Video #345: A rotary tool that actually lets you see what you are doing… Ninja Style!
Topics Covered In This Video:
- Overview of the JoolTool.
- Unique see-thru properties of the quick change Ninja Disks which make this the easiest to use rotary tool on the market (that I know of).
- Endless options for polishing, grinding, sanding, sharpening, drilling, carving, etc. for metals, glass, plastics, wood, stone and now… polymer clay!
- Dust collection system.
- Prepping the felt disks for buffing polymer clay.
- Safety considerations:
– Tie hair back
– No loose clothing, scarves, ties, long jewelry
– Should have added glasses, for eye protection
- How to polish buff polymer clay with the JoolTool.
- See how a sanded AND buffed Mica Shift bead looks so much better than one that has only been sanded.
- Price Range $300 – $1000 depending on accessories.
By the way, if you have a polymer clay question or challenge you’d like me to address in an upcoming video vlog, do post it in the comments below. I’d love to help you find quicker and easier ways to bring up the professionalism in your polymer clay art.
Oh and don’t forget to give these videos a Thumbs Up click at YouTube if you are enjoying them. The more Likes a video gets, the higher it rises in the searches. And that means even more people will be able to join in on this polymer clay journey of a lifetime.
Also, by subscribing to our YouTube Channel directly, you will receive notifications as soon as new videos are uploaded. To subscribe, click here… JoolTool Rotary Machine for Buffing Polymer Clay. The Subscribe Button is right near the top of that YouTube page.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
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I had seen this on tv and wondered if it could be applied to polymer. Well, I guess you answered that question. It is fabulous.
Andrea
Cindy, this tool will revolutionize the process of finishing your art in the polymer clay industry. I cannot wait for you to do more tutes on all the various polymer clay uses. I am saving my pennies as we speak, lol.
For those like myself who have difficulty with their hands, the thought of immersing them in water repetitively is torture. Finally, no more water. Also the health benefits here of having an attached vacuum to clean up all the debris without a health hazard is a significant boon.
Can you imagine how quickly and easily you can now shape and buff those marvelous faux opals? For those of us who do repetitive work for commissions or sales the impact is reduction in time and effort. The buffing process looks fast as lightning. Imagine the shaping and sanding processes are just as fast. What a timesaver, allowing you so much more time to create.
For those of you who want more general information on the tool, check this marvelous inventor’s website at jooltool.com To see how far and wide you can use this tool, go to youtube.com and search on “jooltool.” There are four pages of videos to watch.
Jocelyn
you are such a gem, always giving us so much information. I watched all the videos and DH even became interested.( When I told him it had been invented by a woman)
!We watched together.” Go for it” he said, it’s just what you need to get going again when you start playing with clay. So thanks to you (and Cindy of course) my Jooltool is on order. Now I have to get back to my excercises to build my strength up Still a long way to go but thanks, I am feeling a lot more positive about the future…………………………….cheers xx………..
Not sure what happened here couldn’t edit!
Thanks Elaine, so appreciated. I am a researcher at heart, I loved the library. Google blows me away. You folks help me so much, if I can help you back whaddadeal?
Elaine, I am so glad you have something to look forward to using now that your the comeback kid. Thinking of you and praying for your recovery.
How awesome. Maybe I can convince my hubby that I need this for my birthday. Ha
Looks like I’m going to be investing in a Jooltool soon, anything to make it easier and faster. Your videos are so helpful Cindy, thanks!
Makes me feel like I want one, but another piece of equipment and expense for my play room, hum mm. Wish some company would make a smaller version for us. Hint hint. Thanks again for a great tutorial. You rock!
Ohh this is so cool! What Fun. Show us more!!!!
wowww, I´ll see if I can buy it here in México, thank you!!
Marcela,
Jewelry Television, carries this tool as well as Jooltool.
love your tips etc. so much to learn. thanks
This looks like a great way to buff beads. Looking forward to seeing your updates as you try new attachments. The mica shift beads did come out just beautiful. Lots of depth and so quick.
Oh goodie, something else I should buy for my studio!
Wow a new goodie just in time for Valentine’s day!
I’ve been dreaming about this one, Cindy. So it’s good to see you like it so much. Thank you, as always.
JoolTool is such a “CoolTool”. Great shine in such a short time. Looks like I will be saving for a new “Tool” thanks for the great video
Great tool! Just wondering, do you still have to sand them before you buff? Or do you just go right to buffing? This looks really easy and it could save tons of time. Just a little steep in price but it looks like it could be worth it.
Diana, imagine that price will come down over time with demand. But who wants to wait, lol? This is crazy fabulous.
Catalina,
You can sand and buff with the JoolTool.
Hi Catalina, yes you would still need to sand your pieces first. But the nice thing is you will be able to sand your pieces with this machine as well. Considering all the things it can do with the right accessories (sanding, buffing, grinding, sharpening, carving, drilling, polishing, cutting) the price is quite reasonable actually.
