Video #695: This is the only spray finish I am aware of, that is compatible with polymer clay… PYM (Preserve Your Memories).
When you need to seal, protect or give a nice sheen to your polymer clay pieces, it is important that your finish be compatible with polymer clay. But when it comes to spray finishes, the number of suitable products, are few and far between.
I am not sure if it is the propellants in the aerosol sprays, or if it is some other chemicals, but most spray finishes react very badly with polymer clay… sometimes never drying or becoming sticky over a period of time.
The only finish which I am aware of, that is polymer clay safe, is PYMII (Preserve Your Memories II). Not only is it safe to spray on polymer clay, but it will also protect all kinds of mediums, including paper, photographs, metal, giclee prints, inkjet prints, laser prints, alcohol inks, Copic markers, fabric, cording, glass, newspapers, wood and all kinds of other materials.
I have been using it for years on polymer clay. It is prefect for sealing in glitter, chalk pastels, PearlEx powders, alcohol inks, metal leaf and whatever else you may be worried about rubbing off of your polymer clay pieces.
And because it is so compatible with so many different materials, you can just spray the whole project whether it is a polymer clay and copper wire necklace… or a macrame hemp bracelet with polymer clay beads and gemstones. You will be protecting everything without fear of damaging anything.
PYMII will not only seal the polymer clay, but it will keep copper from turning green… and it will waterproof Hemp Cord.
The spray not only holds onto and protects things that may have been added to polymer clay, but it also protects it from UV Rays. Plus it gives a nice soft sheen.
It dries instantly and doesn’t drip or streak… so it is perfect for those textured pieces that you want to protect, but don’t want a gloppy liquid puddling into the crevices.
As a side note, I also use PYMII to seal my chalk boards to make them non-porous, so that the chalk markers are easier to remove and don’t leave “ghost” images behind on the surface.
We have even used it on the running boards of our pickup truck, to protect them from rust pitting.
As you will see in the video, there are lots of uses for PYMII. But what I love about it most, is that it is a quick drying, hard wearing finishing spray I can use on Polymer Clay!
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- Related Video: Waterproofing Hemp Cord Using PYM II
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Do you have any suggestions for videos on tips, techniques or products you would like to learn more about? Let me know in the comments section below!
My goal is to help you to learn quicker and easier ways to bring up the professionalism in your polymer clay art.
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Looking forward to hearing from you!
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Hi Cindy
Thanks for this review, I’m going to pick up some from Michaels when I’m in the States next week to protect my bicone beads I covered with Pearlex :)
Karen
Karen, I don’t think this is available in Michaels. I ordered mine from Poly Clay Play.
thanks for that info Krithika :)
Hi Cindy – mixed feelings on seeing this video, great to learn more about it, but cannot buy it in the UK – unless you know differently! Can’t even bring it home on the plane, they don’t allow spray cans. Is it available in any other form?
Marion
Hi Marion there is now a European PYMII Distributor out of the Netherlands, called Happy Things. Nice name for a store :-)
Thank you so much for replying, I will try this store and see if they ship to the UK.
Marion
Hi Marion – I ordered some PYMII from Happy Things in the Netherlands – it arrived very quickly.
It is pretty expensive but worth it, I hope! I’ve ruined several mica-covered pieces in the past dabbing or brushing a sealer on. It should last for ever, with luck…..
I have watched your videos regarding finishes for polyclay, and PYM II. I can’t find it anywhere around me. All I could find is a UK website to order from. So I sent a recommendation in to Fire Mountain Gems to carry it, since they sell both the clay and the metals.
Any other places to search? My Michael’s website doesn’t even know what PYM II is. Nor Hobby Lobby, nor Dick Blick.
Help!! Thank you so much for sharing your great expertise!
Hi Char, this product is not available in any of the “Big Box” stores. It is only in specialty shops and online. Here is a link to where all the PYMII Distributors are listed worldwide.
Thank you so much. Always enjoy your work. Thanks for supplier list!
FYI regarding PYM II availability:
Of the nineteen listed places to buy PYM II, I checked on all of them with the result of only seven that you can purchase on line. Others are local (walk-in ) stores and a few don’t even have the product. That took about 2 hours due to searching for the product within some stores.
You can buy online from these stores:
FDJtool
Marlene’s Folk Art
McGonigal Paper & Graphics (listed under Protective Picture Coating)
Clay Alley
Poly Clay Play
And instead of trying Linda’s Art Spots which links you to her Etsy store – she has it on her ebay store myartstash due to Etsy selling restrictions. But last selling of PYM II for her was 18 sold that ended 7/24/2015 and she currently has no PYMII for sale.
You can always call or email to purchase PYM II at: Everything Scrapbook & Stamps.
(By the by- I emailed the PYM II retail website about this, and also emailed Fire Mountain Gems with the suggestion that they carry the product for us polyclay artists AND for all the just plain metal jewelry designers that want a protective coating. Here’s hoping that they will stock it, because in their volume, maybe they could lower the price!)
Hi Cindy, this is kind of off topic. I am a new member and would like to know is it me or does Premo clay feel differently lately? I think it’s softer than it used to be which is good for blending but not so good when you have to let it sit after every time you use it. Am I nuts (well, I am, but you know what I mean)?
Hi Cindy: I have a bead that has acrylic paint, genesis heat set oil paint, and inka gold on it.
Can I use PYM II to seal it?
Hi Terri, I do know that you can put PYMII on the acrylic paint and the inka gold, but I haven’t tried it on the genesis paint yet. That is something that you would have to test to be sure. Maybe make a sample piece you don’t mind damaging, to test it out on. Let us know how it goes!
Awesome tutorial! Thank you so much for posting it! I recently purchased some PYMII and it has been working great on many projects. I wonder if you have any advice for sealing Clear glass wine glasses? I’ve been playing around with decorating them with polymer clay and coloring the clay with the Mica powders. But when I spray the glass to seal the clay; the clay looks great but the glass gets a funky fog on it that will scrap off with your fingernail. It’s impossible to just spray the clay and avoid the glass… I can clean off some of the residue with rubbing alcohol but it’s very difficult and hard to get into small cracks. Do you have any advice for this or a tutorial available? Thank you so much I’ve been enjoying your videos!
Hi Rachel, you could try a couple of different things. The first is, try spraying a little puddle of the PYMII into a little dish and using a brush to add it just where you want it, instead of spraying it all over the piece. The second option would be to mask off the glass with tape, paper or even post it notes so that you can protect the glass from getting sprayed. Whatever works best for you. Let me know how it goes!
Since PYM II is no longer available, what other spray can I use on odd shaped pieces?
Also, with your polyurethane, some recommend water based. Why?
Hi Linda, Try Helmar USA Cystal Kote Matte. Here is my Amazon Affiliate Link if you want to check that out.
As far as why use water based? Because water based is nicer to work with. Low odor and water clean up.