July 26, 2008
A Polymer Clay How To Tip for Making Beads Using White Fimo Clay
Vid #67: For making jewelry beads with bright white clay, always keep rubbing alcohol handy for cleaning:
Have you ever been frustrated after your pasta machine left streaks of color on some brand new white polymer clay that you ran through it? Well there's no need to worry because rubbing alcohol works great for cleaning the surface of light-colored clays when they get dirty.
Fimo, Premo, Sculpey and Kato Clay can get dirty in a few different ways. Since all polymer clay brands are sticky to some degree, they can easily pick up dust, hair and residues from your work area and tools.
One tool very prone to getting dirty is your pasta machine. Scraper blades inside of the machine are meant to keep the rollers clean. But unfortunately they don't always do their job very well. Trapped bits of clay left behind from previous bead making projects are what cause the streaking or spotting issues mentioned earlier.
This can be a huge problem when working with light colored and dark colored clays back to back. Dark colors will leave streaks of color onto sheets of light colors and vice versa.
This is the very reason why some professional clayers have two pasta machines in their studio. One dedicated to lights and the other only to be used for dark clay.
If two pasta machines seems a little over the top for you, all is not lost. As I said earlier, all you need to do is keep some rubbing alcohol handy to clean off the surface of your polymer clay when it gets dirty. And while you're at it, use your rubbing alcohol soaked paper towel to clean out your pasta machine as well.
Bonus Tip: Rubbing alcohol works pretty good for wiping away fingerprints from clay as well. For 7 additional techniques to keep those nasty finger prints at bay, read this article: Polymer Clay Beads That Look Professional
So when your making beads using white polymer clay… and you actually want your beads to end up looking bright white… then today's polymer clay how to tip is for you. Always keep some rubbing alcohol handy.
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The full version of the "Rubbing Alcohol Cleaner" preview video shown above, is available for purchase at the Members Library. It is listed in the Volume-005 Order Form as:
Vid-005-4 Using Rubbing Alcohol To Clean Dirty Clay
In this video tutorial I show you what can happen to white fimo clay when you don't keep your pasta machine clean… and more importantly, what to do about it.
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Filed under 02: Tools, 03: Supplies, 04: Handling by Cindy Lietz
Comments on A Polymer Clay How To Tip for Making Beads Using White Fimo Clay »
You can also use rubbing alcohol to clean your work surface and your polymer clay knife. Clay rolls out smoother and easier on a clean surface and canes slice better with a nice clean blade!
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Handmade Jewelry from Polymer Clay Rose Beads and Ghost Cane Beads
Cindy, I think you need to change the name of your blog to "Psychic Polymer Clay Tutor".
As I peruse your topics I'm struck by often you cover topics JUST AS I NEED THEM! Tonight I was experimenting with the mokume gane technique with clayshades of blue (one very light),and translucent and silver leaf…I was watching my favorite reality show and mindlessly conditioning my clay when I looked down to discover a purple streak right down the center!
I think the rubbing alcohol would have worked if I'd caught it sooner…as it was, it was compact enough that I could cut it out and reshape the clay..;but I'll have a bottle of ETOH at the ready in the future!
Thanks!
SP
Sue, you are so right about Cindy being psychic. I definitely need to be more conscious about cleaning up after each color. Today, I was working with red clay and cannot get the red off of my hands. (I am going to try the rubbing alcohol on my hands) Well if my hands are so stained I can imagine what my work area will be like by the time I am done.
@Sue: What's your favorite reality show? I'm curious! Sorry I wasn't Psychic enough that I could have warned you before making the mistake!
@Marianne: The rubbing alcohol will work on your hands but you may find it drying. Try baby wipes or baby oil instead. It's a little easier on the hands!
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Slicing Fimo Nail Art Canes | Sculpey Polymer Clay Cake Toppers
Sue is definitely right here…you ARE psychic!! :) Or how about maybe it's ESP? Was just "trying" rubbing alcohol last night on stained/streaky white clay..and it works soooo good!
(baby wipes are great, too)
I just got some baby oil to try on my next trip I will get baby wipes. what a great site, I really get energized when I read all of the great tips and ideas.
@Garnie: That's too funny! Would really love a little ESP skills though… would help with parenting and so many things!!
That's great Marianne! I find it funny, kids grown up and I'm still buying baby wipes and baby oil!
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Millefiori Beads by Polymer Clay Cane Artist Iris Mishly [Israel]
Hi Cindy:
I had to really laugh when I saw this simple, but very clever trick to clean white clay. I can't tell you how many times, I decided that my white clay was going to have to be mixed with something else because of the colour that was being picked up off of my past machine.
I'm really glad that I bought my membership, because now that money has saved me much more in white clay.
Yeah I know! When I filmed it I thought is this too simple?… Then I thought, this one tiny trick alone has saved me tons of grief! Everyone should know about it! I'm glad it was helpful for you!
Thank you so much for purchasing the membership and all your kind comments! It is because of people like you, all the time, money and effort I've put into this is worth it! Thanks again Carol!
Hooray! How simple and effective. I was thinking of getting a "white-dedicated " pasta machine. Thanks for saving me some money.
You're welcome Maria! Thank you for the comment!