I’m unsure why that is the case, however some practices and merchandise generally beneficial for polymer clay (and beneficial so fervently) don’t work properly for a lot of customers. The superficial info generally shared on social media doesn’t inform the entire story, resulting in misunderstandings. Listed below are some often-recommended and overrated polymer clay merchandise and practices with the lacking tidbit of information that must be included.

Use a Dremel for Buffing

As my Sanding and Buffing Course explains, a Dremel rotary device can can help you buff to a excessive shine on polymer clay. But it surely’s not the perfect device for this. The small wheel isn’t fluffy sufficient, it takes an especially gentle contact, and the device is difficult for weak fingers to carry. Dremels are good all-purpose instruments, however if you wish to purchase a device particularly for buffing, there are a lot better decisions (resembling purpose-made buffers and transformed bench grinders). Extra data in my course!

Renaissance Wax

This oft-recommended stable paste wax can remove the dusky dullness we generally see with darkish colours (much like placing lotion on dry pores and skin). But it surely gives no safety to floor therapies and is well rubbed off baked polymer clay. Moreover, hand lotion or petroleum jelly will do the identical factor at a a lot cheaper price.

Dimensional Glazes (eg. Triple Thick)

This class of thick, syrupy, air-dry gloss coatings looks like an amazing different to resin. Not so quick. Sadly, the fabric softens in humid climates, typically turns cloudy, and coated items will stick collectively in the event that they’re touching whereas saved. Select a greater end. Listed below are some to discover.

E6000

This solvent-based glue is an outdated normal for jewellery makers. It really works properly to bond two inflexible surfaces. But it surely has a really excessive failure fee on polymer clay. It is because polymer clay is versatile and sudden shock (ie. drops) will trigger it to flex, breaking the bond. Moreover, it’s typically utilized poorly and has a brief shelf life, compounding its failure fee as a result of it by no means cures within the first place. Some customers have nice outcomes with this glue, however in a survey of skilled polymer clay customers, E6000 was the highest most-regretted buy.

Gel superglues resembling Loctite Gel Management work a lot better. Two-part epoxies typically work properly, too. However keep in mind, glue can fail. For positive jewellery, embed the findings into the clay slightly than counting on glue.

Warmth Weapons for Curing Clay

Polymer clay solely reaches full energy when cured sizzling sufficient and lengthy sufficient. Whereas warmth weapons CAN treatment clay, it isn’t simple in apply. If the clay is hooked up to a bigger object, the warmth shall be drawn away from the clay into the article. Even a bead on a skewer is difficult to treatment as a result of just one facet of the merchandise is heated at a given second. The opposite facet is cooling quickly! Warmth weapons work properly to treatment skinny coatings of liquid clay on small gadgets, however bigger items are tough to unattainable. It’s at all times finest to bake in an oven for a full treatment.

However I Like These Merchandise!

That’s superior! When you’ll discover, I didn’t say that any of those merchandise are complete crap. They’ve their makes use of! However these merchandise are sometimes beneficial blindly, with out sharing the caveats and different particulars that polymer artists have to know to get good outcomes. When you’re utilizing them with out issues, you’ve seemingly already discovered the important particulars that make them extra helpful.