How to Fire Silver Clay: Kiln, Torch, and Gas Hob Firing Techniques

How to Fire Silver Clay

Whether you have attended any of my Silver Clay Jewellery Courses, or are a complete beginner, new to Silver Clay, unsure how to fire silver clay, I hope that these guidelines will help you.

There are three main ways to fire silver clay, which I will outline during this article.

How to Fire Silver Clay at Home

Silver Clay is a wonderfully versatile Jewellery Making medium, which can easily be fired at home, using one of three methods.

When firing Silver Clay, choose the firing technique that you feel most confident with. The great thing about working with Silver Clay, is that it can either be fired manually, using a Blowtorch or Gas Hob, or in a Jewellery Kiln.

So, whatever level you are at in your Silver Clay Jewellery Making and whatever Silver Clay Tools and Supplies you have, it is easy to fire silver clay at home.

Preparing Silver Clay for Firing

It’s extremely important, before firing Silver Clay, that you understand the correct techniques and process for preparing and working with Silver Clay, prior to firing.

It is essential that you have undertaken the correct preparation, at the green-ware stage, as demonstrated on our Silver Clay Jewellery Courses, prior to firing.

Without the correct preparation and understanding of how to make Silver Clay Jewellery, you will not achieve, the high quality, high-shine and scratch-free results, that I’m sure you desire.

Drying Times for Silver Clay

Most importantly of all, it is vital that your Silver clay is completely dry before firing.

Typically, Art Clay Silver New Formula and Art Clay Silver 950 will require the following drying times.

On a Hot Plate = 15 minutes
In an Oven (150 ° C) = 10 minutes
Air Dry = 24 hours

Please note that this is a rough guide. It is important to check that your Silver Clay is 100% dry and free from moisture before, firing as demonstrated on our Silver Clay Jewellery Making Classes.

If your Silver Clay is NOT 100% dry before firing, it will be prone to cracking, breaking and even bursting, during the firing process.

How to Fire Silver Clay in a Kiln

Learning how to fire Silver Clay in a Kiln, is an extremely simple and trouble free process, especially, when compared with the other manual methods of firing silver clay, which have far greater room for error.

The great thing about Kiln Firing Silver Clay is that you can program your Silver Clay Kiln, to fire at exactly the correct temperature and hold it for exactly the correct amount of time, to ensure that your Silver Clay is fully sintered.

There are a number of reasons that I always recommend Kiln firing over Torch Firing and Gas Hob Firing, which I explain in this article: “Do I need a Kiln to make Fingerprint Jewellery?”

Depending upon the type of Silver Clay Jewellery Kiln that you decide to invest in, be sure that you follow the manufacturers instructions, before you begin using your Jewellery Kiln.

Typically, when Firing Silver Clay with a Kiln, follow these instructions:

Position your Kiln on a safe, heat proof-surface, free of hazards or obstacles. I recommend sitting it on a ceramic heatproof tile.
Set up your Kiln ready for firing with the relevant Kiln accessories. (Never fire your Silver Clay designs directly on the kiln floor. They should always be placed upon a Kiln Shelf).
Once you have the items that you wish to fire, neatly positioned within your kiln, on the kiln shelf, you can set the digital programmer to the correct temperature, for the size and type of silver clay that you are working with. (Please see guidelines below)
When placing your Silver Clay designs on the Kiln shelf, make sure they are not touching; otherwise, the silver may fuse together during firing.
If you are firing Silver Clay, which contains gemstones, make sure that these are lab created gemstones, capable of withstanding the firing temperature, to avoid cracks and breakages.

Instructions for Kiln Firing Art Clay Silver New Formula

The manufacturers recommended Firing Times & Temperatures, for Firing Art Clay Silver New Formula, are outlined, below. However, many Silver Clay Artists & Keepske Jewellery Designers, now fire their Silver Clay designs at the highest possible temperature, for a longer time, as this ensures that the silver Is fully sintered and that you have a piece of the highest strength and quality. So long, as I am firing a piece without gemstones, or any heat sensitive materials, I tend to fire at around 780-800 ° C for about 25-30 minutes for double strength. Art Clay Silver New Formula can be fired in a Kiln, with a Torch or on a Gas Hob.

