Comments on: Pasta Machine for Clay – Maintenance and Buying Tips http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/ "I learned by making mistakes... Now you don't have to." Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:06:37 -0700 hourly 1 By: j frederick http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31975 j frederick Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:57:39 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31975 thanks for the jana whack method that one sounds like a winner to takeout all my frustations ive already done the food processor with the clay softener and that seems to help thanks for the input everyone. thanks for the jana whack method that one sounds like a winner to takeout all my frustations ive already done the food processor with the clay softener and that seems to help thanks for the input everyone.

]]> By: Sue F http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31963 Sue F Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:09:08 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31963 @<a href="#comment-31920">j frederick</a>: I use Kato clay which is reknowned (notorious?) for being crumbly as you start to condition it. Perhaps the way I deal with this will also help you avoid all the crumbles with your clay. Here's what I do, which is my variation on a process I saw at Over The Rainbow (polymerclay.com.au/polymer-clay-kato-polyclay-c-21_446_493.html): 1. Cut a slice from the block that's just a bit thicker than the thickest setting on the pasta machine. 2. Feed it through the pasta machine at the thickest setting (#1 on mine). 3. WITHOUT FOLDING THE CLAY, set the pasta machine one setting thinner (e.g. #2 on mine), and feed the clay through again. 4. Repeat the "one setting thinner, feed it through again" process WITHOUT FOLDING THE CLAY until it's getting quite thin. For really crumbly Kato I go down to setting #7 (out of 9), but for normally-firm Kato I only go down to setting #5 (out of 9). 5. At that stage, fold once and feed through the pasta machine at that thin setting, then repeat this "fold and feed" process a few times. 6. After a few folded passes through that thin setting, back the machine off a couple of settings, fold and feed a few times, then back off again until you get to a medium thickness (e.g. #3 on my machine) where you can finish the conditioning process. For example, for really crumbly Kato that I'd started folding at #7, I'd back off to #5 for a bit, and then back off again to #3 to finish the conditioning; for normally-firm Kato that I'd started folding at #5, I back off once to #3 and condition there. The other thing which I occasionally did before I discovered the above method was to take the unopened packet of clay out to the garage and beat the living daylights out of it from all sides with a mallet until I could feel it "moving" and deforming smoothly, at which point I'd slice it and finishing the conditioning as normal. (This is often referred to as the "Jana Whack" method.) When using a quantity of clay cut from a large block, I'd just use one or two layers of extra-heavy-duty ziplock bag. @j frederick: I use Kato clay which is reknowned (notorious?) for being crumbly as you start to condition it. Perhaps the way I deal with this will also help you avoid all the crumbles with your clay. Here's what I do, which is my variation on a process I saw at Over The Rainbow (polymerclay.com.au/polymer-clay-kato-polyclay-c-21_446_493.html):

1. Cut a slice from the block that's just a bit thicker than the thickest setting on the pasta machine.

2. Feed it through the pasta machine at the thickest setting (#1 on mine).

3. WITHOUT FOLDING THE CLAY, set the pasta machine one setting thinner (e.g. #2 on mine), and feed the clay through again.

4. Repeat the "one setting thinner, feed it through again" process WITHOUT FOLDING THE CLAY until it's getting quite thin. For really crumbly Kato I go down to setting #7 (out of 9), but for normally-firm Kato I only go down to setting #5 (out of 9).

5. At that stage, fold once and feed through the pasta machine at that thin setting, then repeat this "fold and feed" process a few times.

6. After a few folded passes through that thin setting, back the machine off a couple of settings, fold and feed a few times, then back off again until you get to a medium thickness (e.g. #3 on my machine) where you can finish the conditioning process. For example, for really crumbly Kato that I'd started folding at #7, I'd back off to #5 for a bit, and then back off again to #3 to finish the conditioning; for normally-firm Kato that I'd started folding at #5, I back off once to #3 and condition there.

The other thing which I occasionally did before I discovered the above method was to take the unopened packet of clay out to the garage and beat the living daylights out of it from all sides with a mallet until I could feel it "moving" and deforming smoothly, at which point I'd slice it and finishing the conditioning as normal. (This is often referred to as the "Jana Whack" method.) When using a quantity of clay cut from a large block, I'd just use one or two layers of extra-heavy-duty ziplock bag.

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31961 Phaedrakat Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:51:03 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31961 @<a href="#comment-31920">j frederick</a>: Maybe you should try using a <a href="http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tools-soften-clay/106/">food processor for conditioning</a>, so you can avoid the super-crumbly stage (and most of the mess!) I hate to think of you having to clean up all of that clay! @j frederick: Maybe you should try using a food processor for conditioning, so you can avoid the super-crumbly stage (and most of the mess!) I hate to think of you having to clean up all of that clay!