Wow! I guess this is the cream of the crop! I guess it can do it all. But, can it cook? Lol!! Ok, now I’m asking too much :)
We can dream big can’t we?
Saw the video on YouTube and of course hit the button. Like I said there with the dremel and buffing wheel probably not for me more for serious polymer clay artists who sale in large quantities. I do enjoy pc gadgets but when I found out the price unless the sanding discs you have on order work out to be perfect I think this one is too pricey for me. Who knows maybe for a Christmas gift since I do have problems with my hands while sanding. Interested in seeing what you find out with more testing.
Thanks for always keeping us informed.
Dang, another piece of equipment for me to crave. This looks TOO awesome, though, so I may have to save up. And I just bought a bench grinder with 3-inch wheels. But that should hold me over until I can get the JoolTool. I’m having to do too much traveling right now anyway to be able to sand and polish my stock. (going from Germany to USA to sell the house over there.)
Thanks for another truly helpful tutorial.
Love this tool. Now I need to know where to find it. Thank you for all the research you do for the polymer clay community….
I’m sold!! Now to find out if they ship overseas otherwise I see a stop over in the states on our way to holland!
Just checked and Rio Grande has it for $250! Might just have to order one! Thanks, Cindy, for another great tutorial!
Dang it. I realized I won’t be able to buy it in Germany, so, guess I’ll leave the bench grinder for my granddaughter to use (I AM going to get her hooked on polymer clay during this spring break) and bring a Jool Tool back with me from the States. Thanks so much, Gayle, for the buying tip… my order is in. My arthritic fingers thank you, too.
Will it work with round beads? that is the hardest to sand and buff for me. Can you make a video for round beads, finishes?
Thanks Cindy
Check out eBay too….
I’m going to be the odd one out again. ;)
The JoolTool looks somewhat interesting but doesn’t particularly grab me (unlike, say, the way tumble sanding did).
I like to hold my Dremel in one hand and the item being buffed in the other so I can move both around at will, and that’s always let me keep things where I can see what’s happening during the buffing process anyway since the Dremel buffing wheel is small. The one time I tried putting the Dremel in a vise I found it quite restrictive compared to my normal method, so I haven’t had any interest in using a buffing device that’s fixed in position. (I did buy a second Dremel, though! :D)
I’m sure fixed devices win out when working on items that require two hands to hold (tool sharpening, maybe), but that’s not me with polymer clay where I really want maximum mobility.
I also like to make my own buffing wheels because those I’ve bought commercially don’t give as good a finish (they’re usually too firm or too abrasive even when they’re supposed to be soft felt), so the JoolTool gets a minus from me there.
So for me the JoolTool is a “maybe when I’ve run out of other gadgets to buy” item. Given the enormous size of my wish list that isn’t going to be any time soon, and I’d still want more technical details such as specifications on the motor (couldn’t find them on the jooltool.com web site).
The sorts of devices I’d love would be those to assist in wet sanding. I already have a vibratory tumbler which is great for some things, but I’d like some mechanical/motorised assistance for the special items I currently sand entirely by hand. If I could get a waterproof Dremel or a waterproof finishing sander that I could customise with my MicroMesh sanding sheets I’d be in heaven! :D
Hi Sue
Do you have one of Dremal’s flexable extention shafts?
I understand how nice it is to be able to hold and move the felt about at will
It still vibrates but not as bad as trying to hold the whole tool:)
Hi Sherry,
I do have one of those Dremel flexible extension shafts, but I almost never use it. I prefer to hold the whole tool for buffing and for most other tasks: it just feels better to me that way. With the flexible shaft there’s always a minor resistance to movement that I’m aware of, much like the difference between cordless and corded tools. It doesn’t actually hamper anything, but I prefer that it not be there. I’m lucky enough not to have any arm or hand issues, so neither the vibrations nor the weight bother me, even for multiple hours of near continual use (e.g. buffing a big batch of beads out of the tumble sander).
For what it’s worth, one Dremel is cordless while the other is corded, but even with the latter the power cord resists less than the flexible shaft. The cordless Dremel is heavier than the corded model, but better shaped to my hand. In any case they’re both nicely balanced so I don’t really notice the weight when I’m using them, and don’t find that the weight restricts how I move them.
About the only time I use the flexible shaft is when I want to hold the tool like a pen, for instance when carving baked clay. Even then, unless it’s fine work or there’s a lot of it, I don’t bother. I’ve probably used it twice in the several years I’ve had it.
I’m probably weird, but that’s how I like to work. ;)
Sue
lol Sue :D
weird ? like Einstein maybe….
Hi Sue
Sounds like you are very good at finishing your clay beads. How do you make your buffing wheel? Do you have samples of your beads? I would love to see them.
