Comments on: Fingerprints Can Make Sanding Polymer Clay a Real Chore

By: Cindy Lietz@Micro-Mesh Sanding Abrasive Pads

Cindy Lietz@Micro-Mesh Sanding Abrasive Pads — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:23:20 +0000

@Karen P: It sounds like you aren’t sanding and buffing your pieces. Whether you use cornstarch or baby oil to smooth your pieces before baking, you will still need to sand and buff them well, in order to get a beautiful finish. Those two pre-steps just help to minimize the amount of sanding you need to do. They don’t eliminate it.

For a smooth finish on your handles, I recommend you purchase one or more of my sanding tutorials. I have put a link by my name that will take you to the Micro-Mesh tutorial, but there are many more here as well. To find them, type ‘sanding’ into the search box at the top of the page.

By: Karen P

Karen P — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:04:32 +0000

Hi,
I use cornstarch but when I bake my clay pieces and then wash them (I make embellished cutlery) they go dull and musty (looks like they have a layer of white mould on them), until I re-bake them. Also if I use baby oil the black smears into the white when I am smoothing. I make them for sale so I feel i cannot pass this to a customer, what am I doing wrong?

By: Cindy Lietz@Rubbing Alcohol and Polymer Clay

Cindy Lietz@Rubbing Alcohol and Polymer Clay — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:32:39 +0000

Oh Peggie… you are funny AND sweet :-) Thanks for adding your comment.

BTW, another method of removing fingerprints on unbaked beads is to use rubbing alcohol. Follow the link by my name for more info.

By: peggie

peggie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:56:44 +0000

wow wow………i read somewhere on here that we can use latex type gloves to keep the fingerprints off of the clay and it saved me from ditching polymer clay forever. i was so frustrated i was about to become a postal worker with a machine gun………..and right before i snapped……wallah! i read that and also something about water on the fingers to rub the fingerprints out. now i see this cornstarch idea…..i will try that, as those gloves do get old and i feel like a hospital nurse.
this site is so fab………….i bow down to the polymer goddess!

By: Cindy Lietz@Wet-Dry Sanding Kit for Polymer Clay Beads

Cindy Lietz@Wet-Dry Sanding Kit for Polymer Clay Beads — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:48:35 +0000

Thanks for your question Linda! Look in the automotive section of any home fix it store. Even Walmart has it.

By: Linda Burch

Linda Burch — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:20:16 +0000

Where can I find the wet/dry grit sandpaper # 300 – 800 for the fine sanding finish or can I use something else?

Thank you, Linda

By: Cindy Lietz@FingerPrints on Polymer Clay Beads

Cindy Lietz@FingerPrints on Polymer Clay Beads — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:26:51 +0000

Thank you so much Dori for your sweet comment! I very much appreciate it and am very glad to be of help for you. Let me know if you have any questions.

By: Dori Thompson

Dori Thompson — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:39:30 +0000

I would just like to say that I am truly enjoying your web site. Many of your statements mirror my own. I am glad I found you and look forward to reading all of your info. LOL. Thank you so much!

By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Instructions

Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Instructions — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:40:34 +0000

What a cool way of looking at things Katina! I think if you were going to do that you would have to do very skilled work. So people would assume you ‘meant to do that’ instead of just being sloppy. :-)

By: Katina

Katina — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:03:33 +0000

Maybe fingerprints can be your “calling card” like Capidomonte, it’s their way of showing you an item is handmade!!