Comments on: How To Make Large Polymer Clay Beads without Using a Lot of Clay http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/ "Make What You Love... Love What You Make!" Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:54:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tantesherry http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-51855 Tantesherry Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:16:33 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-51855 Hi Karen if you pierce your beads before baking maybe the hot air could escape that way--let us know what finally works :) Hi Karen if you pierce your beads before baking maybe the hot air could escape that way–let us know what finally works :)

]]> By: Polymer Clay Tutor Cindy Lietz http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-51356 Polymer Clay Tutor Cindy Lietz Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:48:03 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-51356 I don't make those kind of beads often, but why don't you try putting on a thin coat of scrap clay over the foil core then bake. If there are any bubbles you can just sand them a bit and the recover the bead with your final layer. That outside layer shouldn't be as vulnerable to bubbling as the one next to the foil. I'm guessing the foil is trapping air and releasing it during the baking process. Hope that helps. If you do try it, come back and let us know how it went. I don’t make those kind of beads often, but why don’t you try putting on a thin coat of scrap clay over the foil core then bake. If there are any bubbles you can just sand them a bit and the recover the bead with your final layer. That outside layer shouldn’t be as vulnerable to bubbling as the one next to the foil. I’m guessing the foil is trapping air and releasing it during the baking process.

Hope that helps. If you do try it, come back and let us know how it went.

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-51245 Phaedrakat Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:30:57 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-51245 Air bubbles created when using alum. foil bead cores...anyone have tips for Karen? Air bubbles created when using alum. foil bead cores…anyone have tips for Karen?

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-50858 Phaedrakat Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:03:17 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-50858 @<a href="#comment-50749">Karen M</a>: Hi Karen, so sorry about your "issues". I'm commenting to "bump" this question back into the "Recent Comments" list...(haven't tried using foil cores yet, myself...) Someone with more experience should help you soon! Best of luck! ~Kat @Karen M: Hi Karen, so sorry about your “issues”. I’m commenting to “bump” this question back into the “Recent Comments” list…(haven’t tried using foil cores yet, myself…)
Someone with more experience should help you soon!
Best of luck! ~Kat

]]> By: Karen M http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-50749 Karen M Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:47:08 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-50749 I wondered if you'd every had problems with the aluminum foil bead cores causing air bubbles after curing. I made a bunch of large beads with foil, covered and cured with liquid polymer clay, then added a thick layer of clay. After baking, many had large air bubbles that seem impossible to eliminate. Any suggestions? Thanks... I wondered if you’d every had problems with the aluminum foil bead cores causing air bubbles after curing. I made a bunch of large beads with foil, covered and cured with liquid polymer clay, then added a thick layer of clay. After baking, many had large air bubbles that seem impossible to eliminate. Any suggestions?

Thanks…

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-46938 Phaedrakat Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:31:03 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-46938 @<a href="#comment-46409">Jackie T</a>: Hi Jackie...did you test out your vessels yet? I'm curious how your projects are turning out, especially since I haven't tried to create large items such as those you're talking about making. I also wanted to point out something about <a href="http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/sculpey-ultra-light-oven-bake-clay-lightweight-polymer-clay-beads/4826/#comment-21946">Sculpey Ultralight</a> clay. If you haven't worked with it before, there are some important tips you should read. If you type "Ultralight" into the search box up top on the left, you'll find posts on the subject. The main thing? You have to pre-bake the Ultralight clay before covering with another type. It expands while baking, so if you covered it with Premo canes, for instance, the outer layer could crack and your vessel would be ruined.) In fact, one of the articles from the search deals with this very issue...called <a href="http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/cracking-heart-beads-sculpey-ultra-light-core/9690/">cracked heart beads</a>. Anyway, good luck with your projects! Hope you have fun, and make some beautiful vessels and other great things! :D @Jackie T: Hi Jackie…did you test out your vessels yet? I’m curious how your projects are turning out, especially since I haven’t tried to create large items such as those you’re talking about making. I also wanted to point out something about Sculpey Ultralight clay.