Thanks, Cindy! Yes, this is the tool I referred to in another topic. I have watched the woman who created it demonstrate it on a certain shopping channel for several months now. (She always wears a snug little cocktail dress and her hair down to demonstrate how easy and (relatively) non-messy it is to use! But that is a bit of marketing hyperbole so I agree that taking the usual safety precautions is wise. :-) )
She comes from a jewelry-making family so she usually demonstrates using the accessories to polish metal and stones, or to grind and shape stones. And it has been demonstrated with metal clay pieces but not polymer clay. So I wondered . . . and hoped. The more different tasks I could perform with it, the better I could justify ordering one. I’ve considered a bench latte but if I could also do things like work with gemstone rough the extra cost is worth it. So I just have to determine which package, i.e. which accessories.
To me the Dremel seems a little louder? Whinier? No water! Easier to change the grits, twist on twist off. I have so many Dremel collets and accessories on the floor, not even funny, my fine motor skills are not good (my clay pieces are getting lots bigger). The inventor Ani is one hot little number, bless her. Hair extensions and vavooom. She always seems to tape up her fingers. Honestly once she pulls in the metal clay and poly clay peeps the price has got to come down I’m checking out eBay for used. Three quarters of new price, average, and that little unit is well built. Somebody is going to buy it, let it sit on the workbench…..but there has to be a polyclay package of sanding, shaping and buffing. I just love the idea of taking the folk prongs to the felt. She has older units, I notice the differences in colors.
I’ve used a Dremel for awhile but it makes my fingers hurt too much. I like the idea of being able to hold my fingers flat, pressing up. You could make your own additions to the JoolTool, too, it would just take a little ingenuity, which my husband has in spades, but if I can already get the results our leading lady is getting with the Jool Tool, I can’t imagine I’d want for more.
Seems like a cool tool! I love anything that makes the work easier and faster; however it is a bit pricey. Would definitely buy it if the price came down and they had a package with a sanding bit and felt buffing bit.
First Thanks Cindy for giving us the video on the JoolTool I love tools and gadgets. Right now I use a rotary buffer which is I think the smallest one, I purchased it at Harbor Tools. It does a good job on small items but larger items it is hard to use. The JoolTool looks like it can handle most sizes that we can throw at it. It is diffiently on my list of things I want. I have a question I hope someone can help with. I am working on a pendent and have finished except for the tiny tiny Swarovsk crystal (ordered by mistake) they are about the size of a dot. how do you handle them, they would totally get lost using tweezers. I did not want to try on raw clay I figured I would loose them in the clay. Any tips would be appreciated
Barb
Here’s something I have just found, Barb, that works for me. It’s a pencil (!) and it has a white “lead” part and you touch the bead or jewel with it and it picks it up. Sometimes I drop the tiny Swarovski (that’s what I bought it for) but usually it holds until I get the object placed.
Unfortunately, I can’t remember where I got mine but I found one online for you before answering your question so I could show you what I was talking about.
Thanks for the tip! Something I’m going to buy as I’m always dropping the little crystals.
Heh… every time I sweep the floor, it’s like a little trip to the jewelry store.
Hi Barb
To answer your question on how to pick up tiny tiny Swarovsky crystals. Use a bamboo or wooden toothpick/cocktail stick. Just file or cut the pointy end and put a little melted beeswax (or some people use honey) on the tip then touch it to the face of your crystal. For larger stones you can use a cotton bud with the cotton top cut off. Just match your size of (tool) to the size of your stone
I also think that the kiddiies soft stick glue would work, the type they use for paper craft that is washable. Haven’t tried the stick glue but expect anything that is sticky and washable should work. If you use the toothpick to make a hole first, bake your piece for 15 mins, let it cool enough to handle then use bake and bond in the hole and press the stick with stone attached straight down quite hard, the b+b should grab the stone. Leave for about 20 seconds and lift the stick off. Might take some practice then bake for another 45 mins
Another method is to bake for full hour, drill tiny hole and use jewelry glue, just a tiny amount in the hole (use a whole toothpick to apply) then again press your crystal into the hole,attached to your (tool) Have fun and do not get too sticky! hope this tip helps.
Hi guys, Thank you all so much for your feedback on the JoolTool! I promise I will do some follow up videos on the tool including the right types of accessories to buy that are best suited for polymer clay.
For sanding you will need to buy the backpads along with some cushions that will make sanding on softer materials easier as well as avoiding flat spots on more rounded surfaces. Anie the inventor of this tool carries many many types of grits made for use on metals, glass, stone, plastics etc. I will be testing extensively so that you will be able to start with the right tools and not have to purchase items that aren’t ideal for use on polymer.
I purchased my machine at Firemountaingems but as you can see they are also available in many locations including direct form JoolTool who does have much more of the accessories available for the machine than what the others carry, including many that haven’t been listed on their website yet. Hopefully in time I can work with JoolTool to set up a ‘kit’ that contains all the basics you will need specifically as a polymer clay artist.
