PMC Hinges: An adaptation of direct metal construction to fit the parameters of Precious Metal Clay By Martha Ann Reading

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

PMC Clay
PMC Paste
Roller and Spacers
MAKIN’s Ultimate Clay Extruder with adapters,
or similar stainless steel extruder
Scalpel or other sharp cutting knife
6” length +/- of wire, the diameter or smaller of the inside of the extruded tube
Dremel or Flexible shaft with parting disc
.
STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION

Roll out and prepare the piece to receive the hinge. Dry thoroughly.

Take a piece of PMC clay and roll it into a small ball to insert in the extruder.

Select the size extruder adapters to fit the project. Run a long tube with the extruder. DRY LEATHER HARD.

Cut two pieces of tubing the full length of the entire hinge. Mark a division of three equal parts on each of the pieces of tubing for the knuckles.

Insert the wire through the marked piece for stability and make a half cut into the tubing as shown in Fig. 1. The full length of tubing is used to assure alignment.
Remove the wire.

Paste the knuckles onto the piece as shown in Fig 2. and fire at 1650 Deg. for one hour. This gives the silver clay much more strength than using the minimum firing time recommended for either PMC Plus or PMC 3.

After firing, remove the sliced parts of the tubing with a parting disc on a Dremel or Flexible shaft and fit the two sides of the Hinge. Some filing may be necessary to fit the knuckles. See Figure 3.

Cut a length of hinge pin wire about 2 mm longer than the complete hinge. The wire should be exactly the size of the interior diameter of the knuckle tubing or only slightly smaller, otherwise there will be too much play in the hinge. The 1mm overlap on each end of the hinge will be flattened with a hammer against a steel plate to secure the hinge pin through the knuckles. The hinge pin may also be cut longer and the ends decorated or formed into loops to receive chain. See Fig.4

Martha Ann Reading

Senior Instructor
PMC Connection