Polymer clay is an inexpensive, readily available, handmade material. Polymer clay is a plastic-based material composed of particles of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) suspended in a plasticizer that fuse into a hard, durable plastic when heated.
It comes in a full spectrum of vivid colors. It is a soft, pliable material that can be molded, textured, sculpted, incised, and extruded through a press. You can use polymer clay to make jewelry, buttons, boxes, lamps, games, and just about anything else.
Tools and Supplies
Brand Characteristics for Polymer Clays
Polyform Products Co.:
Sculpey III, produced in the United is relatively soft in texture and can be used immediately without much kneading or conditioning; currently comprises forty colors including pearlized and metallic shades. When baked it has a beautiful matte finish, although it seems to have less strength than others brands. This very popular clay can be used to create jewelry, sculpture, and home decor items.
Pro-Mat has a rubbery texture and is noted for its higher strength and flexibility, available in thirty colors- including metallic and neon hues. It is perfect for home decor.
Products manufactured in Germany.
Cernit is a product of T & F GmbH Company. After baking, Cernit has a naturalistic flesh tone; however, it is a favored choice by doll makers. It's also good for basic patterns, and for very thin clay structures.
FIMO has good strength and flexibility when baked; it's good for very fine detail, in the making of jewelry, figurines, and in home decor.
Modellois similar to FIMO, but much softer.
Here are just some brand names for Polymer Clay: Friendly Clay, Formello, Granitex, etc. You can also find them in art & craft stores or mail-order suppliers.
Tools and Equipment
Measuring tools are the traditional ruler and The Marxit tool, is six-sided ruler marking increments of clay on logs or sheets, which then can be cut to size and made into forms you need.
Rolling tools are wooden or Lucite (Plexiglass roller) brayers.
There is also the Pasta machine - can be used for making sheets of any thickness, and serves to blend colors for certain effects.
Piercing tools are useful if you plan to make beads. Wooden toothpicks, skewers and knitting needles all make perfect piercing tools.
Cutting tools are sharp blades, old-fashioned single-edge razor blade is best used to cut clay.
Modelling Tools- The tool, "Pro Tool", comes in handy for scoring (making numerous lines), and impressing your work.
Texturing Tools- Used to put detail into your work. Some tools are: screw heads, chains, washers, or screens.
Molding Tools- Amaco makes series of push molds for use with different kinds of clay. You can design heads, bodied, arms, or foot molds for making your own dolls.
Shape Cutters- Kemper Enterprises have four basic shapes; hearts, circles, teardrops, and 5 rounded points. Used for "shaping" clay into the design.
Polishing Tools- Used for polishing your creations. After curing, creations need buffing. Some tools for this are: sandpaper, Foredom Bench Lathe, and for glazing you can use Sculpey Glaze.
Drilling Tools- To create holes in the clay before curing.
Carving Tools- Cured polymer clay is easily carved with Dockyard Model Company tools. Used for decoy carving, ship-modeling, and furniture restoration. Linoleum cutters are also good clay cutters.
Push molds - Using push molds is an excellent method for creating multi-dimensional clay motifs.
Other Supplies- Surface treatments include metallic paint/powders, colored pencils, gold/copper leaves, and Metallic rubbing compound. You can add unbaked clay to modify for extend the creation, and then bake it again (as many times as you need).
