does anyone know how to rehydrate, fimo polymer clay if it drys out?

Answer 1

It might be too far gone, but you can try to put it onto a plastic bag and pound it with a hammer or mallet, and if it does squish a little, then just keep kneading and squishing until it's pliable again.

Answer 2

First, polymer clays (including the Fimos) never "dry" out because they're not air-dry clays. They have no water in them that could dry; instead they have an oil-like substance which is what keeps them pliable until they are actually hardened *with heat* (usually at a low temp in a home oven for 30-60 minutes).

Polymer clays can get firmer from age or just sitting around though... different brands will react differently.
If you have some original "Fimo" (which is no longer made), it will be very firm after sitting around a long time ... "FimoClassic" (which replaced "Fimo") will be less firm... "FimoSoft" (especially any manufactured in the last 6 months or so) will be the softest.
And other brands of polymer clay will vary too.

Polymer clay that's sat around awhile and firmed up CAN be made pliable again though. There's loads of info on how to do that (in various ways) on this page of my polymer clay "encyclopedia:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/Conditioning.htm
(... click on the categories called STRETCHING & WARMING, and read through the ADDITIVES category...)

On the other hand, if old (or new) polymer clay has been exposed to too much heat (in delivery trucks, really hot rooms, etc.), or to too much UV light (sun, fluorescents), it will *begin* to truly "cure" and that can also make it hard. Even that stuff can be made pliable again... but depending on how far gone it is, it may be too much trouble!
The page I linked to above also has a section called OLD, HARD CLAY that will tell you more about options you can consider then.

P.S. When storing polymer clays, if you want them to stay as soft as possible when sitting for a long time, keep them away from excess heat and UV light, and perhaps even wrap them in plastic wrap, and/or put in a rubber-plastic container with the lid on. Some people even keep their extra clay in the freezer or frig.


HTH,

Diane B.