What is Polymer Clay?

Polymer clay is a versatile modeling compound made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles suspended in plasticizer. Unlike traditional clay, it doesn’t dry out when exposed to air and must be baked in an oven to harden permanently. This makes it ideal for detailed work, as you can take your time sculpting without worrying about the clay drying out.

Brand Country Texture Strength Colour Range Best For
Sculpey Original USA Soft, crumbly Low 30+ colours Beginners, kids
Super Sculpey USA Firm, smooth Medium Flesh tones Sculpting, dolls
Sculpey III USA Medium soft Medium 44+ colours General crafting
Premo! Sculpey USA Firm, flexible High 48+ colours Professional work
Fimo Soft Germany Soft, pliable Medium 24+ colours Beginners
Fimo Professional Germany Firm, stable High 20+ colours Advanced work
Kato Polyclay USA Very firm Very high 20+ colours Caning, precision
Cernit Belgium Waxy, translucent High 38+ colours Realistic skin tones

Baking Temperature and Time Guide

Clay Brand Temperature (°F) Temperature (°C) Time per ¼ inch Maximum Thickness
Sculpey Original 275°F 135°C 15 minutes 1 inch
Super Sculpey 275°F 135°C 15 minutes 1 inch
Sculpey III 275°F 135°C 15 minutes ¾ inch
Premo! Sculpey 275°F 135°C 30 minutes 1 inch
Fimo Soft 230°F 110°C 30 minutes ¾ inch
Fimo Professional 230°F 110°C 30 minutes 1 inch
Kato Polyclay 300°F 150°C 10 minutes ½ inch
Cernit 215°F 102°C 20 minutes ¾ inch

Clay Conditioning Requirements

Clay Type Conditioning Difficulty Method Time Required Tools Needed
Sculpey Original Easy Hand kneading 2-3 minutes Hands only
Super Sculpey Easy Hand kneading 3-5 minutes Hands only
Sculpey III Easy Hand kneading 2-4 minutes Hands only
Premo! Sculpey Medium Pasta machine 5-10 minutes Pasta machine
Fimo Soft Easy Hand kneading 2-3 minutes Hands only
Fimo Professional Hard Heat + machine 10-15 minutes Heat, pasta machine
Kato Polyclay Very hard Heat + machine 15-20 minutes Heat, pasta machine
Cernit Medium Hand/machine 5-8 minutes Hands or machine

Polymer Clay Colour Mixing Chart

Primary Colours Secondary Mix Result Ratio
Red + Yellow Orange True orange 1:1
Red + Blue Purple True purple 1:1
Blue + Yellow Green True green 1:1
White + Any colour Tint Lighter shade 3:1 to 10:1
Black + Any colour Shade Darker tone 1:3 to 1:10
Translucent + Any colour Semi-transparent Glowing effect 2:1 to 5:1

Storage and Shelf Life

Storage Method Temperature Shelf Life Notes
Original packaging Room temp 2-5 years Keep sealed
Plastic wrap Room temp 1-2 years Prevent air exposure
Airtight container Room temp 2-3 years Best for opened clay
Refrigerated 35-40°F 5+ years Firms clay significantly
Freezer storage 0°F 10+ years Requires slow thawing

Common Polymer Clay Problems and Solutions

Problem Cause Solution Prevention
Cracking after baking Underbaked Re-bake at correct temp Use oven thermometer
Brittle clay Old clay or wrong temp Condition with softener Store properly
Bubbles in clay Trapped air Roll out air bubbles Work slowly
Fingerprints on surface Oils from hands Sand and polish Use gloves
Uneven colour Poor mixing Mix more thoroughly Pasta machine passes
Won’t stick together Dirty surface Clean with alcohol Keep workspace clean

Tools and Equipment Costs

Tool Category Essential Items Price Range Upgrade Options
Basic Tools Roller, knife, needle $10-20 Dedicated clay tools
Pasta Machine Dedicated clay use $15-25 Professional grade
Cutters Cookie cutters, blades $5-15 Precision cutters
Texturing Tools Stamps, rollers $10-30 Custom texture sheets
Baking Supplies Tiles, thermometer $15-25 Convection oven
Finishing Tools Sandpaper, polish $10-20 Dremel rotary tool

Project Difficulty Levels

Skill Level Suitable Projects Clay Recommendations Techniques Used
Beginner Keychains, magnets Sculpey III, Fimo Soft Basic shaping, simple baking
Intermediate Jewelry, figurines Premo!, Fimo Professional Caning, texture, painting
Advanced Realistic sculptures Kato, Cernit, Super Sculpey Armatures, advanced techniques
Professional Commission work Multiple brands All techniques, custom mixing

Safety and Ventilation Guidelines

Safety Aspect Requirement Reason Implementation
Ventilation Good airflow PVC fumes when baking Open windows, use fan
Temperature Accurate monitoring Prevent toxic fumes Oven thermometer
Food Safety Dedicated tools Prevent contamination Separate clay tools
Skin Contact Generally safe Some sensitivity possible Wash hands after use
Child Safety Adult supervision Hot oven, small parts Age-appropriate projects

Clay Quantity Calculator

Project Type Clay Amount Needed Package Size Projects per Package
Small earrings 0.5-1 oz 2 oz block 2-4 pairs
Pendant 1-2 oz 2 oz block 1-2 pieces
Small figurine 2-4 oz 2 oz block 1 piece
Mug handle 3-5 oz 8 oz block 1-2 pieces
Large sculpture 8-16 oz Multiple blocks Plan accordingly

Finishing Techniques Comparison

Finish Type Time Required Skill Level Durability Cost
Sanding 15-30 minutes Beginner High Low
Painting 30-60 minutes Intermediate Medium Medium
Varnishing 20 minutes + cure Beginner Very high Low
Polishing 45-90 minutes Advanced Very high Medium
Antiquing 30-45 minutes Intermediate High Low

This comprehensive guide provides the essential information for working with polymer clay, from brand selection to finishing techniques. The tabular format makes it easy to compare options and find the right materials for your specific projects.

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