Metals that don't melt

[Yans]

Hi! I'm currently working on making a decorative mask piece and I wanted to add some metal wires, but I don't quite know which metals would be the best for it. I'd like to be able to run them through the kilns while embedded already into the clay. Any suggestions?

 

Also, has anyone run quarts, garnets, or onyx through a kiln?

 

I also have some jade to try out, I made some test tiles and am about to put them through a bisque firing, but I wanted to see if anyone else had tried to already and to see what kind of results they got, if that's ok.

 

Thank you much!

[scoobydoozie]

First, all metal melts, it just depends on the temperature you are going to heat it to. Kemper makes a wire that can be fired to cone 5. You can also get the wire that is used to make kiln elements and pins that will fire up to cone 13. http://www.baileypottery.com/cones/cones2.htm

 

You may want to make holes and add decorative colored wire afterwards as this wire is only available in "silver"....

 

Here's an article on firing gemstones. http://www.artclayworld.com/Tips-TechSheets/FiringGemstonesandNaturalStones.pdf There is a lot of information about lowfiring gemstones with PMC (Precious Metal Clay) which is of course at a lower temperature than most low fire ceramics.

[Guest HerbNorris]

That Bailey element wire looks pretty good, it is probably Kanthal, which will certainly stand up to firings.

I have used the Kemper high temp wire, and, although it will not melt, it will get soft in the firing,and sag, even at raku temps, especially if any weight is put on it.

[Lucille Oka]

All metals have a melting point. Some higher than others.

http://www.muggyweld.com/melting.html