To answer a few of the questions, yes I do believe that this machine will do a nice job of sanding round beads, using one of the abrasive brush attachments. Stay tuned for details on that.
As well, you can get a flex shaft attachment that you can use for drilling carving and other techniques, so it would be the kind of tool that would take the place of a dremel, flex shaft, bench grinder and buffer.
Please be patient and I will get more info to you as soon as I can.
Meanwhile, do keep leaving comments as I am sure Anie of JoolTool would love to see your interest in her product. Glad you are as excited as I am about it! :)
Hi Cindy,
Just thinking that if Anie of JoolTools got together with the people who make the micro-mesh sanding pads they could come up with micro-mesh NINJA sanding pads. Perhaps with a thicker cushion in between two different grits (reversible) so you would probably only need to purchase half the amount?
Patient I am not, so will be eagerly awaiting your experiments with this great tool and really looking forward to delivery of my order. I bid for it on EBay it was advertised as only used twice (good as new with heaps of extras) So just hoping I am buying a bargain I have boxes of unfinished beads and pendants just sitting waiting to be sanded and buffed. Because I work with silver, glass and experimenting with bronze and copper clays I looked at buying a JoolTool when they were first advertised but knew nobody here in the UK that had used one so a BIG thank you for making all the mistakes so now I don’t have to. Next on my wish list is a motor for my pasta machine but will have to wait till Easter and say it will be less fattening than a great big chocolate egg………cheers xx………….
Elaine,
Anie has partnered with 3M to make the sanding and polishing pads for the JoolTool. I’m not sure if they make a micro-mesh type but if you go to the JoolTool website, I’m sure you can make a suggestion.
Oh man !! If you and Anie got together and made up a polymer clay “kit” that would be AWESOME
Jewelry Television sometimes has their products on flex pay so that you can pay for it over 2 or 3 months. Also, if you qualify, they have their own credit card that gives you six months to pay.
So excited got one ordered today, was on ebay, a new one. Will have to buy the other accessories as I need them but am as happy as can be to have it on it’s way. Your video was so awesome and of course it is a tool so David had no problem with me getting it. I have been buffing and of course sanding away and he knows how much time I put into that since I decided to step up and make sure I sand and buff all of them, Have not done so in the past. But am determined to make them beautiful. If I put so much time in making them I guess I should put in the time finishing them too. I am so pleased to tell you what a difference even I can see. I will post a couple pictures if I remember how. Karonkay
Thank you Cindy! I always learn something new from you!
Hi Wanted to send thanks for the reply’s to my tiny tiny gem stone question. I will try and find one of the pencils for picking up gems. and also will try the other suggestions. Also I have been using the micro sanding pad from the time I found out about them here at beadsandbeading.com They have made sanding very easy for me. I don’t remember where I purchased them although it was online. and in the US. Although sometimes when I have a lot of finger print or other bumps or scratches, I sometimes will go to a rougher grit . I also use a vibrating tumbler set in the garage and let the bead vibrate for several hours. I use rocks that I found at the pet store used for aquariums. The bead are silky smooth when I take them out.
Thanks Barb
Doug-
(OT) a quick ?
I posted a comment just now in the Red Clover Flower section and it didn’t list to the top right—- normally I’d be ok w/ that – But I’d really like for you guys to see how much I’ve grown because of the continued work and effort that your family does for us
so my ? is —- is this normal?
Sherry, these clover beads are absolutely fabulous! Love the colors, too!
thank you Jocelyn :) there my (current) favorite pair
First off… I saw your before and after photos… awesome!. For everyone else’s benefit here is a copy of the pics that Sherry posted at facebook.
.
And Sherry, in regards to your question about how new comments get “top-listed” in the right side bar… what you saw (or rather, didn’t see) is “normal” with how that widget is currently coded. New comments on older posts actually don’t make it to the very top… it’s only new comments on newer posts that show up there. This is on my on my list of things to fix… I’ve just not gotten around to figuring out how to do that yet.
PS: You should post your pics over at the PcT Facebook Photo Gallery as well. A lot of clayers and other members that don’t usually make it over here to the blog, have that FB page bookmarked.
Since I just said this in the Red Clover thread I thought I would put this here as well, just in case you missed seeing it there Sherry…
Like I mentioned over in Facebook, nothing makes me happier or more proud to see your improvement over time! You are the perfect student. You not only watch the tutorials… you do them. Then later, you come back and do them again… only better! That is exactly what I love to see. It NEVER matters where you are. It ONLY matters where you are going. And you can only go forward if you DO. Watching is not learning… doing is learning. And you get that Sherry. I am very proud of you!
