Baking Polymer Clay Safety Tips – Fumes From Burning Not So Good

Although polymer clay is certified non-toxic, make sure to always follow the safety tips and guidelines listed on the packages of the products you purchase. Just be sensible and you'll be fine.

Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Focal Beads – Handmade by You!

Hi there!

Found your blog tonight
and wanted to compliment it!

Very cool site with a lot of information!
I think I will put your link on my website.

However – there is one mistake…
regarding the UPPER temperature limit
of Polymer clay…

It is NOT 350 degrees….
polymer clay starts to burn right away when the
temperature hits 300 degrees.

Some doll artists do bake their sculptures
(the very last bake) using 300 degrees heat but ONLY a minute or two, and always covered with some protective material.

Kind regards,
Shateal

Shateal, Thank you so much for your comment! You are very right when it comes to certain clays.

Polymer clays burn or darken at a variety of different temperatures depending on a few different variables. Different brands of clays are made with different formulations of plasticizers and therefore have different baking temperature ranges. They range from 230 degrees (Fimo soft translucent) to 325 degrees (Kato Polyclay).

This variable in baking temps also translate to the burning temps. Another variable is color and translucence. The lighter the color or the more translucent it is, the lower the temperature it will burn or darken at. Except with Kato Polyclay and especially Kato Liquid Polyclay Clear Medium, which becomes more translucent with higher temperatures.

The flesh colored clays with a lot of translucency that doll makers use is especially susceptible to darkening, therefore they must bake at a lower temperature than someone baking a dark colored bead made of Premo or Kato Polyclay.

So what I'm trying to say here is read the package. The baking temperature for each clay is different and may even vary depending on the color within a brand. Use a thermometer, bake on a tile to help evenly distribute the heat and tent your beads with a folded piece of parchment paper… And never let it go above 350 degrees!

Cindy's last blog post..Pirate Crossbones Jewelry Pillaged in Broad Daylight

This question just came to me via email form Elaine: "Hi, I can't seem to remember what temp. to bake my projects of beads, or small things. Could you please let me know? Thanks"

Hi Elaine – The article on this page along with the dialog between myself and Shateal should help you out.

And here's a tip for everyone on how to best use my blog as a resource to find quick answers to your questions. At the top of each page right under the photo of me in the header section, is a small box called 'Search'. Just type any keyword into this box and you will see a list of articles, one of which may be exactly what you are looking for.

@Elaine: You could try the 'Search' technique after you review the information on this page, to find even more articles. Use 'baking' and/or 'temperature' for your keywords.

@Everyone: If you don't find what you are looking for using the search box, feel free to use the 'Contact Cindy' form like Elaine did. Or better yet, just post a question in the comments section of an article that seems to be a close topic match for your question.

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Hello Cindy :-)

I've read some article on the net a while ago that someone cooked the fimo beads in the microwave, with about 5 cm water above the beads, for 15 minutes. I love trying out new things, so I gave it a try. The beads came out hard, the colour is a bit lighter than the original, but I think it's a great way – and a shorter one – to "cook" the beads.

Wish you the best and thank you for being such a great teacher.

Corinne Langshtad

Hi Corinne! I know a few people bake their beads in water in the microwave but I don't recommend it, because of the potential for burning and toxic fumes. If you like the way the boiled beads turn out, I would recommend boiling them in water on top of the stove instead. It safer. Make sure not to let the water boil dry though or you will have the same problem.

I love it that you like to experiment… so do I! I just want you to be safe. Thank you so much for that comment!

hi,
i would like to ask if its still safe to bake food in the same oven where you bake your clay?

thanks!

Good question lemondrop. On the packaging the clay says nontoxic and that can be cured in your home oven. It says nothing about whether or not food can be baked in the same oven or not.

I think the safest thing to do is to keep all food and clay items separated. For me this includes baking my beads in a toaster oven that is dedicated to 'clay only'.

Is it safe to bake the Pledge with Future Shine product that you use? I looked at the product and couldn't find an ingredients list so I couldn't even look it up myself. Thanks!

I know a lot of people that bake Future Floor Finish on their beads with excellent results. I haven't noticed any fumes coming from the oven when baking Future myself but how safe it is I have no idea. Sorry not to be of better help.

I do know you can safely bake Studio by Sculpey Glaze. If you want more info, click the link by my name.

My electric Oven is getting on my nerves .
you see , there is this heated setting , divided to the top , bottom and both sides . Which one should i tune to ? Or should i just off it ?
Will the oven bake my clay without the heater ?
Because i tuned to both sides for approx. 10 mins and WOW , fumes and very very toxic smell !
Advice asap! thank you !

Thank you so much ! =)

Hi, I'm thinking of taking up polymer clay sculpting. I live with my parents & I don't have room for a toaster oven. I am aware of the fume issue & I don't want to have to clean the oven all the time (since we cook with it often). I thought of the idea of buying a lidded roast pan just for this purpose alone (not for cooking…ever!). I can put my sculpture in the pan (lined with terracotta tiles on the bottom) & bake it (with the pan as my 'kiln', so to speak). What do you feel about this idea? Can it be done & materials (type of pan) would you recomend?

@Julie: Sure that will work. An even better solution is to use a clay dutch oven (a clay version of the roaster pan). They hold the heat more evenly than a tin foil roasting pan. You can sometimes find them in a second hand store. But the tin will work if it's lined with tiles and your pieces don't come too close to the lid.

Hello,
I am using clay for the first time. I have young children (ages 3 and 4) and was wondering if the clay is safe to handle for children once is has been cured (I used sculpey III clay)? Or would the safety precautions (i.e. washing your hands thoroughly) that apply to the handling of clay prior to baking still apply?
Thank you,
Sam

Sam, once the piece is baked, your kids can play with the items like they would any toy. Of course they can't chew on the baked clay. But you wouldn't want them to do that anyways. :-)

Thanks so much for your help. I also really appreciate your promptness! Have a good day! Sam

Also remembering that some folks use aluminum foil to seal up the polymer clay prior to baking so that they can use their regular ovens without cleaning. Just take the package of finished beads outside to unwrap the foil, and you have successfully eliminated any fumes or contamination. Probably could even re-use the foil wrap if you are careful.

Won't work for me, I need to see the baking process. Use a lot of translucent, which darkens quickly, and need to keep an eye on progress.