New for Polymer Clay! Need Help!?

Question

Hi guys. I am new to Polymer Clay. and want to know what kind of tools i need use in Polymer Clay? I mean all the tools i need use in Polymer Clay... thanks. And also ask the all tools for PMC(Precious Metal Clay).too.....thanks guys!

Answer 1

I have an online polymer clay "encyclopedia" website that covers all kinds of tools one might use with polymer clay, among many other topics.
Here are some pages to check out for beginner tools, and also for some of the more common other tools used with polymer clay (which have their own pages):

http://glassattic.com/polymer/tools_Dremels_worksurfaces.htm
(... click on "Beginner Tools"...)

http://glassattic.com/polymer/pastamachines.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/cutters-blades.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/claygun.htm

Also if you're primarily using your polymer clay to "model" things, in a sculpture sort of way --simple or more complex-- then you might want to check out this page too for more tools to do those sorts of things with:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/sculpting_body_and_tools.htm
Polymer clay can do so many more things though besides just modeling, that many clayers don't even do do figures, etc.

For metal clays though, like PMC, you'll mostly be using basic tools and sculpting tools along with "tools" like molds and stamps:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/stamping.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/texturing.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/molds.htm

If you have any ideas about the types of things you'd like to make with polymer clay or any of the techniques you'd like to learn, check out the Table of Contents page for my encyclopedia to see where that particular thing is discussed at the site:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm
(scroll all the way down... then when you've found a category page you want to check out, you can get to it from the alphabetical navigation bar on the left side)

There are also lots of online groups for polymer clay, and some for metal clay too... you can get lots of info, questions answered, and just lots of support from those groups also if you want... check out this page for info on polymer groups online:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/groups--online2.htm


Have fun!!

Diane B.

Answer 2

For polymer clay, my favorite tool was a vintage nail pusher tool, with a pointed end on one side and a gently curved flat side on the other. There are tool sets you can buy for this at craft stores. I would suggest not investing in a lot of tools, just start working and you'll find most of the tools you will need around the hosue. Dental tools can be helpful, I had some from an army surplus store that I liked. Also, exacto knifes are great.
Another great tool for polymer clay is a pasta machine. Don't buy a new one like this, you can find them all the time at yard sales and thrift stores. Run some scrap polymer clay through ti several times to clear out any old flour, and know that you can never use it for pasta.
I always liked to bake my pieces on marble or granite tiles. These were also great for cutting pieces, leaving them right on the tile and baking. This way I avoided distortion of my pieces. I did a lot of separate pieces then assembled them, so this kept my pieces nice and flat. For baking beads, I took small hardpaper boxes, like that jewelry comes in, cut notches in them and cut pieces of heavy gauge wire that would suspend the beads over the interior of the box and the notches would hold them in place.
Get a book, there are lots out there now. I haven't done polymer clay in a while, but my favorite bood (and one of the few available when I was doing polymer) is called "the new clay" and it views polymer as more of a fine arts meduim than a 'craft'.
Good luck!

Answer 3

http://www.hgtv.com has lots of project ideas for polymer clay and PMC. They will give you a supply list with each project.
Also, PMC will not bake in the oven like polymer clay. You will need access to a small kiln.

Answer 4

depending on what you are making, you can use almost anything! toothpicks are great, micro-glass beads make great eyes for clay animals, pasta machines are great for flattening to almost any thickness, pizza rollers are great for cutting; many professional grade tools are derived from common household utensils. You can go to a craft store and look around in the polymer clay section. i have a little clay pressing thing that makes really cool lion manes or grass; making tealight candleholders is a very useful idea, so you can decorate your home for any occasion while being creative. they also make nice gifts. i have been working with clay for several years now, and i really enjoy it! oh yeah; clay bakes at about 400 degrees for 15 min. per cm of thickness.
hope my info comes in handy! good luck sculpting

Answer 5

It depends on the size of the work you are doing.

If you want to make small intricate pieces, dental picks, tongue depressors or popsicle sticks, toothpicks, knives and other small instruments will work fine.

For larger pieces you might need to add a small trowel or a cake decorating knife.

However with modeling clays most of the work is done by hand.

If you are planning on making beads, you can buy bead rollers which helps you keep them the size and shape of the beads uniform.