We're proud to manufacture or own brand of metal clay, featuring fine silver, sterling silver, copper and bronze metal clay designed for exceptional workability, reliable firing results, and stunning finished pieces.
Discover the freedom to create with a full spectrum of high performance metal clays. Each of our metal clays is formulated to offer unique advantages, from the strength of sterling silver to the purity of fine silver and the affordability of bronze and copper. Whether you need a clay that torch fires, one perfect for enameling or glass, or a clay strong enough for rings and daily wear jewelry, our lineup ensures you’ll find the ideal match for your project.
Every Cool Tools brand metal clay is proudly made in Jefferson, Wisconsin, USA!
Find all of our clays listed below.
1. Metal Type & Purity
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Clay |
Metal & Purity |
Key Notes |
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Bronze alloy |
Base metal; bright gold-bronze tone. |
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.999 pure copper |
Base metal; excellent for enameling. |
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.999 fine silver |
Pure fine silver; high detail; very flexible greenware. |
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.999 fine silver |
Pure fine silver that can be torch-fired; ideal for glass co-firing. |
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.960 sterling (96% silver / 4% copper) |
Enriched sterling; very strong after firing. |
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.925 sterling (92.5% silver / 7.5% copper) |
Traditional sterling; very strong after firing. |
2. Wet Clay Behavior & Workability
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Clay |
Workability Notes |
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Smooth and easy to form; behaves like standard bronze clay. |
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Slight flexibility; sands well; clean joins using a water-based slurry. |
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Smooth, creamy, non-sticky; very easy to roll and detail; cuts cleanly on Silhouette. |
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Dense, elastic, highly impressionable; may need conditioning; great for sculpting. |
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Smooth, creamy, pliable; excellent working time; clean Silhouette cutter results. |
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Soft and smooth; must be kneaded before use; long working time; absorbs moisture quickly. |
3. Greenware State
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Clay |
Greenware Notes |
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Slightly flexible; easy to sand and carve |
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Slightly flexible; carves easily |
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Very flexible, strong, and forgiving; sands easily; can be flattened if warped. |
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Very sturdy; ideal for wet or dry refinement; can be burnished in greenware. |
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Highly flexible; excellent for assemblies; drills easily. |
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Moderately flexible; sands quickly to a smooth finish; absorbs water readily, so paste is preferred for joining. |
4. Embeddables & Gemstone Compatibility
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Clay |
Notes |
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Not recommend for bezels around stones. Compatible with titanium, bronze, copper and fine silver embeddables. |
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Compatible gemstones and copper, bronze and fine silver embeddables. |
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Compatible with gemstones and fine silver embeddables |
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Compatible with gemstones and fine silver embeddables; excellent for glass co-firing applications. |
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Compatible with gemstones |
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Compatible with gemstones |
5. Firing Requirements
Kiln vs. Torch
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Clay |
Firing Type |
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Kiln only; 2-phase firing in carbon. |
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Kiln only; 2-phase firing in carbon. |
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Kiln only; carbon optional. |
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Kiln or torch fire. |
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Kiln only; open shelf. |
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Kiln only; open shelf. |
Firing Temperatures (Summary)
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Clay |
Firing Schedules |
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1400°F for 2 hours (after 650°F binder burnout). |
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1600°F for 3 hours (after 650°F binder burnout). |
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1650°F for 2 hours, or 1600°F for 3 hours. |
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1100–1650°F kiln schedules; torch fire at peach-glow for 4–5 minutes. |
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1675°F for 2 hours (longer if bending post-fire). |
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1550°F for 1 hour (longer if bending post-fire). |
6. Shrinkage During Firing
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Clay |
Shrinkage % |
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10–11% |
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~20% |
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~13% |
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15–20% |
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10–11% |
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20–25% |
7. Special Features & Best Uses
- Economical bronze option
- Beautiful bright bronze finish
- Ideal for sculptural and textured work
- Sands, Carves smoothly, and has a nice long working time
- Excellent for enameling
- Produces rich copper color
- Soft and smooth in the lump clay state
- Refines, sands, and carves very readily in the greenware phase
- Highly beginner-friendly
- Very flexible and forgiving greenware
- Perfect for enameling and detailed texture work
- Can be torch fired
- Best option for glass co-firing
- Strong results even with short firing times
- Strong enriched sterling
- Great for hinges, clasps, rings, bracelets, and high-wear jewelry
- Works well with enamels (without depletion gilding!)
- Traditional sterling silver - the only one that can fire open shelf without carbon!
- Smooth sanding and excellent post-fire strength
- Not recommended for enameling or glass fusing
8. Quick Recommendation Guide
Best Strength
- EZ925
- EZ960
Best for Enameling
- FS999
- Phoenix
- Cyprus Copper
Torch-Fire Option
- Phoenix
Best for Glass-Fusing
- Phoenix