Manufacturers Recommended Firing Times & Temperatures

650°C = 30 minutes
700°C = 15 minutes
750°C = 10 minutes
780°C - 800°C = 5 minutes

Instructions for Kiln Firing Art Clay Silver 950 – Sterling Silver Clay

Many people are now using Art Clay Silver’s 950 Sterling Silver Clay for their more fragile Silver Clay designs. It is about 60% stronger than Art Clay Silver New Formula, due to it’s 5% copper content, making it very robust and ideal for Jewellery designs, taking a lot of wear and tear, such as Silver Clay Rings, Cufflinks and Keying’s etc.

However, Art Clay Silver 950, needs to be fired in two segments and at different temperatures to Art Clay Silver New Formula and it MUST be fired in a Kiln.

** It is not suitable for Torch or Gas Hob Firing. Therefore, please follow these guidelines, when firing Art Clay Silver 950. **

Art Clay Silver 950 must be fired in a Kiln. (It is not suitable for Torch or Gas Hob Firing).
Art Clay Silver 950 can be fired without requiring carbon firing. (Unlike other forms of Sterling Silver Clay).
Mould and dry as usual.
Place your silver Clay 950 designs on a kiln shelf, in a room temperature kiln.
Fire to 500°C (932°F) and hold for 30 minutes (this first step burns off the binder)
Set the kiln temp to 870°C (1598°F), and hold it at 870°C for 60 minutes. (This final firing sinters the metal particles)
Turn off the kiln and wait until the kiln temperature drops to 200°C (392°F)
Take the piece out and wait until the piece cools down completely or leave it until the kiln drops to room temperature
This product is not suitable for gas stove or torch firing.
The Kiln can heat up at full speed and does not need to cool off between the two firing segments. Avoid moving the piece after the first firing segment, as it will be fragile before the sintering stage.

How to Fire Silver Clay with a Torch

Personally, I recommend to all of my Silver Clay Jewellery Course Students and Keepsake Guild Members that they use a Kiln for firing Silver Clay, to ensure that it is properly fired and sintered. There is a lot of trial and error involved with Torch Firing Silver clay, especially for Silver Clay Beginners.

However, if you are a Silver Clay Hobbyist, looking for the cheapest ways to fire Silver Clay, Torch Firing, offers a very inexpensive way for you to fire silver clay.

You can use a small Butane Torch, like a Kitchen Torch, which will need to be filled with Cigarette Lighter Gas. (Butane Torches do not come pre-filled, so you will need to buy the lighter fuel separately and fill your torch, prior to firing).

Limitations of Torch Firing Silver Clay

It is not recommended that you fire Silver Clay pieces larger than a £2 coin or heavier than 25 grams.

If you wish to learn how to fire Silver Clay with a Butane Torch, follow these instructions:

Prepare your Silver Clay Jewellery Design for torch firing, by clearing your workspace and placing your design on a Firing Block.
Dim the lights in your room, to help you see the glow during firing. This is how you will know that you have reached the right temperature.
Light your Butane Torch and set it to a pointy blue flame.
Hold the torch about 2 - 5cm away from your Silver Clay Design. The distance will vary depending upon the torch you are using and the size of the silver clay charm that you are firing.
Direct the flame at a 45° degree angle and move the flame all around the design, in a circular motion, to ensure the heat is evenly distributed. Gradually move the flame closer, continuing to move your torch in a circular motion.
As you heat the Silver Clay, you will notice that it will begin to smoke and then catch fire. Don’t worry; this is perfectly normal and part of the Silver Clay firing process. This simply means, that the organic binder is beginning to burn off, leaving the pure silver metal behind.
Continue heating the Silver Clay until it starts to glow a salmon/peach colour, then set your timer.
Continue to heat for the recommended time (outlined below). If the silver clay charm begins to glow a darker red, move the torch further away from the design. But, if you can’t see the glow, move the torch closer.
The melting temperature of Silver is 960°, therefore if your design begins to look shiny, or you get silvery flashes across the surface, your flame is far too hot. If this happens, quickly move your torch further away until the peachy glow is visible and continue firing for the appropriate time.
Once you have fired for the appropriate time, turn off your torch and leave your fired silver clay charm to cool.

