Our Silver Clay Firing Support kit consists of a high-temperature fused silica firing dish filled with your choice of firing media (below). The media cradles items needing support during firing. Beads, domes and other 3-dimensional or hollow items need support during firing to avoid flat spots, slumping or collapse.
Make Sure to Choose Vermiculite or Alumina Hydrate as a Media!
Vermiculite and alumina hydrate are both safe and work well as a firing media. Vermiculite is a mineral that breaks down as it is heated into worm-like accordion shaped pieces that make a most wonderful media for firing metal clay objects.
Alumina hydrate is also a very nice media for firing. It is made from aluminum sulfate and sodium carbonate. Alumina hydrate is used in the ink and paint industry as a colorant and in the cosmetic industry as a colorant and filler. Alumina hydrate has a sandy or powdered texture which some prefer over the coarser texture of vermiculite.
Before firing metal clay in your firing dish, pre-fire the media and the dish alone to 1650F (no hold).
Super Fine Vermiculite is perfect for firing with EZ960® Sterling Silver Clay. When firing EZ960 pieces that require support, we recommend using either alumina hydrate or vermiculite that is crushed to a very small, fine consistency prior
to firing.