Doug and Cindy – I am so thrilled with your replies <3
it sent such sweet emotions through me
-not being able to get out as much as I'd like, this warm fuzzy site gives me a chance to share and recv. feed back and help from everyone — you guys have given us a Safe Place and that's important
Doug – your 'list of things to fix' made me laugh right out loud because my DH & I were just going over 'his' list yesterday :D
Oh,oh Cindy you have started a whole new revolution in
finishing our Polymer Clay. I had looked at Jool Tool Months ago but could not justify the cost over getting a flex shaft tool for my dremel. The tool didn’t seem “soft” enough to work on clay beads. I was kind of on the fence like Sue F. However, now that you have demonstrated the tool for the buffing it got me more excited about it. I would be very anxious to see the sanding side of it especially for Round Beads and odd shaped pieces. A video using the different attachments for sanding and a kit to put it all together would be a clincher for me. I hope you plan on doing this soon because I think you have got most of us drooling over this new invention and may have opened a door into the next generation of working with polymer clay.
I’m actually NOT sitting on the fence, Dixie Ann! ;)
The JoolTool does not appeal to me, but then neither do the traditional fixed-in-place buffing wheels.
It’s interesting in a general way, but I don’t want one.
Hi Dixie,
It’s the C B K here. Thanks for your kind words and thoughts. I expect for sanding round or odd shaped beads perhaps a curved, bowl shaped NINJA with no flat surface might work? Or the soft brush shaped ones made with abrasive flexible material? Until I can actually get my hands on and experiment I’m just fishing? They say necessary is the Mother of invention so feel sure that Anie with input from Cindy will be able to come up with just the right kit for all PC artists, how exciting
Another exciting piece of news my youngest daughter is saving up to fly here to the UK from Australia in a few months time, so hope the PC Ninja kit will be on the market soon as she is nearly as excited as me to see it in action…….cheers xx…………………………..
Hi Elaine,
good to hear from you. What is a Ninja?
Hi Dixie
A Ninja is a person skilled in ninjutsu one of the Japanese martial arts? It is also what Cindy described the disks used on the JoolTool. Not sure whether this is a Cindyism or if they are really called ninja disks. Will be interesting to find out………………….cheers……………………..xx
Thank you my dear. I knew what a Ninja person was, just didn’t know how you were using it in reference to polymer clay. Now I get it!
Teehee, no the term Ninja disks isn’t a Cindyism Elaine… it is actually the name of the sanding/buffing disks made by JoolTool because they look like Ninja throwing stars. Your comment gave me a chuckle though! Makes me think maybe I’ve thrown a few ‘words of my own’ into a video or two, for you to refer to them as Cindyisms. Could that be true? ;)
Hi Cindy, I have a question/problem that i am having trouble with. When i made ear-rings as dangles i like to put the headpin inside the top of the piece. My problem is that I have tried numerous types of glues, like weldbond, superglue, gorilla glue and also trying to put a little hook on the end of the wire. this doesn’t tend to work either as some the pieces can be small and i don;t want to put huge holes in the pieces. Any ideas? I have tried a few solutions but none have worked (the head pins end up coming out).
Thanks
Sandra
Hi Sandra J
I would forget about using all those different glues to hide your headpins inside your pieces. Instead, try a new approach to this problem. Purchase a pkt of the smallest jump rings you can. Drill the tiny hole needed and use the jump ring. You can even slide on some tiny beads to make it a decorative feature. Then attach your head pin through the jump ring using your round nose pliers to bend to secure. Another method is to shape the head pin into an S shape, you do need a good pair of round nose pliers to do this but they look pretty. I tend not to use glue with polymer clay if I can help it, sometimes it’s good to see the join!…..cheers xx………….
Two other suggestions that don’t add any extra visual elements…
1. Securing the headpin inside the dangle before it’s baked.
This approach is suitable for use while you’re actually making the dangles in the first place. Make a small loop on the end of the headpin or wire that you’ll be inserting into the dangle, then form the dangle around it, making sure that some clay goes into the centre of the loop. Depending on the dangle style you might be able to press the clay around the looped end, or you might place the looped end between two halves or two slices, or something else. You just need to make sure that part of the dangle’s clay goes into or through the loop, so that when it’s baked that clay locks the loop, and therefore the headpin/wire, in place.
2. Backfill the hole drilled to insert a standard headpin, then rebake.
This approach is suitable for polymer clay beads, dangles, etc. that have already been baked, and starts with a headpin of some kind; it should have a defined head, but preferably not too large. Drill a hole into the dangle just big enough to insert the head of the headpin. Use the end of a bead piercing pin, skewer, etc. to wipe a small amount of liquid polymer clay (TLS) around the inside of the hole (this is necessary to ensure a good bond between the existing baked polymer clay and the raw polymer clay we’ll be using for backfilling the hole). Insert the headpin, with a tiny dab of glue on the bottom first if you want although it’s not strictly necessary (being a belt-n-braces type of person who also subjects her jewellery to a lot of stress, I’d dip the end of my headpin into cyanoacrylate glue before inserting it). Lastly, take a tiny piece of matching raw polymer clay and push it into the drilled hole around the headpin, keeping the headpin centered. Finish it off cleanly with the new clay level with the surface of the dangle, smoothing out any marks and making the edge of the hole as invisible as possible. Rebake the dangle to cure the new polymer clay that’s now holding the headpin in place.
