too obvious! But could you
mix in something like powdered niello? I would like to achieve a
kind of “mokume gane” effect, by kneading differently-coloured PMC
mixtures together, but I don’t know of any way of achieving a colour.

Has anyone tried something like this?

-Michael.

2 
	Is there any way of colouring precious metal clay - either silver
or gold PMC?  I suppose that simply mixing silver and gold PMC
wouldn't work, because that just seems too obvious!  But could you
mix in something like powdered niello?  I would like to achieve a
kind of "mokume gane" effect, by kneading differently-coloured PMC
mixtures together, but I don't know of any way of achieving a
colour.

Try mixing dry enamel with the PMC, about 50/50, then combine. If
you use too much enamel it will run some. Not all enamels fire true
to color. Blues and greens usually work, red does not. I have not
tried this with PMC+ or PMC3, but it will probably work with those
too.

Cathy

3 
Try mixing dry enamel with the PMC, about 50/50, then combine. If
you use too much enamel it will run some. Not all enamels fire true
to color. Blues and greens usually work, red does not. I have not
tried this with PMC+ or PMC3, but it will probably work with those
too.

I’ve done this with PMC+, and it works. I feel that the ratio is
less than 50/50. Serious enamelists are shocked by the color
changes the enamels go through.

Elaine Luther
Chicago area, Illinois, USA
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
Studio 925; established 1992
@E_Luther

4

Please identify the units of the 50/50 mix (weight or volume - big
difference) and Elaine, when you say “less than 50/50” I assume that
you mean less of the enamel and more of the PMC. Right? Tom

5 
    Please identify the units of the 50/50 mix (weight or volume -
big difference) and Elaine, when you say "less than 50/50" I assume
that you mean less of the enamel and more of the PMC.   Right? Tom

I go by volume, nothing scientific, but by sight. It is hard to
estimate equality with a ball of PMC and a pile of enamel. You will
also need to add water drop by drop to get the right consistency.

Cathy