Estimated Torch Firing Times

The length of time that you will need to fire silver clay for, depends upon the size and shape of the piece, as follows:

Up to 5 grams = 1 – 2 minutes
Up to 6 – 15 grams = 2 – 3 minutes
Up to 16 – 25 grams = 3 - 4 minutes

Don’t forget thought that you start timing the firing, from the moment that your Silver Clay design begins to glow salmon/peach colour.

Important note: These are the minimum recommended Hand Torching firing times. But, because there is a lot of trial and error, involved with torch firing, I would personally recommend that you add a couple of minutes to these firing times, to ensure a stronger end result and to ensure that the silver is fully sintered.

How to know if Torch Fired Silver Clay is actually fired?

The only way to know if your Silver Clay has been properly fired, is by making sure that you have held the right temperature for long enough. You can tell the temperature by the colour of your Silver Clay charm, whilst you are heating it. You need to keep it at a salmon/peach colour for the times suggested above, at the very least.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell if it is accurately fired just by looking at it, but if you have any doubts or concerns, you can always re-fire it.

As I said, there is a lot of trial and error, which is why I always recommend Kiln Firing if you are planning to set up a professional Silver Clay Jewellery Business or Keepsake Jewellery Business.

How to Fire Silver Clay with a Gas Hob

As I have mentioned before, if you are intending to start a professional Silver Clay Jewellery Business, making Fingerprint Jewellery, Handprint Jewellery or ant other types of Silver Keepsake Jewellery, I would always recommend that you fire your silver clay jewellery in a kiln.

However, if you are a hobbyist, or if you wish to experiment with Silver Clay, before investing in a Kiln, you can fire your silver clay at home on a Gas Hob.

Gas hob firing, It is a relatively simple process, although, similarly to Torch Firing, has room for error, which is why I always recommend Kiln firing, as described in this article: “Do I need a Kiln to make Fingerprint Jewellery?”

If you wish to experiment and learn how to fire silver clay, without a Kiln, using a Gas Hob, follow these simple instructions:

Make sure that your Silver Clay Designs are 100% dry before firing, with no moisture remaining. (Do the mirror test, as demonstrated on our Silver Clay Jewellery Courses).
Place your un-fired Silver Clay charm on a piece of paper and trace an outline of its shape with a pencil. Silver Clay shrinks at about 8-10% after firing. Compared the fired piece with the traced outline after firing, to gain more confidence that your piece has been sufficiently fired.
To Fire Silver Clay on a Gas Hob your will need a Stainless Steel Mesh Sheet, upon which to Fire your Silver Clay.
Place the Mesh sheet in a stable position over one of the gas hob burners.
Dim the lights and turn on the hob, to help you identify the hottest part of the flame (i.e. where it glows brightest on the Stainless Steel Mesh).
Switch off the hob and then, immediately, using a pair of tweezers, place your Silver Clay Design onto the hottest part of the mesh, where the flame had been previously glowing at it’s brightest.
Turn the hob back on. The Silver Clay charm will smoke and flame for a few seconds, as the binder begins to burn off and before it begins to glow.
Once the Silver Clay begins to glow, set your timer for 5 minutes (or as per the timings for the torch firing method, depending upon the size of your silver clay design.
After firing, switch off the hob and leave your Silver Clay to cool on the mesh for at least 15-20 minutes. If you try to remove it before it has cooled, it may stick to the mesh. Once fully cooled it should easily detach from the mesh.
After cooling for 15-20 minutes, pick up the piece with tweezers and dip into cold water to quench.

If you are a Silver Clay Beginner, looking to establish your own succesful Silver Clay Jewellery Business or Keepsake Jewellery Business, please download my FREE Guide on how to get started, below: