March 24, 2008
Storing Polymer Clay - Plastic Wraps To Avoid
Tip #10: Plastic Wrap is Great for Polymer Clay Storage… But Be Careful Which Brand You Use:
Plastic wrap such as Glad Cling wrap is great to use for sealing up partial blocks of unused polymer clay once the original packaging is gone. However, don't make the mistake of using other brands of plastic wrap that contain certain types of plasticizers.
Many of these plasticisers can bond to your polymer clay in a way that makes the clay harden up. Other plasticizers can make your clay go all rubbery.
Polymer clay storage is an important consideration if you want to keep your polymer clay usable over a long period of time. 
>> Polymer Clay Storage <<
"Storing Polymer Clay" Video Description: The full version of this tutorial is available in my Beads and Beading Membership Club. Be sure to store your your polymer clay in a way that protects it rather than causes harm. In this video tutorial I discuss:
- Cane Storage Tips
- Plastic Wrap Brands
- Plasticiser Identification
- Temperature Considerations
- Plastic Storage Container Options
- Which Plastic Container Recycle Symbol To Look For
Spread the Word!
Filed under 03: Supplies, 04: Handling, 07: Cane Work by Cindy Lietz
Comments on Storing Polymer Clay - Plastic Wraps To Avoid »
Most brands of plastic wrap will say on the box or label whether they contain plasticizers. If in doubt, do a "storage test" with just a small piece of your polymer clay. Let it sit for at least a week (longer than a week is better), and then peel back the plastic wrapping. If the plastic sticks to the clay, I'd look for another brand.
Plasticisers leach out the softening ingredients in polymer clay and if left too long, the polymer clay won't recondition properly.
Better to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to storing polymer clay.
Cindy's last blog post..Polymer Clay Lentil Beads - Making Them Can Be Very Addictive!
I've heard you can recondition really dried out clay in a food processor. Would you be able to do that with the clays that were stored improperly in a "bad" plastic wrap?
What does everyone do out there with the little pieces that are all dried up so they don't go to waste?