July 5, 2008
Buffing Polymer Clay Beads with a Dremel Multipro Rotary Tool
Vid #65: Are you still polishing polymer clay by hand? Kick it up a notch and learn how to use the Dremel power tool:
There is nothing like using a power rotary machine to really bring a shine to your beads. Although polishing can be done by hand, the process of buffing polymer clay is just that much easier and quicker when you use a rotary Dremel.
With any rotary tool such as the dremel multi pro, safety is very important. Loose clothes and hair can be tangled quickly so make sure they are out of the way before you buff your beads.
Buffing is done only after your beads are well sanded. Just like painting a wall without filling the holes will make the flaws show even more… polishing a bead that hasn't been properly sanded first, will accentuate nasty fingerprints and scratches. So be sure to sand first.
Also you will find that each brand of clay will polish to varying levels of shine. For example Premo and Fimo will get a high shine, whereas Sculpey III never gets past a matte finish no matter how much you buff.
Even if you are going to coat a bead with a final shiny finish such as Future Floor Finish or Varathane, always sand and buff your beads before doing so. This will remove any flaws; give the bead or pendant a nice feel; and make the gloss slide smoothly onto the surface.
Many polymer clay artists will use their dremel to buff in between coats of Future to give it an extra super duper shine. With enough care, you can make your beads and pendants look like glass if you follow these instructions.
For another article about using the Dremel Multipro, click on this link… Buffing Polymer Clay Beads. A Dremel rotary tool will definitely help take your beads from Ho-Hum to Wow-Wee!
>> Free Polymer Clay Tutorials <<
"Buffing with a Dremel Tool" Video Description: The full version of this tutorial is currently posted in the VIP backstage members area. In it I show, demonstrate and discuss:
- How to use the dremel rotary tool to polish and buff your polymer clay beads.
- Using different rotary speed settings for different projects.
- Tips to prevent the buffing wheel from grinding instead of polishing.
- Holding beads on a piercing wire while using the Dremel Tool.
- How different polymer clay brands end up with different levels of shine.
- The special properties of translucent clay.
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Filed under 02: Tools, 10: Finishing, 15: Promotions by Cindy Lietz
Comments on Buffing Polymer Clay Beads with a Dremel Multipro Rotary Tool »
I've always used the Dremel rotary tool but I know there are other brands available. Has anyone got anything to say about the non-dremel ones?
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neato…I know my DH has a dremel…I will have to see about getting it out and seeing how it works!
Keri Lee Sereika's last blog post..I have found a new to me stamp company!
That's great Keri! There are many other things you can do with a Dremel and Polymer Clay so it will come in real handy for you!
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Hi Cindy
I have found that I can use my tumbler to sand and buff my polymer clay beads. To buff my beads with the tumbler I have cut up a shammy that I found in the automotive section of Canadian Tire. I put the beads in the tumbler with the cut up shammy and tumble over night. In the morning I have shinny beads!
I still hand sand and use my rotary tool for larger pendants and focal beads as they don't tumble as well.
Vanessa
Thank you Vaneesa for the cool tip!
I tend to use my rock tumbler to sand the small beads that would be to much of a pain to sand individually.
On the larger beads and pendants I hand sand, like you because I feel it does a better job than the tumbler.
I like the shammy trick though. I've never tried that, it sound like it works well!
For those of you who have not used a rock tumbler for polishing beads before, you can't use regular rock polishing substrate. I will be discussing this topic down the road, but I still don't feel I have the perfect method of doing this yet. So stay tuned!
Cindy Lietz's last post..Polymer Clay Contest - Win a Bead Jewelry Making Course
I have one of those and a big buffing wheel too. How do you keep from going to deep and marring the surface. Maybe that's on the video I should buy, Huh? ;D
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Yeah Kim… now you got it! ;-)
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Dear Cindy,
The Dremel tool has made such a difference!!! I am so grateful to have learned about it from you. I have carpel tunnel, and was wondering how I would manage to sand and buff all of my work without straining my wrists. I have been using my Dremel for about a week now, and thanks to you and this magnificent tool, I am buffing away with no problems at all!
I also am so happy to have learned about Future Finish from you. I just started using it, and it makes my pieces look like glass, they are so shiny, and really brings out the color in all my work! And I am so happy that it dries so quickly, and is so easy to use! It is also quite inexpensive for all that you get.
Thanks so much!
Sincerely, Cindy Erickson
I'm glad to hear that the Dremel is working great for you Carpul Tunnel!
I had it so bad a few years ago I had surgery on both hands. My hands still ache a little now and then if I'm doing a lot of beads. But power tools like the Dremel Multi-pro tool can make a huge difference!
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Polymer Clay Faux Amber Jewellery - Victoria Hughes
This is probably a dumb question, but do you tumble dry with the shammy pieces or add water like regular tumbling?
It's not a dumb question Karen! I tumble dry actually. You obviously know a little about tumbling. (For those of you who don't, I will talk more about using a rock tumbler in a future Q+A post so stay tuned!)
Thanks Cindy! I will give it a try. I am new to polymer clay, but I am enjoying it immensely! (Thanks to your video help!)
I also make silver fused rings, hense the tumbler.
Karen