Comments on: Article Links | Instructions For Baking Polymer Clay Beads Properly http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/ "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: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Finishes http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/#comment-27285 Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Finishes Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:51:46 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2347#comment-27285 Hi Dean - I addressed your question at the other blog post where you asked this. The link by my name will take you to my response. Hi Dean – I addressed your question at the other blog post where you asked this. The link by my name will take you to my response.

]]> By: Dean Andrews http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/#comment-27095 Dean Andrews Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:52:00 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2347#comment-27095 I have baked quite a few clay items and they turn out a hard rubber. Am I not mixing the clay properly, or cooking it wrong? Could someone give me some suggestions? Thank you. Sincerely, Dean Andrews I have baked quite a few clay items and they turn out a hard rubber. Am I not mixing the clay properly, or cooking it wrong? Could someone give me some suggestions?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dean Andrews

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@How to Find Stuff Here at the Beads and Beading Blog http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/#comment-23696 Cindy Lietz@How to Find Stuff Here at the Beads and Beading Blog Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:52:45 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2347#comment-23696 Hi Pam - There are many several variables that can cause your clay to feel rubbery, even after baking. Variables such as temperature, baking time and the brand of clay you are using. There is lots of free information about baking polymer clay here at the blog. You can start with the info and the links provided on this page. Then use 'baking' / 'bake' / 'toaster oven' / etc as keywords in the search box. There is a search box at the top left of every page for easy access. If you still have specific questions after reading the articles and follow up responses, post a comment and myself or someone else will help you out further. Hi Pam – There are many several variables that can cause your clay to feel rubbery, even after baking. Variables such as temperature, baking time and the brand of clay you are using. There is lots of free information about baking polymer clay here at the blog. You can start with the info and the links provided on this page. Then use ‘baking’ / ‘bake’ / ‘toaster oven’ / etc as keywords in the search box. There is a search box at the top left of every page for easy access. If you still have specific questions after reading the articles and follow up responses, post a comment and myself or someone else will help you out further.

]]> By: Pam Queen http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/#comment-23695 Pam Queen Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:42:35 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2347#comment-23695 I just have a real fast question. I just started working with clay and so far I like it, my question is after you bake the clay does it feel rubbery? Or am I doing something wrong? I have enjoyed your tutoring! I just have a real fast question. I just started working with clay and so far I like it, my question is after you bake the clay does it feel rubbery? Or am I doing something wrong? I have enjoyed your tutoring!

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Color Recipes - Cactus http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/#comment-16239 Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Color Recipes - Cactus Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:17:29 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2347#comment-16239 That makes sense Anna. Especially with being able to get more beads in the oven when their hard! I would love to hear what your findings are. Thanks so much for sharing everything you do here. I really appreciate it! That makes sense Anna. Especially with being able to get more beads in the oven when their hard! I would love to hear what your findings are. Thanks so much for sharing everything you do here. I really appreciate it!

]]> By: Anna Sabina http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/#comment-16124 Anna Sabina Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:01:56 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2347#comment-16124 I saw the tip from a reader on your site and so I tried it. I always worry that larger beads will not get cooked all the way through, even after baking them for an hour. i use an oven thermometer but I do not know the tempeture is even all through out the cooking chamber. I have also found that if I boil them first the outside gets hard and I can cook more beads in the toaster oven. It will not matter if the beads are touching each other, can even do 2 layers in a pan. I will do an experiment here in a couple days and make a comaprison. I saw the tip from a reader on your site and so I tried it. I always worry that larger beads will not get cooked all the way through, even after baking them for an hour. i use an oven thermometer but I do not know the tempeture is even all through out the cooking chamber. I have also found that if I boil them first the outside gets hard and I can cook more beads in the toaster oven. It will not matter if the beads are touching each other, can even do 2 layers in a pan. I will do an experiment here in a couple days and make a comaprison.

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Color Recipes - Cactus http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/#comment-15948 Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Color Recipes - Cactus Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:33:52 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2347#comment-15948 Hey Anna, thanks for the tip! I tried it today and it works pretty good! I was surprised how well the beads cured in the water. Since water boils at only 100C and 212F, you were right to continue curing your beads in your oven. I'm not really seeing a big benefit to boiling it first though. It seem like they get just as hard if you bake them for an hour. Also for people who live in places that have hard water, it might leave a chalk residue on the beads. Why do you prefer to boil them first? Is there something that I am missing? Hey Anna, thanks for the tip! I tried it today and it works pretty good! I was surprised how well the beads cured in the water.

Since water boils at only 100C and 212F, you were right to continue curing your beads in your oven.

I’m not really seeing a big benefit to boiling it first though. It seem like they get just as hard if you bake them for an hour. Also for people who live in places that have hard water, it might leave a chalk residue on the beads.

Why do you prefer to boil them first? Is there something that I am missing?

]]> By: Anna Sabina http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/#comment-15819 Anna Sabina Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:08:25 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2347#comment-15819 I have been coating my fingers with cornstarch and using my fingers to smooth all raw clay surfaces before boiling or baking. I do this to smooth out any previous finger print and reduce any bumps, lumps or uneven areas. I rinse them with water after they are cured They come out with a matte finish which is pretty cool and take less time to sand. I will do ANYTHING to reduce sanding. I have recently been boiling my beads for 30 minutes before baking for an additional 30 to 40 minutes. They end up really hard and seem to sand easiler. I have been coating my fingers with cornstarch and using my fingers to smooth all raw clay surfaces before boiling or baking. I do this to smooth out any previous finger print and reduce any bumps, lumps or uneven areas. I rinse them with water after they are cured They come out with a matte finish which is pretty cool and take less time to sand. I will do ANYTHING to reduce sanding.
I have recently been boiling my beads for 30 minutes before baking for an additional 30 to 40 minutes. They end up really hard and seem to sand easiler.

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Sandy Polymer Clay Beads http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/#comment-15741 Cindy Lietz@Sandy Polymer Clay Beads Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:06:50 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2347#comment-15741 The answer to your question Joyce comes down to how your beads "feel" after you have taken them out of the oven and they have cooled down. Try this experiment... make two beads or pendants the same size and bake one for 20 min and the other for an hour. Then feel them. Bend them (if you can). Sand them. Tap them on a piece of glass. You should be able to tell the difference. The one that was baked for an hour will be harder, sand easier and will make a higher clinking sound when tapped on the glass compared to the other. If it is a flat pendant, the longer cured one will also be stronger and will be harder to crack or break. Make sure to read the articles I have written about baking beads listed above. It will make a big difference in the quality of your beads! The answer to your question Joyce comes down to how your beads “feel” after you have taken them out of the oven and they have cooled down.

Try this experiment… make two beads or pendants the same size and bake one for 20 min and the other for an hour. Then feel them. Bend them (if you can). Sand them. Tap them on a piece of glass. You should be able to tell the difference.

The one that was baked for an hour will be harder, sand easier and will make a higher clinking sound when tapped on the glass compared to the other.

If it is a flat pendant, the longer cured one will also be stronger and will be harder to crack or break.

Make sure to read the articles I have written about baking beads listed above. It will make a big difference in the quality of your beads!

]]> By: Joyce http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/instructions-baking-polymer-clay-beads-properly/2347/#comment-15631 Joyce Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:55:49 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2347#comment-15631 How do I know if my beads have baked long enough? How do I know if my beads have baked long enough?

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