Sculpey III Polymer Clay Really Makes Me Mad

I have used Sculpey III for years and have always been very happy with it. I have never ever had anything break, but I don't have children playng with my beads either. I occasionally mix translucent with Premo or Fimo, because it is soo soft, but I've never ever been unhappy with it.

I bake all of my beads at 260 degrees for 20 minutes, sand, finish with Future, bake again, for 20 minutes at 260 degrees, drop into ice water, and they are beautiful and lasting.

Thank you Beverly so much for your comment. I'm glad you've had some success with your Sculpey III.

It looks like you are baking your beads 30% longer than they say on the package, which could be the reason it is working for you. I'm also wondering if the ice water bath has a positive effect as well in making Sculpey III more durable?

Also, do your beads have any sculptural elements on them? Or do you ever make thin beads with a hole at the top that could break? If you only make beads that are more the solid type, like round beads are, it may also be the reason for your success.

By the way, it is good to hear you sand and finish your beads properly. I bet your beads are beautiful and would love to see pictures of them. Send them in if you can.

I have to admit, I am a Sculpey III junkie. But you raise a good point. I have success with it because I have enough experience to recognize its strengths and weaknesses and to know how to make up for what it lacks.

Sculpey III can make excellent chunky beads, but forget it if you want to add any protruding parts. What Polyform needs to do is be more upfront about sculptural elements and their need for support. There is only so much room on a 2 ounce package, though.

I'm not sure what the answer is here, but I would probably cry if they took Sculpey III off of the shelves – it's the only thing I will cane with!

Oh Lisa I wouldn't want to see you cry, so I went to your blog to see why you like it so much, and I get it! Sculpey III does stay softer in canes longer than the other firmer brands like Premo and Fimo, and with your experience and using it in really thin slices sandwiched between the stronger clays of Premo and Kato clear it would work.

I will still recommend my beginners to cane with Premo and since I already suggest they make fairly small canes to start with, they won't have as many problems with the Premo as they would with the Sculpey III in the beginning. (Maybe in some of my more advanced videos I could show them how to work with Sculpey III.)

Also, since I teach several techniques that are sculptural and use thin sheets of clay, they will still need to use Premo or Fimo for those.

I am really glad I read your post however. Now I won't throw away the Sculpey III that I have and will not be as harsh to Polyform as I was in my post… Though I still think they should not be marketing to newbies and kids. It takes a lot of experience to use it the way you do and it will only lead to disappointment for them!

baking it twice and and ice water bath? hhhhmmmm, I need lots of notes! hahaha I'm going to buy Premo and give it a try . . . at the next Michael's sale.

There are lots of things to learn about polymer clay aren't there?! It's a good thing a lot of the answers are here in one place. :-)

Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Fimo Clay, Premo, Sculpey – Which is Best for Cane Making + Sculpting

First of all, Cindy, your little guy is adorable! I'm sure Willow is as well!

I don't understand the part about giving the twice baked PC project an ice bath. Could you tell me more about this, or tell me where to read about it?

Thanks, Cindy E.

They are referring to Beverly's suggested tips in her comment up above.

Thanks, Cindy…I just don't understand what putting them in a cold bath does…scientifically I guess I mean.

Cindy, I'm not really sure what ice water does for the bead scientifically. I do know that it can make translucent clays clearer to place in ice water right after baking, though. But for regular beads I don't know of a benefit. There might be one… I just don't know what it is.

Thanks, Cindy…Interesting :)

Hi There,
I invested in sculpey oven bake clay today and tried to use it in the flexible push teddy mould. I am a complete beginner and was almost put off straight away as it got stuck in the mould and it has a grainy look.Its soooo sticky help!!!

Hi Beverly! Sorry to hear about that. That grainy texture and stickyness is another reason why I don't really like Sculpey III. If you can return it and get Premo instead, you will like it better.

However if you can't there are some things you can do. First, to keep any polymer clay from sticking to moulds, spray them first with water.

As far as the clay is concerned, you can firm it up considerably by leaching out the excess plasticizers. There is a video on how to do that in my Polymer Clay Bead Making for Beginners Course which I would highly recommend to get you started right. If you want more info on that click the link by my name.

Hi Cindy,
Thankyou so much for your advice. I will pickup some primo and give it a go.I had another go with the sculpey last night with much colder hands and that's helped considerably.
I will have a look at your courses now and will no doubt be signing up to the beginners course.
Kindest Regards
Bev

I just started working with Sculpey 3 for doll making and I almost cried when I saw my little trow doll had crumbled and cracked in many places, right out of the oven!

