This polymer clay conditioning technique works especially well for hard clay brands such as Fimo Classic:
The free tutorial video that I’m sending out to subscribers of my Guest List this week, will be about using a food processor to condition hard polymer clay. If you are not subscribed yet, the following link will take you to the sign up form: Polymer Clay Lessons
Recently I got a comment from a reader regarding her problem with conditioning Fimo translucent polymer clay (see Polymer Clay Instructions June 17 comment from Cynister about Fimo never becoming pliable). Definitely watch the Guest List video this week for some food processor tips on how to deal with this common problem.
Food processors can be found used at garage sales, thrift shops, your mom’s house and long forgotten in the back of your kitchen cupboards. Once you have decided to use a food processor for polymer clay, you must dedicate it to strictly for clay and not go back to using it for food handling.
Polymer clay residue will stay on your polymer clay tools and can contaminate food items. Food particles are also a problem if you get them into your clay. So you will also want to avoid using your polymer clay tools in food preparation.
I use my old food processor to condition all of the stiffer clay brands such as Fimo Classic. The processor also works real well with older clays where the plasticizers have been leached out. I also suffer occasionally from carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritic wrists, so when my hands are tired I use the the mechanical processor for mixing colors and warming up the clay.
There will be other hints and polymer clay tips in this week’s free Guest List video. If you have not done so already, here’s that link again to become a subscriber: Polymer Clay Lessons
You can also add a little diluent to the clay to help soften it while it is mixing in the food processor. Add a few drops of baby oil until you get it the consistency you want.
Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..Making Polymer Clay Beads from a Spring Color Palette
I had purchased some marked down clay in my pre-halfway-know what I am doing days and then since I got started actually working with clay, thought I had wasted my money. This article has made me feel much better about my purchase.
Thanks again.
These days with all the squishy clay some rock hard clay seems like a blessing! Mix some of the hard stuff with the soft and it’ll probably be just right!
Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..Faux Turquoise Jewelry Bracelet – Polymer Clay Bead Making Projects