{"id":20091,"date":"2015-11-16T05:00:28","date_gmt":"2015-11-16T13:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/?p=20091"},"modified":"2017-04-27T17:57:57","modified_gmt":"2017-04-28T00:57:57","slug":"comparing-sculpey-kato-fimo-liquid-polymer-clay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/comparing-sculpey-kato-fimo-liquid-polymer-clay\/20091\/","title":{"rendered":"Comparing Sculpey, Kato and Fimo Liquid Polymer Clay"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Liquid<\/a>Video #708:<\/span> Translucent Liquid Sculpey (TLS) vs Sculpey Bake & Bond vs Kato Liquid Polyclay vs Fimo Liquid Gel.<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n

In this video I will compare the differences between 4 brands of liquid polymer clay. Translucent Liquid Sculpey (TLS), Sculpey Bake & Bond, Kato Liquid Polyclay and Fimo Liquid Gel.<\/span><\/p>\n

All 4 of these are liquid polymer clays that have to be baked to cure. Liquid clays can be used to do image transfers, molded pieces, coatings, glazes, adhesive, mixed with solid clays to soften or make icings, mixed with chalks or mica powders, used to polymerize fabric and paper, etc., etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

I show examples of pieces from past tutorials where I have used liquid polymer clay.<\/span><\/p>\n

TLS, Bake & Bond and Kato Liquid, all start milky and bake up translucent. Fimo Liquid starts out as a clear gel and bakes the clearest. Kato is the next clearest, with TLS and Bake & Bond baking up the least translucent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both Kato and Fimo are fairly shiny when baked, though Fimo has a slight pitting to the surface. Both TLS and Bake & Bond bake up to a matte finish, though they can be brought to a shine by sanding and buffing them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kato Liquid has a slight yellowish tinge when baked and Fimo has a slightly white tint. I didn’t mention it in this video, but I am guessing that the whitish look comes from UV enhancers, since I hear that Fimo liquid glows under UV light.<\/span><\/p>\n

All four clays can be used with pretty much any brand of clay, since they all have a bit of a range in temperatures at which they will cure at. The recommended temperature for TLS, B&B, and Kato are 275F and for Fimo 265F. Though all of them will bake at quite a bit higher temps (up to 300F+) with quite good results. In fact many clayers will bump up the baking temps of their liquid polymer clays, to improve clarity. This needs to be done with caution if combining with sold polymer clays though, because the solid clays will scorch at higher temps.<\/span><\/p>\n

I show examples of all four brands of polymer clay that were baked for 30 minutes at 275F. I also show the strength of the baked liquid clays and the clarity of each sample after baking.<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as value goes, TLS and B&B are the most widely available in retail as well as online, and are the least expensive of the four liquid clays tested. Kato Liquid Polyclay is the next highest in price, and is available in limited retail locations, and online. Fimo Liquid is the most expensive and is available in both retail and online. It is more readily available in Europe than in North America.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n