What is the best way to soften clay?

Question

I just begun to work with clay. I never used this type of art media. How do I make the clay soft so I can I handle it. I tried water but it seems to make it harder faster

Answer 1

If you have "polymer" clay (Sculpey, Fimo, Premo, Cernit, etc.), there are several ways to soften it (also called "conditioning" the clay). You definitely don't want to use water though, because there's no water in that type of clay... in fact, you probably shouldn't even use any clay that you've mixed with water because that water may cause steam bubbles and opaquing when the clay is baked-cured... it might evaporate out over time though.

The basic ways to soften polymer clay are stretching, warmth, and additives.

The additives can be various things --from just softer clay to small amounts of vegetable oil, glycerin, or Vaseline, etc., or there are special additives like liquid polymer clay and Softener-Diluent.
Warmth will make the clay easier to stretch and work, until it becomes pliable (if it hasn't already begun to cure from too much heat or UV light).
It can be good to break it into smaller pieces, bang it with a hammer (in a plastic bag), or flatten it by rolling over it with something first.

You can read all about all those methods though in much more detail on this page (if it IS polymer clay that you have):
http://glassattic.com/polymer/Conditioning.htm


HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 2

The only way I know how to soften it is to either add more soft clay to what you are working with or to add water...but you have to be careful with the amount of water you add or it will become too soft and very hard to work with, most likely your best bet is to add more of the soft clay and just knead it all together. good luck.

Answer 3

You didn't say what kind of clay.

For pottery clay (usually brown or gray, comes in a big bag) add water.

for plasticine or oil clay (gray-green or colored, comes in little blocks) warm it up or knead it with your hands to warm it.

I don't know what to do with polymer clay, (extremely expensive brightly colored stuff) maybe there is a thinning media you have to add to it.

Answer 4

first i have to know what kind of clay it is, modeling clay should always be workable, ceramic clay water will thin it, polymer clays you need to add polymer clay conditioner.

Answer 5

my only suggestion is to just continue to play with it. the heat from your hands wil soften it up.