If you haven’t worked with it before, there are some important tips you should read.

If you type “Ultralight” into the search box up top on the left, you’ll find posts on the subject. The main thing? You have to pre-bake the Ultralight clay before covering with another type. It expands while baking, so if you covered it with Premo canes, for instance, the outer layer could crack and your vessel would be ruined.) In fact, one of the articles from the search deals with this very issue…called cracked heart beads.

Anyway, good luck with your projects! Hope you have fun, and make some beautiful vessels and other great things! :D

]]> By: Jackie T http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-46409 Jackie T Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:39:24 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-46409 This is really exciting! I'm thinking of vessels. So if it was funnel shape form (plastic,, glass or steel) I could use a release agent to remove regular or ultralight from the form. If the form was tubular in shape with a flat open end could I do the same thing. The clay doesn't shrink so would it release from a tubular shaped form, or would I need to use something like polystyrene balls. And if I did use the polystyrene to build the form, how do you achieve a smooth surface to apply the clay to. If a smooth surface is not attainable, the interior of the vessel would be textured and I would work with this (altough I'd like to have a choice of texture or smooth. but I would need the form to be symmetrical. Is it possible to create a symetrical form using corn starch or polystyrene? thank you. This is really exciting! I’m thinking of vessels. So if it was funnel shape form (plastic,, glass or steel) I could use a release agent to remove regular or ultralight from the form. If the form was tubular in shape with a flat open end could I do the same thing. The clay doesn’t shrink so would it release from a tubular shaped form, or would I need to use something like polystyrene balls. And if I did use the polystyrene to build the form, how do you achieve a smooth surface to apply the clay to. If a smooth surface is not attainable, the interior of the vessel would be textured and I would work with this (altough I’d like to have a choice of texture or smooth. but I would need the form to be symmetrical. Is it possible to create a symetrical form using corn starch or polystyrene? thank you.

]]> By: Penny Vingoe http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-46407 Penny Vingoe Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:07:14 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-46407 My unmderstanding that to make large beads light you use ultralight clay by polyform - I stock it/use it and it is brilliant - it even floats! another possibility is to use polystyrene balls and then dig them out after baking. My unmderstanding that to make large beads light you use ultralight clay by polyform – I stock it/use it and it is brilliant – it even floats!
another possibility is to use polystyrene balls and then dig them out after baking.

]]> By: Jackie T http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-46403 Jackie T Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:49:07 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-46403 Thanks Silverleaf! My goodness this is a great community. I have asked that question to polymer clay manufacturers and not one has answered me. I appreciate the help. I'm going to test as you suggested. And I'm going to keep reading this blog!! Thanks Silverleaf! My goodness this is a great community. I have asked that question to polymer clay manufacturers and not one has answered me. I appreciate the help. I’m going to test as you suggested. And I’m going to keep reading this blog!!

]]> By: Silverleaf http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-46382 Silverleaf Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:30:12 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-46382 Hi Jackie! I've never tried this myself but I don't see why it wouldn't be possible. I know someone who made a life-sized man doll with polymer clay head, hands and feet - she had to borrow an industrial oven to cure the head! From personal experience, the clay doesn't get soft or slide off anything. It just hardens as it heats, reaching full strength when it cools. Maybe try practising with a small form first? Something like an empty soda can would be good, then you could see how the clay reacts without too much investment. Hopefully someone else can give you more specific information. Good luck! xxx Hi Jackie!

I’ve never tried this myself but I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible. I know someone who made a life-sized man doll with polymer clay head, hands and feet – she had to borrow an industrial oven to cure the head!

From personal experience, the clay doesn’t get soft or slide off anything. It just hardens as it heats, reaching full strength when it cools.

Maybe try practising with a small form first? Something like an empty soda can would be good, then you could see how the clay reacts without too much investment.

Hopefully someone else can give you more specific information. Good luck! xxx

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