A smooth work surface is required when working with polymer clay. Glass or ceramic tile are perfect, but be careful with a wood surface, as the clay could stick to the surface or discolor the grain.
A craft knife is necessary for cutting clay from the block, and tissue slicing blades or razor blades are a big help in slicing millefiori canes.
Sculpting tools can include anything from tapestry needles, cocktail sticks, even dental tools! A smooth rolling pin or a dedicated pasta machine is useful for rolling out smooth sheets of clay.
Needle tools, such as darning needles and sewing needles can easily be used as sculpting tools and fine detail. Use some old scrap clay to make simple handles for your needle tools.
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What Kind of Tools Do I Need?
15 Responses to “What Kind of Tools Do I Need?”
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Please help! I am having an awful problem with my clay sticking to everything! I’ve read that you can use cornstarch, will that work? I can’t afford alot of tools right now but I will soon be purchasing a pasta machine, Kato blades and carving tools. But all of this is useless if I can’t find a surface to roll and carve my clay on that won,t stick! I have a large ceramic tile I can use (I also do mosaics),and I’ve tried olive oil-too messy. I’ve beem using Premo clay but I have a chance to buy a large quantity of Kato at an unbelievable price, is it a good clay? Any suggestions that you can give someone just starting out will be greatly appreciated, especially the sticking problem. Thaks sooooo much! Lynn East.
Lynn, i just read your comment and i used to have the same problem. i went to habatat for humanity and bought a large slate tile, at least 18″X18″, i dont know if it is the coolness of the stone or what, but it sure works good. also, i use armor all for molds and such, it realllllly keeps the clay from staying where i don’t want it too. Good Luck, kid, let me know. my e-dress is alabam1@hotmail.com, i hope it’s ok to give you that on here. if not i guess i’ll find out. lol. Debbie B.
Hi Lynn… I hope this helps… I do all my work on sheets of wax paper. I have never had clay stick and it comes off very easily when gently pulled away… just make sure you support your artwork in one hand as you peel the wax paper away.(tiny, delicate parts are carefully lifted off the paper using a Kemper ‘Spatula Tool’)
If i’m doing really delicate work that takes precision such as ‘Silhouettes’, (you can see these on my website)I do most of the cutting right on the metal sheet I’m baking my project on, and therefore I don’t have to move it and risk messing it up.
MaryL
At our local flea market there is a vendor specializing in everything for $1.00. He carries a product entitled “Set of 2 Flexible Chopping Mats” (Made in China). As the title suggests, they are flexible 12″ X 15″ plastic mats that have a glossy finish on one side and a satin finish on the other. I use the glossy side for clay. At the flea market they are $1.00 (for 2). I’ll bet they are available at those fancy kitchen supply stores also, but not for $1.00! I like them because when they get cut up, I just throw them out. In fact, I use them for many of my crafts projects.
Yes those plastic sheets are great you can get them at the 99cent stores too with alot of other great craft supplies.
I use aluminum foil when the back of the project is not important. Foil will leave shiny spots…but…you can make your piece on the foil, leave it on the foil to bake it and then peel the foil away when you are through. Also ,lowering the temperature in the room you are working in will help keep the clay from getting ’sticky’. Hope this helps! Debbie
Your problem could be because of the clay being too soft (and sticky) changing your surface wont make that big of a difference if that is your problem. Kato clay is good to use. If you’re still using the premo, try flattening the clay out until its super thin and place it between two sheets of clean white paper for a day or so. The paper will absorb some of the excess “plasticisers/oil” in the clay and make it more managable. Repeat of necessary
Hi i like people making things with polymer clay and that has inspired me to start making something. please tell me the basic steps and things i need to purchase to make stuffs
The clay on this website is a reasonable premo is only 1.75 per 2 ounce cube at Micheals it is 2.75
The best surface I have found is the glass plate used in microwave ovens. I have a piece of non skid foam use under carpets and I cut a piece in light and a dark one and use under my glass depending on the color of clay. The glass plate is a large square one and so easy to clean with baby wipes or alcohol and I use razor blades to clean up the glass. I have used this method for ages. Also have a small ceramic tile I use for detailed work placed on a block of wood secured with a piece of waste clay and that makes work easy. All of this is so much fun!
hi i am just starting getting into polymer clay and i was woundering if i really need to buy like a toster oven or if i can use the normal kitchen oven and if i us the kitchen oven will it be safe to cook food in it after words and if i can bake it in a toster oven is there a speacial kind to get
for all of my projects I use a paper product you can get at any restaurant supply place (like a Cash & Carry?) it’s the paper they wrap burgers, tacos, anything held in the hand. Like bakers parchment but cheaper. In the biz they call them “patty” papers. They’re great and come in 4″,8″,& 12″ sqs, making it easy to transfer onto baking sheets.
Hi,
I just want to answer Danny about oven.
Don’t use the same oven for clay and food.
Cause it will poison.
I bought already use old small oven for cheap to bake my doll.
Jenny
I need to know where I can purchase 2mm black seed beads. All I can find are the ones with the holes in them.
DAN:
I’ve been working with polymer clay for YEARS and I have always used my regular kitchen oven. However I don’t use cookie sheets, I use a tile I bought at Lowes for $1. No one in my family has ever been sick from my baking clay in my oven!
Good Luck