I was about to give up doll making with clay but I searched the Internet and found many pages like these of people who were very angry with this product.

I'm glad I didn't buy in bulk. Thank you for your review!

@Beverly: You're very welcome! Let me know if you need any more help!

@Eir: What a horrible story… you poor thing! There is a lot more info on this site on the different brands of clay and which clays are better for the different techniques. Click the link by my name for more on that or use the search box at the top of the page to search on any topic you like.

Hello, Cindy.

I saw the web page you had linked (right after posting here!) so I went and purchased a few different types from my local craft store. Primo and Fimo (a couple classic and soft) are the ones I'm going to try out this week on some test dolls. I'm excited to see how durable they can get.

Thank you very much for your help and I just love your website. It is just full of wonderful advice.^^

Thank you Eir! Let me know how the new clay works for you and make sure you type 'baking' into the search box at the top of this page for more tips on baking your clay! A good post to start with is on why it is sometimes OK to break the rules when it comes to baking your polymer clay beads. Click the link by my name to read that article!

My kids and I just started with sculpey iii. We're all novices. We made canes for butterfly wings last weekend. The outside layer was black, so they looked a bit like sushi. But the black layer melted in the oven. Not completely, mind you, but like wax on a hot stove. I lost all confidence that these canes would come out of the oven looking the way I put them in. Is this a black-sculpey iii thing? Too much plasticizer? Cursed oven?

Hi TomH! That sounds frustrating! Could be too much plasticizer all right. Was it super soft out of the package?

You may be able to salvage the cane if you wrap it in tissue paper to absorb some of the plasticizer. Don't use facial tissue like Kleenex because it's too fuzzy and will leave lint on the clay, but more the kind of tissue wrapped around clothes in nice stores.

Don't lose confidence in working with clay though. It's a fantastic thing to do with children and for yourself. There are tons and tons of tips on this blog for firming up clay (click link by my name), which brands to buy, how to bake, etc, etc.

Feel free to ask any questions you have as well. I try to answer every one, though sometimes it can take me a day or two to get to them when I am busy.

I feel the same way. My little guy is 8 years old and he loves to craft with me. He gets really upset too when he runs to his dad, so proud of what he has made, and it breaks.Uggg. I am working with the Studio clays right now. I have made all of my items on my site with them. The only thing I found was that if you make a flower with a thin petal, it gets bumped, it's broke. Otherwise, I find it great to work with and love the colors.

Beverly Smith: Wow, I did not know you could bake Future in the oven once you put it on. I also use Future to seal my items and have never tried it that way. What does it do for tthe project exactly? (hope you don't mind Cindy) I could not figure out how to respond to just Beverly.

Hi klaykisses! I have some Studio clay on its way so once I work with for a bit I will be able to give you better advice on the thin stuff breaking.

Yes you can bake your Future finish. I like to bake it at a really low temp like 100F so it doesn't bubble. Bake for ten minutes or so then add another coat and bake again. Sets nicely that way.

When you want to refer to someone's comment, just write @Beverly Smith. That way they will know you are talking to them. I do that if I am answering a whole bunch of comments at once. That way I don't have to make a bunch of new posts.

Thanks so much for your comment!

Hi Cindy, I love your site and found great information. I need your advice. I have made some nice pendants from Sculpey 3 and want to strengthen them. I've tried coating them with Easy Cast resin and it seems to help but I'd like to know of other ways to made them more durable since I plan on selling them. For my future creations I plan on using stronger clays. Thanks for your help.

i have been using sculpey III for months…. and the first thing that i made is mu lil doll keychain and when my sister drop it off the floor the arms broke. it maybe because i bake it in the big oven. but when i make my clay earings, ice creams and that things for charms and only use the oven toaster and set it to bake and it never break again. yet sculpey III is really soft but not as soft as the sculpey oven baked. I really wanted to work on premo but i find it too hard to condition even if i have my pasta machine… I also hate leaving finger prints on my work as i am selling them

@Cindy Lietz from Polymer Clay Baking Instructions: i do sculpy sculptures for almost thirty years now and almost all of the sculptures that i make crack or break the new formula they use4 sucks it drys out before you even get close to finishing i make alot of art work im on fanartreview,com my name on the site is arthound check them out last year i was number 4 out of 500 artist this year i was number 3 got trophies for both years i sell my art work for a lot of money but if ity keeps cracking on me i'm going to find a differnt clay to use i have done terracotta to messy you should be mad i am too i spend thousands of dollars to make my sculptures you would not believe the crascks and breakage check out my porfolio and youll see thnaks good luck with this john{ :" the arthound

@mica: Hi Mica, that's horrible when you make something and it breaks. All that hard work!