I hope that helps :)
Sue
Thanks Cindy. I added this item to my wish list.
thanks guys, have given me food for thought. will let u know how i get on
Hello, I saw your utube with the jooltool and got one. Trying to use it but the felt pad is spinning off as I use it. How do you tighten it?
Hi Jeanne, did you stick the felt pad to a Back Pad? (One of the black plastic Ninja Discs.) There is a sticky tape on the back of the felt pad that must be attached to a plastic back pad to work. The plastic back pad has a threaded hole in the center that spins onto the spinning threaded rod part of the machine, in the opposite direction of the tools rotation. This design keeps the wheel from coming off while it is working. Look at the video again, if this is still not clear. If you are still having problems, ask Anie from JoolTool directly. She should be able to help you out.
Saving hard for this one!
Cindy I use the information you taught me in your Introductory lessons and workshops all the time and enjoy the weekly tips you send via email.
I wanted to share this idea about a sanding tip that I use, since I can’t afford the machine with the vertical round fluffy sanding/buffing disc. Many of your ladies undoubtedly have craft-minded husbands who own the small, hand held sanding machine that has a sanding bed that measures 4 1/2” by 4”. I removed the sandpaper and used it for a pattern to cut a piece of denim the same size. I substituted the sandpaper on the sander with the denim, and used the blunt edge of a pair of scissors to push the long ends of the denim into the holding space on both ends and the clamps hold the denim flat and taut. Sitting on my calves on the floor, I place the sander upside down between my thighs with the denim side facing up. Firmly grasping my bead or pendant, I turn on the sander and sand away…..it does a great job and it’s a quick way to get a nice sheen. Obviously, reasonable caution must be taken, as with all power tools (wear goggles/glasses, for example) and watch fingers, as it sands at a high rate of speed. The small sander is safer to use this way than a belt sander would be, I think, as that heavier and faster type of machine would be dangerous to try using in this fashion.
You can take the tip for what it’s worth; for me, it works great, being on a tight budget.
Jane that is a really clever idea you have there if I am picturing it correctly. I love it when students take the ball and run with it. Coming up with your own way to make something work for you. Like my Dad always says, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat!” (Hopefully this was just a metaphor and there were no real cats involved!) lol
Hi Cindy, i finally went ahead and bought this tool. My tipping point was the fact that i get a very sore shoulder (an injury from a few years ago, plus OUS) when doing the same thing for a even a short while, so sanding has been a bit of a problem and takes longer than it would most people.
My question to you is….. have you had time to figure out the right sanding grits for sanding polymer clay? I will play around with it when it arrives, but thought it might be an idea to ask you first. I did have a look on youtube for sanding related videos for this machine, but all i could find was polishing stuff (though they were very informative too)
Thanks in advance.
Sandra
Hi Sandra, Thank you for your comment! I think you are going to LOVE the JoolTool. No I don’t have the sanding info to share with you yet. I have been speaking with Anie the Owner and Designer of the JoolTool, and we are going to figure out what will be the best accessories for everyone to get. If you can hang tight on the sanding part until we get it figured out, that would be great! In the meantime, do some buffing with one of the felt pads, just like I showed you and that should keep you busy and happy until we can get you more info on the rest of the cool stuff you can do with your new JoolTool. Have fun!
Cheers Cindy. It’s great that u and Arnie are talking and figuring out what’s the best options. Will do as u u suggest. Can’t wait for the new toy
Hi me again. Got my jooltool yesterday and am playing with it now. I have discovered that trying to buff rounded items ie round beads, doesn’t work too well with the felt wheel. After having a go at this I found that where it was round, it is now flat. I guess what i am trying to say is that the wheel ground the clay to flat. I may have been a bit heavy handed but i don’t think so. Have you tried to buff rounded beads Cindy? if so, how did it go and how do you do it? . The flat peices I have buffed have turned out beautifully.
Again, thanks in advance.
Sandra
Sandra, it sounds like you haven’t softened up the felt pad well enough yet with the fork. You really need to push hard on the fork and get those fibers loosened up as best you can. When actually buffing your round beads, slow the machine down a bit (half speed) and then use a very light touch. If you are grinding down and flattening your beads with the felt pad, you are definitely pushing too hard. You will be able to use a cloth buffing wheel on your JoolTool that will be better suited for round beads… I’ll be able to show you all the optimum accessories for each type of bead in future videos, but for now, just follow the above advice and you should have no problem polishing up those round beads. Hope that helps!
