Metal clay borrows it's tools from many industries. My personal toolbox includes tools originally designed for ceramics, wood carving, stamping, polymer clay, metalsmithing, beading, wax carving, culinary arts, graphic arts and even the dental industry as well as a vast and odd assortment of found objects with interesting textures. Anything that makes an impression that you like can become a metal clay tool.
There are tools that are needed at different stages of creation in metal clay. You will need some tools only when the clay is wet and others when dry, and still others only after firing and for finishing.
If you have to purchase a tool, I hope you will buy good quality. There are places where you can cut corners and save money, but when it comes to certain tools...files, pliers, hammers, drills, etc, there are things that I look for to assure that a tool is a good value and not just a cheap version of something else. The type of joint used to construct a set of pliers, the grade of metal used, the finish, the temper, the accuracy of the milling or machining....these are the kinds of things make a big difference in a tool giving you great service or a hard time. I have hand picked each and every tool that we offer to assure you are getting top quality at the absolute best price possible. You can rest assured when you buy anything from our store that you will have something that does not dissapoint.
Below is a list of the tools that are used in working with metal clay. All of these tools do not need to be purchased immediately, and some you may not ever need. But some tools are essential for certain types of projects. For instance, you want to make rings, you'll need at least some of the tools listed under Ring Making Tools.
I have placed an asterisk by the items that I consider essential in the most basic toolkit. Be sure to check out our tool kits for getting a quick start with PMC.
