The Metal Clay Toolbox


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.

Wet Clay Tools

Dry Clay Tools

Fired Clay Tools

Bench Block - Rubber*
Cool Roller*
CoolSlip*
Clay Shapers
Cutting Tools*
Extruder
Divit Tools*
Mandrels
Metal Ruler
Mold Materials
Optivisor
Paint Brushes*
Pallet Knife
Quality Marks
Ring Mandrels
Ring Gauge
Sculpey Mold Maker
Snake Making Tool
Steel Ruler
Texture Tips
Texture Tiles
Tissue Blades*
Tweezers*
Ultra Clay Pick*
Worksurface*
Bench Block - Rubber
Carving Tools
Cutting Tools
Drill Bits*
File Cleaner
Mandrels
Needle Files*
Needle Tools
Paint Brushes
Rubber Block
Tissue Blades
Tweezers
Ultra Clay Pick
Ultra-Smooth Investment
3M Polishing Papers*
Ball Burnishers
Bench Blocks
Bezel Roller
Brass Buff*
Brass Brush
Chain Nose Pliers
Curved Burnisher
Dapping Block
Divit Tools
Drill Bits
Files
File Cleaner
Finger Size Gauge
Flat Nose Pliers
Flush Cut Nippers
Needle Nose Pliers
Patina Brush
Prong Pusher
Ring Mandrel
Riveting Anvil
Sanding Sticks
Scratch Brush
Stone Setting tools
Tumbler
Tweezers
Wire Rounding Tool
Wood Polishing Mandrel

Firing Solutions

Finishing Tools

Mold Making Tools

Kiln
Torch
Brass Brush
Curved Burnisher
Divit Tools
Liver of Sulphur
Polishing Cloths
Scratch Brush
Tumbler & Stainless Shot
Mega Mold Silicone RTV
Sculpey Mold Maker
Sculpey Firm Grey
Texture Tips
Texture Tiles

Stone Setting Tools

Findings/Wire

Bench Tools

Acrylic Snakemaker
Bezel Roller
Cocktail Straws*
Curved Burnisher
Parallel Jaw Pliers
Prong Pusher
Stone Setting Burs
Stone Setting Pliers
Ultra-Smooth Investment
Bezel Cups
Bezel Wire
Chains
Earwires
Flat Pad Posts
Fine Silver Wire
Jumprings
Pin Findings
Settings
Wire
3M Bristle Discs
Bench Pin
Cut Lube
Dapping Blocks
Flex Shaft
Rawhide Mallet
Riveting Hammer
Goldsmiths Hammer
Jewelers' Sawframe
Saw Blades
Split Mandrels
Riveting Anvil
Mini Horn Anvil
Tube Cutting Jig
Ring Making Tools Embellishments Soldering Tools
Aluminum Ring Stick
Finger Sizing Gauge
Freezer Paper
Multi-Mandrel
Tapered Ring Mandrel
Redy Pellets Ring Sizers
Ring Pellet Mold
Cubic Zirconia
Dichroic Glass
Enamels
Lab Gems
Natural Gems

Ammonia
Boric Acid
Charcoal Block
Crosslock Tweezers
Denatured Alcohol
Dish Soap
Fibergrip Tweezers
Honeycomb Board
Paste Solder
Scotch-Brite
Solder Pick
Silicone Polishers
Torches
Silver-Prep

Gauges & Guides

Vision Aids Quality Marking
Digital Gram/Carat Scale
Finger Sizing Gauge
Ring Stick
Metal Ruler
Optivisor
Jewelers' Loupe
.999FS Stamp
Sterling Stamp
Copyright Stamp
22K Stamp
Quality Marks Texture Tips
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