Polymer Clay Tutorial | Makins Professional Ultimate Clay Extruder
Vid #90: Don't Buy A Cheap Clay Extruder. You'll Be Sorry If You Do:
There are so many things you can do with a clay extruder. I use mine almost every day for making polymer canes. But you must be sure to buy a good one. The wrong polymer clay gun will leave you frustrated and physically exhausted!
There are three basic types of polymer clay extruders available:
1) Squeeze trigger… much like a caulking gun you would use to seal around a tub.
2) End Plunger style that requires thumb pressure to push the clay through the barrel of the extruder.
3) End Plunger that works with a screw mechanism. This third style is how the Makins Professional Ultimate Clay Extruder works.
Some squeeze trigger and thumb pressure extruders are so difficult to use that many crafters give up on them very quickly…
I will have to try the Makins extruder. I got the cheaper brand, tried it once, and decided that was enough of that! I would have to be a body builder to get the clay to come out with it, but it looks like the Makins brand probably gives a lot more leverage. I actually saw a woman on a craft show using her feet to get the cheaper brand extruder to work! I don't know if I am athletic enough for that! ~CindyE
See Full Story Here: Making Polymer Clay Canes
In addition to the 3 types of extruders described above, you must also choose between plastic or metal construction. As I'm sure you can imagine with all of the variations available, there is a wide range of prices to have to deal with as well.
Makins sells a low end clay extruder with a plastic thumb plunger for around $5. I don't recommend it. They also make a metal screw plunger unit called the Makins Professional Ultimate Clay Extruder for around $25. This is the one I use and recommend. From here, you can find higher volume clay guns in the $60-$95 range. And there's even a $375 power extruder if you want to let a motor do all the hard work for you.
I get so many emails from polymer clay newbies and beginners about which extruder to buy. As already mentioned above, my advice is to start with the Makins Professional Ultimate Clay Extruder
This Makins Ultimate Extruder is reasonably priced at $25 and comes with lots of extruder disks. You can also purchase additional disks if you ever need them. And there is a "clay-core-adapter" available for purchase as an add on. This adapter allows you to put holes through tube beads extruded from the gun.
Plus, the Makins Ultimate Clay Extruder is easy to find! You can get it at Amazon
I have created a video tutorial about how to use and care for a Makins Ultimate Clay Extruder, which I know you will find helpful. The full video is available for library members, but you can watch a preview clip below.
Here's That "Link Below" Referred To at End of the Video
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<
The full version of the "Clay Extruder" preview video shown above, is available for purchase at my Polymer Clay Bead Making Videos Library in the Volume-007 Back Issue Package.
In this "Makins Clay Extruder" video I show how to properly use the Makins Professional Ultimate Clay Extruder and all of it's pieces. I also demonstrate how to take it apart for proper cleaning. Other topics covered in the video include:
- Using the right consistency of clay.
- Mixing in dry clay to achieve a cool crackly effect.
- Types of beads and canes you can make with the extruder.
- Replacement O-Rings.
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Comments on Polymer Clay Tutorial | Makins Professional Ultimate Clay Extruder
8:45 am
There are many uses for the clay extruder such as making polymer canes, ropes, bezels, mosaics, doll hair, tube beads, etc. Very fun and useful tool… worth every penny!
11:47 pm
Thanks so much for this video tutorial, Cindy! It really helps to see how this extruder works. As you already know, I bought the cheaper push type a few months ago…tried it once, and never again!!! It was soooooooo hard to get the clay to come out! I would have to be an Olympic athlete to be able to use it!!! This looks so much more simple, and I am excited to buy it when I get a little shopping money together. I also look forward to seeing you make canes using the different shapes that this gadget makes! Good video!!! Encore!!!
Hugs to you,
Cindy E.
5:43 am
Hi Cindy!
It's me again and it seems that I have a problem seeing this last video. After pushing Play, it's written "buffering video" for a few seconds and after the play sign appears again. I tried starting it again, but it doesn't work.
The preview clip is the same too, it's starts for "In this…" and restarts. It cann't be stopped either :-(
I've tried to watch the last week's video and it works ok.
Thank you
Corinne
10:14 am
@CindyE: Thanks for adding your comments. Your participation in the community is very much appreciated.
@Corinne: I reviewed the "trouble shooting" emails that you and I have exchanged in the past. What you are experiencing is common with the Internet Explorer (IE) browser. IE is notorious for getting the "hiccups" when it comes to streaming internet video. Firefox is a much better browser and way more secure too. You can Google "IE security Issues" to see what I mean.
Anyways, here is a few things for you to consider:
1) Make sure your IE browser is upgraded to the latest version.
2) Upgrade to the latest Flash version (this is what cured your last issue).
3) Clear your browser cache and cookies. See instructions here:
http://www.beadsandbeading.com/video-problems.html
Hope this helps you Corrine. BTW: Does the video work on your work computer? Last time we talked, I remember you saying that machine was kept more up to date than your computer at home.
1:32 pm
Cindy thanks for your instructions. They were easier to understand than the instructions on the back. Also I just purchased this extruder and it is easier than the push type. I didn't get the case to hold the discs and extruder so your a lucky gal! This is something I thought about,If you use the alcohol to clean the end maybe it would make the 0 ring last longer if I put a little Armor All on the ring periodically Would that help keeping it from drying out? Working with cars we do that to all rubber 0 rings.
4:50 pm
That is an interesting point Mary Ellen! If you know Armor All to be good for O rings, then it would be a very good idea to lubricate it after cleaning with rubbing alcohol. Vaseline might be good as well.
10:35 pm
This my work computer where I've always seen all the videos without any problems ever. This is the first time I encounter any. I don't have problems seeing all the other previous videos.
