Magic Carbon Fast Firing Media

Magic Carbon is a special activated carbon firing media, which is reliable for all brands of copper, bronze and silver clays. It produces an antique patina on bronze and copper clays, which eliminates the need for for additional patination. It can be re-used over and over, until it breaks down (which is a slow process).

Not all carbons are the same. Some carbons won't work at all for firing metal clay, others will give you a handful of good firings before they are spent, some will work for one kind or brand of clay and not for another, but Magic Carbon is pre-tested for all brands of bronze, copper and silver clays and fires any thickness.

Carbon is used to create oxygen reduced environments, allowing successful sintering of metal clays. Some metal clays, in particular copper and bronze, are buried in activated carbon during firing to avoid the creation of fire-scale, that is difficult to remove from the surface of the fired metal. Fire scale, or fire-stain, is created when copper is heated in the presence of oxygen. Carbon is used as a firing media for copper-based clays because one of it’s properties in the ability to absorb oxygen. 

We recommend using the Magic Carbon with the No-Flake Firing Foil for successful and clean firings.

New Magic Carbon needs to be primed before firing - instructions are included.

Download full instructions for Magic Carbon here.

Available in two different sizes:

• Small = Approximately 1lb. / 450-460gm
• Large = Approximately 5lb / 2,300gm (2.3kg)

PLEASE NOTE: Actual weight may vary slightly. 

PLEASE NOTE: carbon can be dusty, so please take the relevant precautions when handling. When using a new type of carbon, clay or kiln, it is always recommended to do test strips from your metal clay to gauge the correct firing temperature and time. There’s nothing worse than spending hours on a gorgeous piece, to only have an unsuccessful firing ruin it.