I bought myself some art clay silver to play with. I have been mucking about with a teeny tiny disc of it this afternoon to see how it handles and have now fired it. My intention was to do my childrens fingerprints in little discs for the granny's Christmas pressies. Though I don't have a lot of courage to do this after playing with it!

It dries out very quickly, so I'm worried I wouldn't get a good fingerprint impression in it? Is there a trick to getting a good print?

How thin can you go with rolling it to keep strength? The tiny bit I played around with is very thin though I'm sure I could snap it if I tried.

I fired this bit on a gas hob, though I didn't have a mesh, I just held it on a spoon! I assume this won't be feasible for larger pieces. Is there anywhere that I could buy the mesh locally like a DIY shop?

The white oxidisation stuff came off very well with a fine stone file I had. Though I can see that sanding it off something with fingerprint detail could lose the detail. How would you clean it up to preserve this detail yet get it nice and shiny?

Any other tips?

Thanks, Susan

Hi, here are some Answers to your questions

Q: It dries out very quickly, so I'm worried I wouldn't get a good fingerprint impression in it? Is there a trick to getting a good print?

A: Art clay isn't the best for finger printing because it dries quick also it doesn't take texture as well as PMC3 or PMC+, you could try adding glycerine to the clay it will keep it pliable for longer

Q: How thin can you go with rolling it to keep strength? The tiny bit I played around with is very thin though I'm sure I could snap it if I tried.

A: Unfired Art clay and PMC is very easy to snap, I would suggest to use rolling guides to ensure you are not rolling it too thin, you can make these yourself with playing cards, Stick 3 cards together and put either side of you bit of clay whilst rolling


Q: The white oxidisation stuff came off very well with a fine stone file I had. Though I can see that sanding it off something with fingerprint detail could lose the detail. How would you clean it up to preserve this detail yet get it nice and shiny?

A: Filing will completely destroy the texture that you put onto the piece prior to firing, try and get hold of a small wire brush the white crappy stuff can be removed by brushing vigorously.

Q: Any other tips?

A: Enjoy and experiment,

It dries out very quickly, so I'm worried I wouldn't get a good fingerprint impression in it? Is there a trick to getting a good print?
Do the imprint whilst the clay is still wet. If it dries out as you're working with it, add water. Keep a pot of water or a spray bottle next to you and just mist your clay every now and then as you're working. Or dip your finger in the water and a tiny bit of water to the surface of clay. You just want a little moisture, the aim is not to cover the piece in loads of water.

If you need to leave it, cover it with a little tent of cling film. Also, handle it as little as possible. For instance, if you make a ball, don't roll it in the palm of your hands, do it on the work surface, using your finger tips.

If your piece is dry and you want to do an imprint, cover the place where you want the print with water, let sit (maybe even under a loose tent of cling film again) until the surface looks dry. If needed, repeat the process until the clay takes your finger print.

Also, try Art Clay Slow Dry, it stays soft and pliable for a lot longer.

How thin can you go with rolling it to keep strength? The tiny bit I played around with is very thin though I'm sure I could snap it if I tried.
Befire firing it is very delicate and will definitely snap. Try to roll it out 1mm or more.

I fired this bit on a gas hob, though I didn't have a mesh, I just held it on a spoon! I assume this won't be feasible for larger pieces. Is there anywhere that I could buy the mesh locally like a DIY shop?
Your piece will NOT be fired if you put it on a spoon! Refire it again, on a mesh. Did you see a flame and a little smoke coming off your piece? And did it glow?

I have no idea of shops where you can get the mesh to be honest, we sell it online, free postage and if ordered before noon you'll probably have it the next working day.


The white oxidisation stuff came off very well with a fine stone file I had.

The white is not oxides. It is the look of natural rough silver. After firing, when the silver particles has sintered, you're left with a surface full of micron sized particles (if you look at it under supermagnification it look s little like a weird moon landscape), which you need to even out. It looks the same if you've done casting of fine silver too. When you brush, file, sand, or burnish, you smooth out the surface, allowing it to reflect back light, looking like the silver we're used to.

A fine stone file is probably to rough, that is better to use before firing for reshaping the piece.

Though I can see that sanding it off something with fingerprint detail could lose the detail. How would you clean it up to preserve this detail yet get it nice and shiny?
Get yourself a soft brass brush. That will give you a nice satin look without leaving scratches, or removing finger prints. If you want a high shine you can tumble it, or polish with a little metal polish.

Regarding HairyBeader's comment, I've done several finger print pieces with Art Clay, and have lots of customers who run businesses doing finger print jewellery with Art Clay. Both PMC and Art Clay are great for finger print jewellery. You can also try Art Clay Slow Dry as it has a slightly different consistency.

Liver of Sulphur is a good way to enhance the print, as sometimes the very shiny surface makes it hard to see the imprint.

If you're just beginning, have a look at the information on

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- I've tried to write up clear information on handling, firing, polishing, liver of sulphur and similar. All free!

Or, take a day class with someone, it is a great way to learn quickly, saving time and money!

Have fun!

Thanks for the replies - very helpful.

I'm going to have to order a mesh online then I think... the bit did puff and glow and shrink, though I had it moving around and teetering on the edge of the spoon. Not feasible with something bigger lol.

I'd love to take a class and there are some locally to me, but with a daughter that doesn't settle well in the evening they're all impossible at the moment. Perhaps in the future or if daytime classes come up.

I think I'll just bite the bullet and give it a shot...

Sorry for the abrupt previous message - I didn't even say hello! I'm just absolutely knackered after returning from the Art Clay Conference so I'll blame that.

Are there no day classes near you? Most tutors I know of teach day classes during the weekend - maybe that would be easier with your little one? Let me know if you need any help locating someone.

Maybe you have discovered a new way of firing metal clay - Spoon Firing! Though it sounded a bit dangerous, be careful! Remember the piece is probably somewhere between 650-800C, not something you want to drop anywhere!