11:00 pm
Cindy hi,
I stand corrected – I've deleted my temporary files and cookies from my work computer and the video works! :)
Thank you for your advise.
A Happy New Year and all you wish for!!!
11:09 pm
Good to hear Corinne. Thanks for letting me know.
1:59 pm
Happy New Year, Cindy! Looking into the extruders, I noticed there is a stainless steel version, that's about $20 more in price. Any opinion whether this is worth getting? (It also has only 10 vs. the 20 discs available in the aluminum version)
4:55 pm
Happy New Year to you too Maria! I guess it depends on how much you are going to use it and whether or not you want to use it for PMC (Precious Metal Clay).
Stainless steel is stronger than aluminum and will likely never break due to hard clay like the aluminum could if you were hard on it. The stainless doesn't react with the PMC like aluminum does and that's what it was designed for in the first place.
I am happy with my aluminum one and since I treat it properly and am not working with PMC it is perfect for me! Like having the extra disks as well!
11:41 pm
I am so glad I watched the video about the makin's extruder. It had not crossed my mind about the vacumn that could build up if you pulled the clay out of the chamber instead of pushing it out with the plunger. Thanks for the tip Cindy.
4:49 pm
You're welcome Adrienne! Yeah the suction can be pretty strong in there. You wouldn't want to break the gasket or anything else. It is way too cool a tool!
5:10 pm
Just got one of these lovely green machines. Looking forward to your tutorials on using it!
6:03 pm
That's really great Maria! I see you are a member of the polymer clay tutor video library. There is a video on how to use your Makins Extruder if you haven't seen it yet. It is Video 007-4. In the future there will be some videos on canes you can make with it, so stay tuned!
2:04 pm
Hi Cindy
I bought the Makins Ultimate Clay Extruder and I seem to get air bubbles trapped in the extruded snake. How do I avoid this?
Also, how hard should the clay be? You seem to be working the tool without too much effort. I have to work quite hard at it and the clay comes out of the extruder with a wave. Should I work with softer clay? But if the clay is too soft, won't I have problem when I assemble the final cane? I want to work with fairly large canes made up of 6X6 extruded square rods.
Any insight would be very helpful.
Thanks
4:37 pm
Hello Millefiori! (Pretty name btw. Perfect for a clayer!)
If you are trapping air in your clay while extruding you either have big air pockets in the barrel of the extruder, or you've trapped air in the clay while conditioning.
You can fix that by making a tighter log of clay and conditioning properly, which you can learn how to do by clicking the link by my name.
If you have to work too hard to get your clay out of the extruder, the clay is probably too hard. You will need to soften it by either adding a few drops of baby oil or using Fimo MixQuick.
If you try to force clay that is too hard out of your extruder, you risk stripping the threads on the turn screw and breaking your wonderful machine. So make sure it is soft enough to squeeze out fairly easily.
If your whole cane is made with the same consistency of clay you won't have a problem with distortion. So keep that in mind when mixing your clays.
Hope that helps.
2:52 am
Hi Cindy
Thanks for your reply. Your comments were very helpful. I tend to work with hard clay normally, and of course that's what went into the extruder. I shall treat the green machine more gently from now on and hopefully live up to my username!
11:05 am
That is excellent news Millefiori! Let me know if you have any further questions.
10:49 pm
Thank you Cindy for being so prompt back to me.
These are the ear rings I made using my Makins Extruder after viewing your Video. I had never used it for much before. I love the way this pattern happens.
I have done pillow beads before but your latest video had some helpful hints for me. Thank you so much.
~Elizabeth
10:52 pm
Hi Elizabeth – thanks so much for sending the photo. I LOVE it that you are applying the techniques you are learning from the videos. Your "extruder pillow bead earrings" look great! Cindy
1:11 am
Hi Cindy
What a surprise I got to see the photo of my ear rings posted here at your blog. Learning the techniques and applying them like with these ear rings is what I recently joined for and have appreciated the videos, thank you. I think there is no other extruder to use , I have tried those other's and of course never had this result. I hope it enthuses your other members to put their work in too. thanks for the comments and thanks for thinking enough of my little effort to put in here.
E.
9:10 am
You are very welcome Elizabeth! It is my pleasure!
I agree about the extruder. So far I haven't found one that is better than the Makin's Professional Ultimate Clay Extruder! (Man I wish they had a shorter name though… it's quite the mouthful!) :-)
9:25 pm
If you have a traditional clay gun, have no fear. A trip to Home Depot can ease your job. Purchase two simple items. One a caulking gun and a small pvc pipe fitting. The fitting should provide a collar fot the clay gun. Place the clay gun and pvc collar in the caulking gun. Use the caulking gun trigger to push the clay gun plunger down. I really like this solution.
I had a making clay exturder, but some how I lost it. And my neighborhood Michael's no longer carries the makin clay extruder. So I had to make due with what I had. Three to four traditional clay guns are always around my place. Good Luck
12:07 pm
Great tip Claycass! That will be very helpful for everyone who already has a clay gun and doesn't want to purchase a new one. Especially if they already have a caulking gun in their garage!
5:10 pm
I got makin's air dry clay because our oven is broke and I haven't got a hold of a toaster oven yet. The thing is is that the clay is very hard. Even to knead right out the package. I used the same technique on clay we had in class; add some water and keep kneading. Is there an easier way or should I just buy the crayola air dry clay next time?
11:49 am
Hi Ty! I have never worked with Makins clay, but I would imagine you could use a food processor to mix the water into the air dry clay, just like we mix baby oil with regular polymer clay. (Don't mix water into regular polymer clay or you'll run into problems.)
Click the 'Polymer Clay Tools' link by my name for info on how to use the food processor for mixing clay.