Kinds of Tools for Polymer Clay
Polymer clay is an easily manipulated clay which can be baked in an oven. The clay comes in small stiff blocks. Kneading the clay makes it soft and malleable. Kneading the clay is called conditioning. Once clay is conditioned, people sculpt it using an assortment of basic tools. Some tools are purchased specifically for polymer clay, other tools are repurposed or made by hand.
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Polymer Clay Tools
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Craft stores sell tools specifically for polymer clay. Tools are made out of plastic, wood and metal. A basic set of polymer clay tools includes a plastic or glass roller, a tissue blade, shish kabob skewers, a rolling cutter, a knife and modeling tools. These tool sets cost between roughly $5 and $20, depending on the quality of the tools. Some of the modeling tools have a rubber tip that works well for smoothing rough areas. Embossing plates and a small spray bottle are helpful items for adding texture and keeping the plates from sticking to the clay. One other item that is helpful for working with polymer clay is a thin, smooth cutting board or piece of counter top material. Roll the clay and mold it directly on the board, so you never stain tables or counters with colored clay.
Ceramic Tools for Polymer Clay
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Ceramic tools work well with polymer clay and are less expensive than polymer clay tools. Other items, like extruders that press out neat lines of clay, make excellent polymer clay tools. Wooden or plastic clay tools, wooden rollers and armature wire are great additions to any polymer clay artist's tools.
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Repurposed Tools for Polymer Clay
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Tools from other walks of life are often repurposed for polymer clay use. Sculptors use dental tools for adding details to sculptures. They create delicate lines in faces and eyes, tiny details in jewelry and texture to hair. Sewing needles work in the same way, especially for small sculptures. Wooden or plastic rolling pins from the kitchen are easily used for rolling out polymer clay into sheets, but make sure you mark them with a permanent marker. Never use tools in the kitchen after using them for polymer clay. Knitting needles double as modeling tools and smooth out rough areas easily.
Handmade Tools
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Finding tools with tiny, delicate tips is hard, so many artists make their own tools. Make a tool for creating texture using a knitting needle, three 2-inch long sewing needles, thread, a shish kabob skewer and a 2-inch ball of polymer clay. Thread all three needles onto a piece of thread and tie any kind of knot, so the needles are close together. Cut the knitting needle in half using a pair of snips. Pick up the half of the knitting needle with the rounded tip. Fill the inside of the knitting needle with polymer clay until it is 1 inch from the cut edge. Stuff the clay in using a shish kabob skewer. Pick up the sewing needles and poke the end with the thread into the clay. Spread out the three needles and fill the rest of the cut end of the knitting needle with clay. Stuff it in with the skewer. Lay the handmade tool on a cookie sheet and cook according to the clay's manufacturer's instructions. Let it cool before using. Use the tool for making hair and texture on sculptures. Put clay on a sculpted doll's head and pull the side with the three needles through the clay in the direction the hair flows. It leaves tracks through the clay that look like strings of hair. Pull the same side of the tool back and forth across areas, so it gets a rough lined look. Use the pointed side of the knitting needle for smoothing areas. Simply slide the knitting needle side across a rough area, and it makes it look smooth.
Tools For Baking Clay
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When you finish your polymer clay project, you bake it. Use a regular oven or a small toaster oven for cooking the clay. Get two or three aluminum pans for baking the clay. Never use baking pans you use for your food. Even though the clay is non-toxic the instructions recommend against cooking the clay on pans you use for your food. Get a roll of parchment paper for lining the pans. If the clay is cooked directly on the pan, it leaves scorch marks on the finished product.
Helpful, But Not Necessary, Tools
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A pasta machine and shape cutters are great tools for polymer clay, but they can get expensive. The pasta machine lets you roll the clay into thin even sheets quickly and easily. Once you have an even sheet of clay, cut shapes for making jewelry or for adding to sculpted projects. The shape cutters quickly cut pieces exactly the same size every time, so it makes your work faster.
Tools for Finishing Projects
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Sandpaper is a necessary tool for finishing a polymer clay project. Sandpaper removes rough areas and helps give the project a shiny surface. Get a good assortment of acrylic paints and alcohol-based inks for adding colors to your projects. Clear gloss glaze and paint brushes are needed for sealing projects.
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References
Resources
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