Avoid touching clothing while clay-shaping, which can leave fibers on your hands.Always wash hands and under the nails before handling clay.Work in a clean environment - wait at least two hours after vacuuming to let airborne dust settle, then wipe surfaces with a dust cloth.Raw clay easily picks up dirt, dust, lint, pet hair and other particulates. Add a few drops of Sculpey® Liquid Clay Thinner & Softener to the raw clay for a supple project outcome. Brittleness can also be caused by baking too long or a lack of plasticizers. Inflexible clay is usually caused by underbaking. The thinner the clay, the more flexible it will be. Fully baked clay should “give” a little and bend without breaking. Brittle or Inflexible Clayīecause polymer clay is a plastic formula, it’s made to be flexible after baking. If a pressed fingernail leaves a permanent indent or if thumb pressure leaves a fingerprint, the clay has not yet cured. How can you tell if your clay project is fully baked? Try a hardness test in a hidden spot with a surface pressure experiment. Underbaking is caused by curing at a too-low temperature or not baking the project long enough. Underbaked polymer clay is softer and more fragile than fully cured clay. Forgetting to place a paper liner under your project.Burnt clay is a sign your oven is too hot due to one or more temperature issues: White, translucent and light-colored clays are more susceptible to heat discoloration. If your project has darkened spots or comes out of the oven bubbling, you’ve accidentally burned your clay. Learn how to identify and prevent some of the most common clay mistakes while baking. After baking, remove it carefully from the oven and let it cool completely before handling it. Let the project cool: Clay is still fragile when warm.Work in a well-ventilated area: Use good ventilation while baking clay.If you combine two clay types in one project, bake at the mid-point temperature. Follow package instructions: Bake at the recommended time and temperature listed on the package according to clay thickness.Protect clay with a tent: For thin projects and small beads, protect the highest points of the clay from scorching with a paper or cardboard tent.Place paper under the project: Prevent darkened clay on the bottom of your project by placing card stock or parchment paper under it.Place the project on the middle shelf of the oven so it’s not too close to the heating elements. Bake on a compatible surface: The best baking surfaces are ceramic tile, glass and our silicone Sculpey Tools™ Oven-Safe Work Mat.Make a test piece: Run a pre-baking test with a scrap piece of clay in the same clay type and thickness as your project.Preheat the oven: Allow the oven to preheat completely before placing your project inside to bake.Choose the right appliance: Only use a conventional or toaster oven for baking clay, and turn off convection settings.Use an oven thermometer for temperature accuracy. Use an oven thermometer: Oven temps often vary from the heat setting by several degrees.Use heat-safe mitts to transfer projects to and from the oven. Bake safely: Adult supervision is required when baking polymer clay projects with kids.Follow these steps for every project you bake: Let’s demystify the baking process, avoid common baking errors and learn how to fix clay problems even after your project is baked! How to Bake Polymer Clay Correctlyīefore baking, always condition polymer clay to avert clay weakness, air bubbles and other imperfections during the baking process. How to bake polymer clay successfully is one of the top conversations we see in claying forums online - and for good reason! Different clays and project thicknesses require different baking times and temperatures.Īt Sculpey®, we understand the baking process can feel tricky, even for seasoned clayers. Once you’ve finished detailing your polymer clay masterpiece, you’re ready to cure it in the oven for use! After all the time and creative energy you put into your work, the last thing you want to find is burnt clay or breakage after baking.
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