Hi, Cindy and All!
I was very interested in JoolTool when I saw it on Frire Mountain and put it on my Wish List. So I was supremely glad to see Cindy cover this one. Then I went on the website, but as you all mentioned there is no specific info on the clay. While watching the videos, though, I really wondered how it would do for rounded/roundish beads, or other than flat. This is a concern for many of you as well. Another is, is it going to rout in on the clay? I bought the Dremmel for sanding/polishing but had that happen first go and I’m skittish on investing on something like that again. So, Cindy, I am another one interested to see if you can tell us more.
By the way, Amazon has it for $179.99. And free shipping in the States. As I can figure, it’s the same package as Fire Mountain.
Don’t worry Andrea, I will be able to recommend the perfect attachments for sanding and buffing round beads. They carry a variety of abrasive brushes and buffing wheels that should do the job perfectly. Just waiting to hear back from Anie the owner and designer of the JoolTool to figure out the best solution for all of us, so stay tuned. Unfortunately this kind of thing takes longer than we all want… which is NOW! :) Thanks for the Amazon tip. That’s great!
Cannot wait for you to release more tutes and finding on the JoolTool!!! Hopefully, by the time it’s here a year from now, the prices will drop and you and Ana will have the whole polymer clay attachments issue worked out so that we can by reduced costs sets.
I have my JoolTool, must say I am having no luck at all with it . I have put it in a corner…. (bad Jooltool ! ) . Expensive lesson , need to wait for Cindy to figure it out before I buy. Soooo disappointed, back to the dremel. It will be in the time out corner til I see what really works when Cindy does the next videos.
So what’s happening Karonkay? Don’t worry, its not an expensive lesson… you’ll be able to use it. Just tell me what you’re trying to do with it and what the problem is. We’ll have it out of the corner before you know it!
I’m still not getting any lower than $279.99 on Amazon. Was that a typo, or was it really available at that price for awhile? That was for the Jool Tool Intro kit.
Jooltool woes:
Where to begin.. tried buffing the flat pieces … oh dang! flying objects duck David! My felt wheel has a curve on the edge. it is not flat like yours. Flings everything across the room. .
I think maybe you already answered one issue above. I was afraid to scratch the wheel too much with the fork and it definately is not fluffy enough to buff.
Dare I say it out loud that this tool frightens me a bit? Weird I can use lathes and belt sanders all manner of tools that I have used for years. I can use torches and kilns and have no fear. I suppose they have not thrown things at me. Part of the problem is that I have no secure way of holding my object to be sanded or buffed. Objects are too easily ripped out of the slight hold I have on the edges of the piece. So I think the problem lies with me and the respect I have for the power tools and the dangers they pose. I am out of sorts with this one because I have no control of the piece I am holding … opinions and help would be appreciated. This is one instance where I truly wish you were closer… I would be on your doorstep Jooltool in hand!!!!
By the way, it is awesome to be able to see the piece through the top.
Karon, my Dad taught me to sand buff and polish my first works on the huge industrial sized machines. Still have a bald spot where I lost a chunk of hair escaping my bun, lol while using the big buffing wheel with a foot petal. Needless to say, it was a war zone of flying plastic objects…..most into my Dad’s coffee cup or dinging off his head.
Some tips I learned from him to lose my fear and make me master it faster follow. First he had me wear skin tight leather gloves so I wouldn’t lose the object. I wasn’t as afraid of being clunked in the fingers and built confidence handling stuff. Second, he either put the machine in a cardboard box or rigged a sheet behind the unit, so that anything I sent it to space hit the fabric and slid down undamaged. Actually, the sheet was across the workroom and totally separated me from him and my Mom doing laundry. LOL, their beloved lab Cleo always braved it with me, but, I took her for walks on the beach.
Thanks… need to find the well fitting gloves. that would help as I think I remember too well having sanded my fingers many times. doing woodworking.
On a positive note the big fluffy white cat – sugarbear- better known as “tubby” has gotten some exercise chasing my creations around the room as he thinks I am playing with him. He loves to play fetch.
Karon, if it were me, I’d run to the local charity shop and find a pair of lined ladies suede or leather gloves that fit perfectly.
Hi Karon, I wish you were closer too! It would be fun to have you drop by. With your buffing, make sure that felt disk is well scratched up, including the sides. You won’t be able to make it super fluffy, but you should be able to get some fuzzy hairs sticking out from it. Next make sure you don’t have it spinning too fast. Half-speed will do. The reason your beads are flying is because of two things. First you are pushing the bead up against the disk too hard and you are pulling your piece out to the edge of the disk, rather that lifting it up to the disk. Practice this and you’ll be buffing up a storm and Dave won’t have to fear for his life! LOL
As far as more videos, I will do that, but I am still waiting for Anie to send me the right accessories. She is in the middle of moving her company to a new warehouse and things are pretty nuts for her. What we would like to do is put together the perfect kit for polymer clay artists and do some demo videos on how to use them. Then everyone won’t have to go through the trial and error of figuring it out on their own.
