How To: Make Your Own Oil Paste for Metal Clay
by Jill L. Erickson
Published: August 18, 2008
The Summer 2007 issue of Fusion, the International PMC Guild's quarterly journal, includes an article on how to make your own oil paste. After reading the instructions, associate editor Addie Kidd and I decided to give the recipe a whirl in the Art Jewelry studio.
The ingredients are minimal, cost effective, and readily available. You'll need the following:
• 15 g of metal clay slip in a low-shrink formula -- we used PMC3 (According to the Fusion article, you can also use dried dust leftover from sanding unfired metal clay pieces.)
• 30 drops of lavender oil; you can find this essential oil in health food stores or other establishments that sell herbal medicines
• A few drops of distilled water
For tools and supplies, you'll also need the following:
• small plastic or glass container with a tight-fitting lid
• eyedropper
• stainless steel spatula
To make the oil paste, add the oil to the slip a few drops at a time, stirring the mixture with the spatula after each addition. We found that we sometimes needed to add a few drops of distilled water to the mixture to get a smooth consistency. Tightly seal the container and let the paste sit overnight. The next day, the mixture should have a creamy texture.
We tested the strength of our homemade oil paste by using it to join two pieces of fired metal clay. After firing the assembly, we discovered that the paste made a sound, sturdy bond.
Our only caveat is to be sure to mix and use the paste in a well-ventilated room -- the lavender oil packs quite an olfactory punch. --Jill Erickson
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