Vid #59: The Plano Brand, Plastic Fishing Tackle Box Works Great For Keeping Your Blocks of Polymer Clay Very Organized:
I got this idea last year when I purchased a large batch of polymer clay on Ebay. The seller shipped my clay blocks in a plastic container often used for fish tackle. Inside the box are channels designed perfectly for the width of Premo clay packages. Fimo blocks will also fit but they have to be turned sideways.
The most important thing to keep in mind with plastic storage containers and polymer clay, is that they must be compatible with each other. The wrong types of plastics can actually ruin your clay by leaching out the plasticisers from it.
Based on experience, I can tell you that my Plano Box (Product Number 3730) works fine with polymer clay. Last time I checked, Walmart was carrying the Plano brand on their shelves.
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The full version of the “Storage Box“ preview video shown above, is available for purchase at my Polymer Clay Bead Making Videos Library in the Volume-003 Back Issue Package.
In this “Fish Tackle Storage Box” video tutorial I discuss how to be resourceful when coming up with storage solutions for your polymer clay. I also talk about the very important issue of only storing polymer clay in plastic containers that are safe to use. Non-compatible plastics will leach out the plasticisers from your clay which is definitely not what you want to have happen.
I’ve been using fishing/tackle boxes for years. Never had a problem with them :)
Thanks for sharing your comment Maria. BTW, other plastic containers I’ve found to be compatible with polymer clay are the ones stamped with a #5 or #1 recycle symbol.
Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..Ideas for Polymer Clay Plastic Storage Boxes
Yes! I love the fishing tackle boxes I bought from my sons. They never got around to taking them fishing so they were clean and just begging to be filled with clay. ;)
Hi Alisa! I’ve heard of people making fishing lures out of polymer clay. If you made some maybe that would get your boys fishing again! Then again, maybe they would want their fishing tackle boxes back… never mind ;-)
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Cindy, they did! My boys were about 5 and 9 when they were big into fishing. They grew up around clay and have always been creative, so it was natural they would think of making their own lures. Their’s were too heavy, and we never really tried to perfect the technique, but at least they made fun, colorful ones.
LOL! And no! They cannot have their tackle boxes back. I paid them well for my new-found storage! :D
That is such a cute story! I imagine they were probably trying to make fly fishing lures if they were too heavy. The problem that ocean fisherman have with polymer clay lures is that they are too light and have to bury little lead weights inside!
If you happen to have any pictures of those lures I would love to see them! I’m a huge fan of kid art!
Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..Metallic Polymer Clay Color Recipes with Bling
Good idea Cindy. I have mine stored in the 12 x 12 scrapbook paper boxes. I came across some small tackle boxes last year at Target. I use them to store my canes. They are about 3 x 6 and have 6 compartments to hold 6 canes. They were only $1 each. I’m waiting till they have them again so I can get some more. Thanks for the tips.
Janet
Cindy,
These boxes are wonderful for storing Sculpey III, Fimo, Premo, and the small (3 oz.) Kato Clayss Wal-Mart carries the same box with the large label reading “ProLatch Stowaway 4-15”.
I’ve been keeping my tools & canes in a large tackle box for years & I also use small ammo boxes to store my canes! but I had not thought to store my clay in the tackle boxes thanks for the ideas!!! I’ll have to pick up a few next time we visit (The Walmart)!
ttyl
abby
Great idea. I have some of mine in a plastic shoe box, but the dividers make the box so much nicer for storage.
WalMart here I come.
Thank you for the great comments guys!
Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..Tube Beads for Jewelry Making using Gold Leaf and Fimo Polymer Clay
Hi Cindy,
Great storage idea…thanks!
How do you store your clay after you have taken it out of the original wrap? The only way I have thought of so far, is to put each color into snack size baggies with a label stuck to the outside stating the brand, color number and name, and the baking temperature. The only problem with this is that when you have a bunch of baggies filled with clay in a plastic box, as I do, it is not very organized and it is a bit frustrating trying to find the color I looking for at the moment. Any thoughts or suggestions you might have regarding this question would be much appreciated :)
I can hardly wait, and am anticipating next weeks video, as always!!! It’s like getting a wonderful gift each week in my email box!
:)
Sincerely, Cindy Erickson
Thank you Cindy for your sweet comments!
What I’ll do is answer your questions in an upcoming Q+A post so that it will get more visibility. That way more people can benefit. You will recognize these Question and Answer posts each week becasue of the word picture graphic with a big Q+A in it!
Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..Memorial Jewelry – How To Make Rose Petal Beads with Polymer Clay
I just posted a Q+A article to answer Cindy Erickson’s question posted above on August 4th. Here’s the link: Fimo, Premo, Sculpey Clay Storage Ideas
My husband will be so pleased when he finds all his fishing bits & bobs confined to a plastic carrier bag in the shed[well he hasn’t been fishing for years & I’m the one who does the gardening,so I guess I won’t tell him].
Andrea that is so funny! Don’t worry I won’t tell!
Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..Blue Flower Earrings – A Jewelry Making Project Using Premo Sculpey
In one of the tutorials I read you did a study of the kinds of plastic containers that were safe to use with polymer clay. Now I can’t find it. Please tell me where to look. Thanks, Agnes
Hi Agnes, Whenever you can’t remember where something was in this blog, use the search box at the top of the page. I just typed the words “plastic safe for polymer clay” into the search box at the top right hand corner of this page and several post popped up on that topic. I am sure if you see the list, it will jog your memory as to which video you wanted to re-watch. Hope that helps!