Clay used: 7g

 
 

1. Roll out clay type on the cooking parchment, making a rope, moistening as necessary.	2. Lightly moisten the surface of the clay rope, and place it around the paper taped to the wooden mandrel	3. While the clay is soft, make an impression in the center fo teh ring with the handle of the medium file. Shape it roughly.
4. Dry the entire piece completely for about 10-20 minutes with hot air dryer or dry at room temperature for more than 24 hours.	5. Take the ring and the paper sheet off the wooden mandrel. Remove the sheet slowly.	6. Shape the outside of the ring with medium file.
7. Smooth the surface with 600 grit sandpaper.	8. Smooth the insde of the ring with 600 grit sandpaper. Be careful not to file excessively as the size of the ring will change.	9. the piece is now ready for firing.

 Ring Preparation (Making a foundation for the ring)

Materials: ring size scale, wooden mandrel, self-adhesive memo and pencil. Art Clay silver contracts (below 10% in length), when fired. The contraction rate depends on the shape and volume of the ring. Prepare the foundation for the ring 3-5 sizes larger. This will allow for the contraction of the clay during firing.

Measure your finger using the ring size scale.		Select the ring size scale which allows for contraction as described. Put the ring size scale on the wooden mandrel and mark with the pencil where the mandrel fits snugly.		Wrap a paper around the mandrel at the pencil mark on the mandrel. Secure the paper with tape.

 Contraction table for Ring

The contraction during firing depends on the shape, the size and the amount of the clay used. The more volume the piece has, the more it will contract.

A		B		C
When the band is 3mm thick, make the ring 2-3 sizes larger than desired.		When the band is flat (1.5mm) and 10mm wide, make the ring 3-4 sizes larger than desired.		When the band is greater in thickness and wider than the rings mentioned in A and B, make the ring sizesn 4-5 sizes larger than desired

Troubleshooting:

Case 1: It is hard to mold the clay when it is dry.		Case 2: It is hard to place the clay on the paper strip around the wooden mandrel.		Case 3: It is hard to mold the clay because of sticking.		Case 4: The piece breaks after drying.
If the clay is drying out and developing cracks, it is important to keep the surface of the clay moist. If the surface carcks, moisten the clay and rub the cracks with your finger. You can also add some paste type to fill the cracks. Note that once it is completely dry you it is impossible to re-moisten the clay completely. Shaping through filing and sanding is then the only option.		Moisten the surface of the clay to make it sticky before placing the clay around the mandrel.		This is the result of applying too much water. Leave the clay until the surface water has dried. Then start working th clay wneh it reaches the working moisture content.		Apply ample paste type to the broken part and dry.  Do not try and work the piece any further after fixing it, since it is likely to break again. Fire as soon as possible and file excess after firing only.