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June 16, 2008

Cool Tools for Polymer Clay – The Alphadisc Lettering Tool

6

Alphadisc Polymer Clay Lettering Tool

A polymer clay letter tool that will make a positive impression on your beads and pendants:

Recently I was searching online for a polymer clay letter impression set and came across this cool tool called the Alphadisc. The company that sells it is even called "Cool Tools!" It will quickly impress letters into any type of clay including polymer clay, metal art clay and ceramic clay.

Here's an excerpt transcribed from their tutorial video…

The way it is designed is that all the letters are on the outside of the disc. It will show you which letter you're on, and some little dots, so you know where the center is.

It's pretty easy to use. You just line it up on the clay, and impress the letters. Hold the disc so that you can see right down the letters and impress them exactly in the spot that you want. There is a little space, left and right, where those other letters don't touch.

Look at the letters, so they read correctly to you and write from left to right. Rotate it around to the next letter and impress.

If you want to do something a little bit deeper, just put the clay on a curved surface.

If you like, watch their 6 and 1/2 minute Youtube demonstration and instrucion video here…

A polymer clay tool like this has a few advantages over the more common metal letter punches you would typically use. They are:

  • Easily stored – Full alphabet on one disk.
  • Lots of Fonts – Can get letters and numbers in a few different fonts, in upper case, lower case, numbers/symbols, and all of those in reverse print for making molds.
  • Easy to clean – Wipe with a cloth.
  • Versitile – Can be used on polymer clay, metal clay and ceramic clay.
  • Easy to center – Little dots help you line up the letters nicely.

Disadvantages:

  • Can't be used on metal sheeting like the metal punches can.

As you can see, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and I give this cool polymer clay tool a thumbs up rating!


SITE NAVIGATION TIP: To call up a list of articles on this blog in which I discuss other cool tools for poly clay, you have three choices:

1) Click here on the "02: Tools" Category Navigation link. This link can also be found in the top left column side bar of every page on this blog.

2) Type in the word "Tools" or the name of a specific tool into the Search Box along the top horizontal navigation bar.

3) At the bottom of each article is a list of tags that often references names of specific tools for polymer clay. For example, click on the this tag to see what happens: Bead Rack

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Tags: alphadisc, ceramic clay, cool tools company, impression, lettering, metal art clay, metal letter punches, navigation tips, video features, youtube

Filed Under: 02: Tools, 05: Techniques by Cindy Lietz Comment. #

Comments on Cool Tools for Polymer Clay – The Alphadisc Lettering Tool Leave a Comment

June 17, 2008

Mardel Rein
10:49 am #

Reply

Hi Cindy, The review was great…thanks so much! People really are enjoying the tool. I recently saw a really cool ring with lettering on it and asked the lady how she did the text. She said it was the AlphaDisc! We got a laugh out of that.

Sincerely,
Mardel Rein
Cool Tools

Ronalyn
12:40 pm #

Reply

That looks like a wonderful tool. Even though I promised myself I wouldn't buy and more tools, I may have to break that promise.

Cindy Lietz from Polymer Clay Pendant Design
10:07 pm #

Reply

@Mardel: Glad to help out.

@Ronalyn: Never say never :)

BTW… another fun way to press letters into polymer clay is to use uncooked alphabet noodles. It's more awkward and fiddly… but very cheap and fun!

Cindy's last blog post..A Polymer Clay Glitter Story – DeGeneres vs The Crafty Chica

April 6, 2009

Cindy from Polymer Clay Tools - Custom Drill Bit Handles
11:19 am #

Reply

And a Bit of a Public Service Message…

Since I publish polymer clay articles daily, this blog is becoming quite a large resource for polymer clay tips, pictures and discussions.

I figured I would take this opportunity to remind everyone about the little search box that sits at the top left of every page at this blog. It can help you find stuff quickly. Stuff that you may have seen before and want to go back to. Or you can use the search box to discover new things.

Simply pick a keyword or two, and type them into the search box. Then click on the 'Search' button. A list of related articles titles will then be displayed which you can click through to and read.

For example, by typing in the word "lettering" into the search box, the article about the Alphadisc Lettering Tool is displayed at the very top of the list.

There are other ways to find stuff here at the blog as well. I would be very curious to hear from others about your useful navigation tips and suggestions.

Actually if there are things that you don't like about this site, you can share those comments too. I will do my best to correct problems that may be identified.

October 13, 2009

Edgar
3:19 am #

Reply

Hello, my name is Edgar and I work with epoxy paste arts and I have been looking for a tool for making tiny letters. How or where can I buy the one u offer. I am interested.

Cindy Lietz from AlphaDisc Lettering Tool
8:33 pm #

Reply

Hi Edgar – I actually don't offer the AlphaDisc Lettering Tool myself. I just did a review of it because I think it's a cool tool for polymer clayers. The link by my name will take you to the "Cool Tools" company page that sells it. Tell 'em I sent ya :-)

Oh and do come back here and let us all know how it works for your epoxy past art. Would love to get your input on that.

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