Wood clay is a non-toxic, organic material that is ideal for making hollow forms in any shape. The wood clay can be used straight from the tub and is very easy to work with.

It can be plaited, sculpted, cut, moulded and carved. The wood clay forms can be covered in PMC or Creative Metal Clay.

To download and print our guide to using wood clay please click here.

Step 1

Take some wood clay from the container and knead with your hands.

The wood clay will start to soften. Create your shape remembering that this will become the inside framework of your piece. Therefore any lines made into the wood clay will be filled once you start working with the metal clay.

Step 2

Once you have created your shape insert a cocktail stick to hold the piece whilst working with the metal clay. Note, you do not been to push the stick all the way through just press it in far enough so that the wood clay on the end is firmly attached.

The cocktail stick will burn off in the kiln and leave a hole through which you can remove the ash left inside.

Step 3

Leave the wood clay to dry for 48- 72 hours. Although it will harden the inside is likely to contain moisture. Any remaining moisture inside will cause you metal clay piece to crack during firing. During the drying process you may also get hairline cracks. Don’t worry about these as they will be covered by the metal clay.

Step 4

Paint on at least 8 layers of paste, allowing each layer to dry fully before adding the next. Any hollow form shape will need to have sufficient strength to remain structurally sound once the wood clay has burnt away. Alternatively you can also roll out thin strips or a slab of clay to cover the wood clay form. Leave to dry before firing.

Step 5

Although the wood clay is not toxic it will cause smoke whilst it burns away. For this reason we do not recommend torch firing. Instead fire your pieces in a well-ventilated room in a kiln, especially when firing multiple pieces using either of the kilns below.

Evenheat Pro-Set Kiln – fire using the PMC3 Slow Programme (600°C for 45 minutes)

Creative Metal Clay Kiln – fire using Pre-set programme 4, PMC3 Slow Programme (600/45mins)