Good luck. DO let me know if you need more help and I will do my best to help you out!
Cindy, just counted up my savings jar set aside for purchasing this product. It’s getting there, lol. Hopefully, combined with next year’s Tax Return, I can at least purchase a base used unit and some disks. I am so excited.
Sure would like to see some more videos and/or blog posts on uses and tips. Are you close to releasing more information, or should I settle down and think of other stuff for awhile?
Hi Cindy, I finally ordered the basic JoolTool package (had some decent discounts) and it should arrive soon. There are a variety of things I can use it for, but I was wondering if you have been able to work with Anie on finding the best accessories for polymer clay artists. I know you’ve been busy and I’ve also seen her or her name listed enough to know she is busy, but I thought I’d check. Although the way this year is passing I probably won’t even get to plug it in myself until almost Christmas! :-D
Hi Bertha, That is so cool you got a JoolTool! You’re going to love it! Anie recently sent me some samples of the different abrasive products that they carry so that I could test them and decide on the best package for the polymer clay artist. I have played a little and am very excited about what they can do. Once I get the chance to work with them a little more, I will be able to put together the perfect package that Anie and I can make available for sale. It may take a little time, but know that we are working on it. Who knows, we may even be ready by Christmas ourselves! :)
How exciting, Cindy! I’ve looked at them and have been trying to figure out what accessories I would need to get. I hope you get that package put together soon! Maybe I can convince Santa to bring me one for Christmas. :-)
Hi Cindy, thanks for the update! I look forward to your test results. Maybe this will inspire me to finally clean up my basement to make a dedicated workspace.
That is awesome, Bertha! A JoolTool is definitely on my wish list! Do let us know how you like it once you get a chance to try it out!
Cindy, glad to hear things are moving forward on the JoolTool. Confucious say
“good things take time” :)
Hi Cindy,
I’ve just watched the latest members videos on Faux Abalone and they are brilliant! So thanks for that!
Sometime ago I watched your video tips on using the Jooltool for buffing and you mentioned in the latest videos that you now also do all your sanding on the Jooltool too. As you recommended it, I decided to buy one and I had it shipped to the UK. The only problem is now that I don’t know what disks I should be using for sanding polymer clay. I bought the least expensive jewellery kit, which I think May have been the one that you purchased? Anyway, I would really appreciate it, if you could give me any pointers as to what I should be using for sanding please, as I’m unable to find any information on this?
Thanks!
Kindest regards
Sue
xxx
Hi Sue – Glad to hear you enjoyed the Faux Abalone Tutorial. Thanks for letting me know.
Now in regards to the JoolTool, another member was asking a similar question. Here is the link to where I responded… JoolTool Update
Hi Cindy,
Thank you so much for your response. I’ll look forward to seeing what yourself and Anie recommend, as being the best JoolTool disks to use with Polymer Clay, once you have completed your research. Thanks for sending me the links, I don’t normally get time to read through the posts, with my full time day job, and the eight hours a day and all weekend, I spend on digitally designing products for crafters! (If you are interested in having a look, here is a link to my store). So I haven’t that much time to spend on my polymer clay hobby, but I do love it, so I try to put aside a least an evening a week to try out all the techniques I’ve learnt, since becoming a member of your site. I’m not very good at the moment, but practice will make perfect, I hope (!), and the JoolTool will definitely help me out time wise, once I’m using it, I’m sure!
I’m really pleased I found your site at the very beginning of my new hobby, you really do explain things very well. I just love your accent, and your sense of humour – I, like you, tend to laugh quite a lot, at some of the things I say, too, you do make me smile!
Thanks again!
Kindest regards
Sue
x
Your cards and other gift bags are beautiful! Thanks for sharing your link. And I’m so glad to hear that my videos are making you smile :-) … and even laugh out loud sometimes. It’s great having you as a member of the PcT community.
Hi Cindy, I have a question on the JoolTool. I just purchased one and it’s arriving tomorrow. Do you have any recommendations yet, for which attachments to get for sanding polymer clay. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Richard, I do have an idea which accessories will work, but I have not nailed down a kit for it yet, since I am having trouble getting a hold of Anie (the founder) to make it available for everyone. She has an extremely busy travel schedule. Several options can work, but I want to make sure that I am recommending the most appropriate ones so that you get the best value for the dollar. (Some grits work well but wear out quickly… some are too aggressive… others work best on flat surfaces… etc.) I am trying to get this done as quickly as possible because I really believe it is an excellent product for polymer clay. I will let everyone one know, as soon as I have it figured out. In the meantime, do make sure to get a felt buffing wheel and use it for buffing your polymer clay. At least you will have something good to get started with.