2007-12-06 08:47:22 · 3 answers · asked by Need mah answer 1 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
Should be safe...enjoy :)
I'd avoid the glazed kind (no pun intended lol) though as it might contain mercury.
2007-12-06 08:56:24 · answer #1 · answered by Criss_Mousse 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
No it is NOT safe! If you're talking about polymer clays anyway. Super Sculpey, Premo, Fimo, all that stuff is made out of a special type of plastic that can only handle the oven temperature (usually 200, 300 degrees at MOST). Fire and smoldering fire are a higher temperature than that, and will chemically react to the polymer clay producing toxic fumes. Of course, smoking itself produces toxic fumes, but these ones will kill you a lot faster. The glazes used for polymer clay are generally a type of polymer too, so that makes them just as unsafe. Polymer clay has a warning that it shouldn't be used to eat off of or used with food too.
If you're talking about ceramic clay, then that's fine to use for a pipe, although I'd make sure it's coated with a high-fire glaze.
2007-12-06 10:32:43 · answer #2 · answered by greydrakkon 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Everything Greydrak said is true... just wanted to make sure you got another "expert" opinion posted so you won't try it.**
The temp at which polymer clays will burn is approx. 385 degrees F, and in fact at that temp it will emit thick black horrible-smelling smoke that is definitely not good for one's lungs (especially bad for children and animals). And clay that's next to actual flame or burning substances will definitely get that hot.
(Even if it didn't get that hot, the normal odor of curing polymer clay which occurs at much lower temps would not be a pleasant thing to be around.)
(And most sealers wouldn't be good either.)
The only hardened "clay" I can think of that would be safe for a burning substance would be one that could tolerate a very high temp as in a kiln... so earth clays, or perhaps "metal clays."
If you just want a decorative pipe, etc., you could simply use glass or metal or ceramic, etc., for the actual bowl part near the burning stuff, and then use decorative clay on the stem, etc.
**check out these pages if you want more corroboration or details:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/safety_health_cleaning.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/baking.htm
Diane B.
2007-12-07 05:59:13 · answer #3 · answered by Diane B. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