How to Make Polymer Clay Easy to Work With

Kneading polymer clay in your hands softens it.

Polymer clay is artificial clay made from polyvinyl chloride to which a polymer plasticizer has been added so that it hardens more rapidly and at lower temperatures. You can bake polymer clay in a regular oven, whereas other types of clay require a kiln that operates at very high heat. Polymer clay is easy to shape and cut into forms such as beads and small figurines, but softening the clay is usually necessary to make it easier to work with. You can knead the clay by hand, and add mineral oil to it to speed up the process.

Things You'll Need

• Mineral oil or petroleum jelly
• Knife
• Chopping board
• Latex surgical gloves (optional)

Instructions

1. Put on a pair of latex surgical gloves if you have sensitive skin. Grab or cut off a chunk of clay or unwrap a stick of clay, depending upon how the brand you purchased is packaged.

2. Warm the clay if it was stored in a cold place or if it is from an older package that has been opened by letting it rest on a warm shelf or windowsill for about 15 minutes. Do not allow the clay to overheat.

3. Prepare the clay by chopping it into small pieces with a knife on a cutting or chopping board, or by placing a few drops of mineral oil or 1/4 teaspoon of petroleum jelly on the surface of the clay. Protect your chopping board with wax paper before you place the clay on its surface.

4. Place the clay between your hands and rub your hands together over the clay in a circular motion as you would when you knead bread. Keep kneading the clay for up to 10 minutes until you feel it getting warmer and softening.

5. Roll the clay into a smooth, thin log once it is soft enough to shape. Roll the log into a ball. Repeat this step three to five times to make sure the clay is fully conditioned. You can now shape your clay as you wish.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful not to use too much mineral oil or petroleum jelly. In the event you do, spread and flatten the clay onto several sheets of light, absorbent, blank paper such as newsprint and press several more sheets of paper onto the top of the clay. Let it sit overnight so that the paper absorbs the excess oil.

References

• The Polymer Clay Spot: Conditioning Polymer Clay
• Polymer Clay Web: Conditioning