I am not sure how much experience you have with polymer clay. One thing that can help is Cindy's beginners/fundamentals course.

It covers so many things, like conditioning clay, baking, and finishing your pieces — well, check out that page, and you'll see the long list of goodies. Even if you have worked with clay for awhile, it can teach you so many tips and tricks that will help you take your work to the next level.

Another thing you can do, is use the "Topic Categories" box at the top left-hand side of this page. It will lead you to hundreds of articles on all the various things you want to learn about. Just pick one of the topics, and choose an article. OR, you can use the search box — just type in a word or two, like "fingerprints" or "conditioning" and you'll get lots of articles on that subject. For starters, though, here is an article about conditioning polymer clay.

And here's one about fingerprints:

Sculpey III is well-known for being weak & breakable. If you want your work to stay in one piece, you need to be working with Premo or another strong clay. Check out Cindy's videos — you'll be amazed at how much easier your claying experience will be!

Good luck with your claying, and nice to see you here!

@john france: Hi John/Arthound. Wow, your sculptures are amazing! They're quite large — lots of clay in there, huh? Very impressive. They must take a great deal of time to make. What kind of clay are you using? You mentioned Original Sculpey Terra Cotta was a mess. If you're using Sculpey III, it has a reputation for being one of the weaker clays. I don't know much about Original Sculpey (white, terra cotta, etc.,) because I mostly use Premo Sculpey (all-around good, strong clay.) But I do know that the new formula is causing problems & driving everyone crazy.

Here's an article about that: Phthalate-Free Premo Polymer Clay – A Blessing or a Curse

You can find additional articles on plenty of topics by using the search box at the top of the page (above Topic Categories.) Just type in a word or two, like "cracks" or "new formula", and a list of articles will come up.

Just to clarify the issue — your clay is cracking & breaking BEFORE you bake it, right? Normally, this could be caused by failing to condition the clay properly, or by having partially cured clay. But since you've been working with clay for so long, I assume you already condition your clay before sculpting with it, so that the plasticizers are all mixed together for strength & workability. As for partially cured clay — you would have noticed if this was the case, since it wouldn't be conditionable. Just in case, though, here is an article on conditioning: Polymer Clay Techniques – Is Conditioning Really that Important?

So, if your clay is starting out properly conditioned (soft & workable) and wasn't partially cured, it might be a problem with the new formula. I read that with the removal of Phthalates, the new clays have the potential to dry out. The clay you're using is the new formula, right? I'm also wondering what you cover your pieces with (since they probably take a long time to make.) Some plastic wraps can interact with the plasticizers, and cause cross-reactions with your clay. Also, some "cheap" types of wax paper can end up leaching the clay — perhaps even to the point of making the clay overly brittle.

Well, I don't know if I helped, but that's all I can think of… More specific information might assist someone else in helping. Please tell the following: exactly what type of clay you're using, whether you're conditioning it well or not, how old the clay is, how long your sculptures sit around (and what you cover them with,) etc. Hopefully, someone else can help you with better/additional information. Good luck with your awesome creations!

hi phaedrakat, naw it's not the prepreation like you say i have been working with this a long long time and i knead the clay till it is at my body heat it is warm when i start my sculptures ,i am really fast ,most of my sculptures i do in a day or two i'm very fast i never cover my sculptures with any thing shriek and donkey took my 4 days they are constantly being touched by my through out the day and when i posted them they werent even cooked but they sat on the table and started falling apart i can fix it but just more colored clay for me to buy.

i'm a disabled vetran and have a lot of time so this is what i do all the time i use super sculpy on faces and hands and white sculpy for the basic shape over the arrmatures and then i use colored sculpy 111 for the colors there is no paint on any them and the littel blocks of sculpy 111 color wow it is very espensive to do my sculptures, and they just pour out of me, my house is litterly filled and i have a big house and alot of cracked sculptures thank you for getting back to me really appreciate it thanks agin john { :"

Hi John! Thanks so much for your post, your work is stunning and it must be frustrating you to have it breaking. There is a wonderful doll artist who has been featured on this blog named Bonnie Jones (I've linked to her post by my name) that uses a product called Apoxie Clay that gets as hard as a rock. She talks about it in the post, and it sounds like it may be just the right thing for you. If you read that post you will see there is a link to where you can get it. With someone who does as beautiful work as you do, it is a shame for you to have to work with a product that doesn't have the strength. I am positive there are products out there that would work. It is just a matter of finding them. Hope that helps!

