Polymer Clay Message Board - Polymer Clay Forum - The Clay Store

polyprincess · Clay Captain Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 26

I just want to give everyone a tip. You know how much time you put into making a really nice cane? Well, don't waste your time making one using the sculpey clay. Nice for making like, beads or small figurines, but if you make a really beautiful cane with it when you slice it its just smears and goops up. Premo is the best polymer clay I have found. It holds it's shape really well, while the sculpey is so soft you can hardly work with it! I just wanted to let you all know what I learned while putting so much effort and time into a cane and then just having it smoosh all up anyway!! Be wise, not cheap like me! Wink

clayn00b · Starting Member Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 2

That is great advice!! I am new to clay, and after many failed atempts to make canes and other projects I have been disappointed in the outcome. Then all you have is a ball of mixed colors!!
I will certainly try it next! Very Happy

mistymc79 · Clay Captain Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 10

Thanks for this tip, I'm also fairly new and was using sculpey III and was having a terrible time trying to make my canes work. I picked up some premo so hopefully this will work. Thanks again.

polyprincess · Clay Captain Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 26

I'm glad I could help! I know how frustrating it can be after all the time you put into it, to only have it be a smear of colors! I had thought I had been doing something wrong the whole time, when really it was the clays fault! Smile

Also, I know how bad you want to see what you've made, but you really should wait a while before slicing your canes. This will help maintain it's form and reduce any smearing that may happen. I know it's hard, but it really does make a difference, and if you reallllllllly can't wait, pop that thing in the freezer for a few minutes! It's not quite the same, but it does help! Clay on!

sherylb926 · Starting Member Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

I am brand new to polymer clay and was playing around with some sculpey today. Tried to make some canes and couldn't figure out why it was so squishy and wouldn't hold the shape. Guess I know why! Thanks for helping me out!!!

Sheryl

TerrRob · Starting Member Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 6

I use Kato Polyclay and really love it! I think it stands up really well when making canes.

polyprincess · Clay Captain Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 26

Goodness.. I was just looking at this and was going to add to what I had said originally and saw your comment! You are so right! Kato Polyclay is unavailable to me in my area, at least I can't find it, but I ordered some online, figured she's the master, right? It's AWSOME! I find it really difficult to condition, but it is the best for making canes! I have started making some really beautiful butterflies and things with it that I could not do before! It's a pain to get it going but in the end it is worth it. It just all depends on what you are making, I guess... I have all sorts of different types of clay now. I am getting a little more advanced and I find it very useful to have a selection. Smile

And the thing is with the Kato it comes in 3 oz blocks instead of 2 oz and it's about the same price. Made me happy!

TerrRob · Starting Member Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 6

It is a pain to condition, but I love working with it too!! Glad it's working for you.

sherylb926 · Starting Member Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

Just curious...what's the easiest way to condition the clay? Do you use a pasta/clay machine or just work it in your hands?

I'm new to this but curious.

Thanks!
Sheryl

TerrRob · Starting Member Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 6

I do it either way. I'm finding that if I don't warm it up with my hands, it crumbles when I put it in the pasta machine. You can still condition it that way if you don't mind the initial crumbling. Sometimes I just take a hunk with me if I'm going to be on the phone or watching a TV show and just work with it. It's nice to have some already conditioned clay when you get ready to create! It's much nicer to put through the pasta machine after you've played with it.

sherylb926 · Starting Member Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

Thanks for your help~another question....

So is a pasta machine a necessity, in your opinion to making canes?

Thanks a bunch!
Sherylb

TerrRob · Starting Member Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 6

That depends on the kind of cane you are making. There are lots of canes that you can make without a pasta machine. However, if you want to make a cane with a Skinner blend, you'll need a pasta machine. I bought the cheap kind that you can find at Michael's and it was a pain, so I bought an Atlas pasta machine with a motor and I love it. It wasn't cheap, but it has made things much easier and it takes less time.

jinxi · Clay Captain Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 10

Pasta machines aren't 100% necessary, but they make things so much easier!! And your stuff will turn out alot more perfect. And concerning using Sculpey for canes, it is more difficult, but I've made tons of canes with it, the trick is to always fridge or freeze in before making any cuts. I have carpal tunnel and Sculpey is the only clay soft enough to not make it hurt worse Sad

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