Tools and Essentials


—Sanding and Finishing Once PMC has fully dried out (which can take up to 24 hours), it can be lightly sanded and refined. At this stage, although hard, pieces are still very fragile and prone to breakages so care must be taken. Alternatively pieces can be sanded and filed after firing but this will take much longer. Most people tend to go straight to the burnishing and polishing stage once pieces are fully sintered.


Metal files


Standard metal needle files are ideal for refining PMC pieces before firing. Don’t push too hard when filing and remember to work strokes in the same direction. Ensure any file marks are removed afterwards with a sanding pad or emery board.


Sanding papers and pads


There are a wide range of sanding and polishing papers and pads available which can be used on both dried clay and sintered clay. Papers can be cut to size and squeezed into the tightest of spaces whereas pads, (which are dense spongy sheets with a layer of abrasive paper attached to the outer surfaces) allow you to apply more pressure to achieve a quicker result. Always work gradually through the different grades in which ever system you use, working from coarse to fine to achieve the best finish.


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