]]> By: j frederick http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31920 j frederick Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:59:15 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31920 thanks for the help have scraped it up off the floor am scrubbing it next and a new paint job when thats done its cement ive put an old carpet by the machine. thanks for the help have scraped it up off the floor am scrubbing it next
and a new paint job when thats done its cement ive put an old carpet
by the machine.

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31859 Phaedrakat Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:31:02 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31859 @<a href="#comment-31835">j frederick</a>: I would use baby wipes or swiffer or some kind of damp, disposible cloth to get the majority of it off the floor. If it's really spread out, you might need to use a dust broom or something first to get the scattered pieces. Go over it with the wipes until you've got all but "resistant" spots. Then, use something like alcohol (or acetone? depending on your floor-type) to get just the bits that don't want to come up with the baby wipes or whatever. Actually, I would imagine that after you get the loose bits of clay up off the floor, you could go over it with anything that your floor type could handle -- bleach, pine-sol, vinegar & warm water, etc. I've never seen this topic anywhere, so I'm just saying what I think I would do. What kind of floor do you have in your basement? After you get it cleaned up, you might want to put some kind of plastic tarp or something under your bench to protect it. They have those acrylic office mat-type things that might work, too. Just so that when you get a lot of clay on it, you could gather it up and shake it into a bin for easier clean-up next time. Hopefully, someone else has some better cleanup suggestions. I'm sorry I can't be of more help! The only other thing I can think of is to try to put something at the base of your pasta machine to catch the clay (not sure what, though - I'd have to see the setup to get my brain working on it!) Good luck with this <i>unique</i> problem! @j frederick: I would use baby wipes or swiffer or some kind of damp, disposible cloth to get the majority of it off the floor. If it's really spread out, you might need to use a dust broom or something first to get the scattered pieces. Go over it with the wipes until you've got all but "resistant" spots. Then, use something like alcohol (or acetone? depending on your floor-type) to get just the bits that don't want to come up with the baby wipes or whatever. Actually, I would imagine that after you get the loose bits of clay up off the floor, you could go over it with anything that your floor type could handle — bleach, pine-sol, vinegar & warm water, etc.

I've never seen this topic anywhere, so I'm just saying what I think I would do. What kind of floor do you have in your basement? After you get it cleaned up, you might want to put some kind of plastic tarp or something under your bench to protect it. They have those acrylic office mat-type things that might work, too. Just so that when you get a lot of clay on it, you could gather it up and shake it into a bin for easier clean-up next time.

Hopefully, someone else has some better cleanup suggestions. I'm sorry I can't be of more help! The only other thing I can think of is to try to put something at the base of your pasta machine to catch the clay (not sure what, though – I'd have to see the setup to get my brain working on it!) Good luck with this unique problem!

]]> By: j frederick http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31835 j frederick Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:03:23 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31835 my pasta machine sits on a bench it is the only place i have to clamp it to and my clay some of it is really crumbly i think some of it from the stores is probably old i use mix quick and a clay softener but it really takes awhile to get it to the right stage in the mean time putting it thru the pasta machine even with my hand under it i can't catch all the crumbly pieces my craft room is in my basement and this time of year the furnace doen't run as much so its a little cool.is there anything to use to get it off the floor. i know rubbing acholol working for some things but you would need a lot for a floor. my pasta machine sits on a bench it is the only place i have to clamp it to
and my clay some of it is really crumbly i think some of it from the stores is probably old i use mix quick and a clay softener but it really takes awhile to get it to the right stage in the mean time putting it thru the pasta machine even with my hand under it i can't catch all the crumbly pieces
my craft room is in my basement and this time of year the furnace doen't run as much so its a little cool.is there anything to use to get it off the floor. i know rubbing acholol working for some things but you would need a lot for a floor.

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31803 Phaedrakat Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:15:15 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31803 @<a href="#comment-31796">June Frederick</a>: Hi June, I have had a stray piece or two land on the floor, and then I pick it up, dust it off, and put it in my scrap jar (unless it's a big piece, then I try to clean it off with alcohol and use tweezers to get any stray fibers.) But I've never had clay landing all over the floor. I usually put my hand under the rollers, so that the clay rolls out right into my hand. If it is crumbly, some pieces end up on the table, some in my hands. (This is where a stray piece lands on the floor sometimes.) I keep the table & pasta machine base clean in-between colors with baby-wipes. This way I can just pick up these pieces and stick them together again. Then I keep running them back through the PM again & again until they stick together in a sheet. I've never had the stuff go all over the floor, though. Are you working with really crumbly clay or something? Or is there not much table under your pasta machine to catch the clay? @June Frederick: Hi June, I have had a stray piece or two land on the floor, and then I pick it up, dust it off, and put it in my scrap jar (unless it's a big piece, then I try to clean it off with alcohol and use tweezers to get any stray fibers.) But I've never had clay landing all over the floor.

