Rolling your wet metal clay for best results after firing

Here are methods to roll your metal clay with care so you get exact as flat piece as possible after firing. Wet stage is most important molding stage in metal clay jewelry. Precision in this stage decides the strength and of course beauty of your piece. #roll #texturenglint #metalclay #tecturenglint

· Beginners start with this step.

· Most basic technique to shape clay.

· Apply texture and cut any shape.

· Most economical method as metal you lose here is while sanding only.

· Easy to give professional look.

Things you need:

Rolling surface: Use Teflon baking sheet (need to oil roller and/or surface) or plastic food wrap (sometimes need to file metal clay surface because of some crease due to plastic wrap).

Rolling Guide:

Strips in standard sizes lime 1mm, 1.5mm etc.

Playing cards 1mm=4 cards, 1.5mm=6 cards, 2mm=8 cards etc.

How to proceed:

1st Method: Start from the middle and lightly roll towards you. Now, move away from you applying pressure. Touch the rolling guide with you roller as you move away. Keep touching the rolling guide with roller and roll it towards you, making the clay even to rolling guide.

2nd Method: Roll clay with light pressure. Now rotate the clay and with enough pressure roll it until roller touches the rolling guide.

Why so important?

When you need a flat surface in your design, improperly rolled clay will give you slightly domed or uneven surface after firing.

This piece was expected to remain flat. Doming happens after firing if nor rolled well. Metal particles are stretched which is not expected result many times.

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