March 16, 2008
Soften Polymer Clay with Fimo Quick Mix
Vid #9: If Fimo Mix Quick Doesn't Work To Soften Your Clay, This May Be The Reason Why:
Using Fimo Quick Mix and a pasta machine will cure most hard and crumbly clay issues. But if that doesn't work, it may be that your polymer clay has been partially cured from sitting in direct sun light for too long.
All is not lost though. You can grate or chop the cured clay and add the pieces to fresh clay to make specks of color like those in granite and faux stone. Creating faux surfaces in polymer clay is a very fun thing to do.
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<
The full version of the "Soften Up Hard Clay" preview video shown above, is included in my Polymer Clay Bead Making Fundamentals Course [SEE Video #4 of 39]. Is your polymer clay hard, crumbly and impossible to work with? Then let me show you how to use FIMO Quick Mix for softening up that clay to a consistency that's easy to work with again. Fimo Mix Quick added in the correct amounts, will restore the plasticizers in most brands of polymer clay. I go into more detail about this important topic in the video.
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Filed under 02: Tools, 03: Supplies, 04: Handling by Cindy Lietz
Comments on Soften Polymer Clay with Fimo Quick Mix »
FIMO Quick Mix can also be used when you need to make all the colors in a polymer clay cane the same consistency. Add tiny amounts of the Mix Quick only to the clay that is firmer than the others, until they are all the same.
Of course this can work the other way around too. You can stiffen up soft clay to match other firm clay by removing some plasticizers from the clay. See this video for more info: How to Firm Up Soft Clay with a Pasta Machine
So is Fimo Quick Mix a Plasticizer? And can you use it in all brands of Polymer clay. Does it change the color at all?
Have you ever used it alone as a clay and if so what's it do?
Quick Mix is a plasticizer Katina! You can use it with all the clays without changing the color. My friend Bonnie Jones uses it to give strength to clay as well.
It is more expensive than the clay, so I've never really thought about using it alone!
i know someone who has some clay that is too hard & i know that u are supposed to put clay in a food processor w/something to bring it back to life again, is that ingredient tls or is it something else? i forgot or did i remember correctly? thanx & happy new year
Hi Mary Ellen that a great question! You could use TLS (Translucent Liquid Sculpey) but it would be an expensive way to go. You are better off using either Fimo mix Quick or a few drops of baby oil or mineral oil. If you use a food processor for mixing clay, make sure to not use it for food any more. You don't want clay in your food, or food in your clay!