How to Roll a Smooth Fimo Cane to Slice

Fimo is a brand of polymer clay manufactured by the German company Staedtler. Polymer clay comes in a wide variety of colors and hardens when baked in a regular oven, making it ideal for those who like to work on crafts at home. Sculptors, jewelry makers and even manicurists love Fimo for its endless possibilities. A basic technique in working with Fimo is making canes, long tubes of clay you can slice into thin pieces for beads or fingernail art.

Things You'll Need

• Smooth surface
• Pasta maker (optional)
• Rolling pin (optional)

Instructions

1. Pull off a piece of Fimo and knead it with your hands to soften it. The size of the piece you pull off will depend on the size of cane you want to make.

2. Flatten the Fimo against a smooth, clean surface using your hands or a rolling pin. Alternately, you can roll the Fimo through a hand-cranked pasta machine.

3. Roll the flattened Fimo into a tube. Fold one side in on itself and continue rolling until the Fimo makes a jelly roll-shaped tube. The tube should look like a spiral on the ends.

4. Roll the tube back and forth until the outside of the cane is smooth and uniform.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use the rolling pin or pasta maker you use for Fimo to prepare food, even if it has been washed.

References

• Carolyn's Clay Creations: Polymer Clay Canes and Fimo Nail Art
• Los Angeles Times: Crafts : Roll Out the Fimo, and You'll Have a Barrel of Beads
• Hobbycraft: Funky Fimo Jewelry

Resources

• Staedtler Fimo Modelling Clay and Accessories