@Phaedrakat: You are so awesome for helping out John and Mica! I don't know what I would do without cool members like you helping us the way you do. I just have gotten so busy now that your help has made a huge difference to me and everyone one here! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

@john france, I love your dolphins! Wow, you are one quick sculptor! I wish I had ideas just flowing out of me into the clay. A house filled with sculptures-amazing! Let me get this straight, though. Are you saying that all the pieces breaking in your studio are unbaked, or are they breaking after baking, as well? I think what you might need to do first, if you're not already doing so, is to create your base structure like you've been doing (armature, Orig. Sculpey or Super Sculpey) and then bake it. Then, you're starting with a strong, solid base to add your details and colored clay to.

If you didn't already know, you can bake your piece multiple times, and for a lot longer than the amount specified on the label. In fact, the finished item is much stronger after curing longer. BUT, temperature is critical — don't go above the recommended pkg. temperature. (If you're using several different types of clay, use the lowest curing temp, then bake longer.) Cindy has loads of baking information in her articles (as well as comments from other members) to refer to.

This article has info & baking links in it: How to Bake Polymer Clay Properly

Sculpey III (I'll call it S-III) is a soft clay, and pretty weak compared to most others. I haven't tried the new formula, but I imagine it's even softer now. (All the new-formula clays are getting "soft & mushy" complaints — a lot of "drooping" going on.) You mentioned the cost of S-III, but did you know most of the clays go on sale occasionally at craft stores like Michaels, JoAnn's, & Hobby Lobby? For example, this week Michael's has Premo, Fimo (& Sculpey III) on sale — 4 for $5.00. If you have one nearby, you could get a stronger clay (Fimo Classic or Premo Sculpey) at a great price. These stores also have 40% coupons in the paper (or sign-up online to get emailed coupons to use when the clay is not on sale.)

If you're baking properly, and still having problems, you need to be using a stronger, firmer clay. If needed, you could buy just a little to start. Mix your Sculpey III 50/50 with the firmer/stronger clay and see if it gives you the extra strength that makes the difference. Another thing to try: firm-up your S-III (or clay mixture) by leaching it (lay sheets of clay between pieces of plain, regular paper — this soaks up some of the excess oily plasticizers.) This can weaken the clay slightly, but it will keep it from drooping so much that it breaks off. You could then do a partial cure as you complete each area, that way the clay doesn't have to fight gravity, even if it is a little soft. (Just make sure to completely support all the fragile, detailed parts of your sculpture while baking.)

The things I've mentioned here are based on thinking that the breaking is happening before curing. If you're getting breaking after baking too, then you REALLY need to be using stronger clay, (as well as making sure that your pieces are baked thoroughly.) The strong clay is especially important when you have little unsupported details that "stick out" from the rest of the piece. These are prone to breakage.

You are really talented, and I'm so happy that you have the ability to create art in your life. I, too, am disabled; I enjoy creating, as it takes my mind off life's difficulties. I have found a great deal of inspiration here at this blog. Cindy Lietz, and her wonderful videos, got me back into polymer clay after a long absence while I had back surgeries. Her videos are so helpful, and this blog community she's created is a caring and sharing environment. I "hang out" here a lot. (I can't clay as often as I'd like, since I have to lay down to rest my back so often.) Anyway, enough about ME~ I just wanted to say I think I understand how you feel…

Well, I hope one or more of these suggestions will help you. Bake in stages. Use a stronger clay. Then make sure your piece is completely cured. Best of luck with your beautiful sculptures!

Does anyone else have any tips for John?

Oh, no! This is embarrassing. I didn't see your post, Cindy. I was long-winded, as you can see. There was nothing there when I started writing…

I think I'll start refreshing the page before I post anything that takes me awhile to write (sometimes I get distracted with other things…like babysitting all seven of my nieces & nephews today!)

doh!

Oh Phaedrakat you are so sweet! We were probably typing at the same time and that was why you didn't see my comment. Don't worry one little bit about being long winded. Everything you say has value so it all needs to be said. Once again, thank you so much for sharing all your extremely helpful ideas. Everyone here appreciates you very much. I'm sure you have been a great help for John as well as anyone else reading this!

hi phaedrakat and cindy thank you so much for all the helpful hints and all the time you took and so glad you enjoyed my sculptures i think i do need a stronger clay but im so use to sculpy it's hard to switch but for the sake of my sculptures looks like i might have to do just that john{ :"