I usually put my hand under the rollers, so that the clay rolls out right into my hand. If it is crumbly, some pieces end up on the table, some in my hands. (This is where a stray piece lands on the floor sometimes.) I keep the table & pasta machine base clean in-between colors with baby-wipes. This way I can just pick up these pieces and stick them together again. Then I keep running them back through the PM again & again until they stick together in a sheet. I've never had the stuff go all over the floor, though. Are you working with really crumbly clay or something? Or is there not much table under your pasta machine to catch the clay?

]]> By: June Frederick http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31796 June Frederick Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:59:11 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-31796 I haven't seen this problem come up with clay and was wondering if anyone knows how to handle it. How do you keep all the clay pieces from falling on the floor at your pasta machine? I have been doing a lot of claying learning how to do quilt pieces and I have a mess on my floor. Grant you its in the basement, but it still is a mess. Does anyone know how to take care of it? Thank you. I haven't seen this problem come up with clay and was wondering if anyone knows how to handle it. How do you keep all the clay pieces from falling on the floor at your pasta machine? I have been doing a lot of claying learning how to do quilt pieces and I have a mess on my floor. Grant you its in the basement, but it still is a mess. Does anyone know how to take care of it? Thank you.

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Extruder Flower Cane Video http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-28348 Cindy Lietz@Extruder Flower Cane Video Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:32:51 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-28348 Oh Beverle that sounds like such a pain for you! I have never heard of springs inside of the pasta machine like that, it must be a new model. I agree that using wax paper would be a huge problem. Not to mention the wrinkles and stuff you would get every time you ran clay through it. That is just not true about the clay getting behind the scrapers only when going backwards! Tons of clay gets behind mine and I never go backwards! Why can't these guys design a pasta machine with easily removed blades at a reasonable price? It is not exactly rocket science. Polymer Clay Express made one but since they are such a small company, they can't manufacture in any kind of volume and the price is pretty high IMO. Especially for a beginner just trying the medium out. And another thing that bugs me, is these things are originally designed for food. What kind of food machine can't be taken apart to clean? It's bizarre! Any way, sorry for the rant. I don't know what to say as far as what to do. Hopefully someone else has some ideas that can help. Can you tell us the make and model so we can warn people not to take it apart? That would at least help others from having the same problem. Sorry I can't help you more. :-( Oh Beverle that sounds like such a pain for you! I have never heard of springs inside of the pasta machine like that, it must be a new model. I agree that using wax paper would be a huge problem. Not to mention the wrinkles and stuff you would get every time you ran clay through it.

That is just not true about the clay getting behind the scrapers only when going backwards! Tons of clay gets behind mine and I never go backwards!

Why can't these guys design a pasta machine with easily removed blades at a reasonable price? It is not exactly rocket science. Polymer Clay Express made one but since they are such a small company, they can't manufacture in any kind of volume and the price is pretty high IMO. Especially for a beginner just trying the medium out.

And another thing that bugs me, is these things are originally designed for food. What kind of food machine can't be taken apart to clean? It's bizarre! Any way, sorry for the rant.

I don't know what to say as far as what to do. Hopefully someone else has some ideas that can help. Can you tell us the make and model so we can warn people not to take it apart? That would at least help others from having the same problem.

Sorry I can't help you more. :-(

]]> By: Beverle Sweitzer http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-28347 Beverle Sweitzer Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:53:12 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/pasta-machine-for-clay-maintenance-and-buying-tips/40/#comment-28347 Cindy: I couldn't get my clay/pasta machinc back together. It has spring/wire clips that hold the scrapers in place and I just could't fit them all back together. I bought an Amaco and noticed that it also has the clip thingies but they looked a little different. I called Amaco and they said not(!!) to take the machine apart. That the only reason it gets clay in the scrapers is if you crank backwards. They recommend using waxed paper around your clay whenever it is put into the machine. I don't think I have ever cranked mine backwards, and while I haven't tried the waxed paper I can imagine that it would get tedious real fast. I have looked everywhere I can think of on the internet and haven't seen any mention of the spring clips that hold the scrapers. Could/ would you comment on this? Thanks. Cindy:
I couldn't get my clay/pasta machinc back together. It has spring/wire clips that hold the scrapers in place and I just could't fit them all back together. I bought an Amaco and noticed that it also has the clip thingies but they looked a little different. I called Amaco and they said not(!!) to take the machine apart. That the only reason it gets clay in the scrapers is if you crank backwards. They recommend using waxed paper around your clay whenever it is put into the machine. I don't think I have ever cranked mine backwards, and while I haven't tried the waxed paper I can imagine that it would get tedious real fast. I have looked everywhere I can think of on the internet and haven't seen any mention of the spring clips that hold the scrapers. Could/ would you comment on this? Thanks.

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