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

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

I am some what new to polymer clay. I really injoy it and am very serious about getting better. I have many tools, books and molds. I even have my own rubbermaid container for my supplies that hardley fits it all. I am looking for some assistance though I have run in to 2 problems. One not all my pieces stay together and I have tried a number things from gluing them together prior and then backing, using toothpicks or other items to hold appendages in and anything you can think of falls off. Also my pieces seem to be too top heavy. This last problem I think I can resolve myself give an error here and there. But the first is very discouraging. If someone could give me a push in the right direction I would appreciate it. I use Sculpey III because it is eash and I can find it locally.
Thanks, Misty

poeterri · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:49 am Post subject:

What is it you're trying to make that you're having so much trouble with? I'll try to help if I can.

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

Acutally it can be just about anything that doesn't have a wire amature. I know the smart thing would be make everything with an amature, but sometimes I make small figures. I can have everything from their heads, arms, you name it falls off. I've tried using liquid sculpey at the joints and this doesn't seem to help. Someone mentioned that it might be the sculpey I'm using. I use Sculpey III because it's easy to condition.

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

I'm really very confused by your problem. I have been learning pc for about two years now, and all the goofs and problems I have encountered, I have never had pieces just fall off... Even if you are using sculpey III. I use that clay to make some things, like little figurines, puppies and butterflies and things, and I have never had that problem, nor heard anyone else having that problem. Are you making very large things when this happens? I'm at a loss. If you could, take a little time and maybe give us all a very detailed description of what exactly it is that you are doing. You know, size, weight, how much conditioning, oven temp and baking time, just whatever it is that you are doing and how you do it. I would really love to help you because that is quite the bummer but I am not completely sure I understand exactly what is going on yet. I hope you are having better luck! Let us know! Oh, and also you can purchase clay online and it is usually cheaper and you generally have a larger selection, you could even try ebay!

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

Usually my pieces are small. I like to make the little cartoonish characters that us see in the sculpey books and projects. I'm not sure if I'm not putting them together correctly or if I'm not backing them long enough. What I seem to have the most problems with coming off are things like the arms, or other little details. Using the arms as an example. I press them on, I've even tried using TLS before putting them on. I've even tried regular glue before attaching them. What happens is after I bake them and let them cool. Which I have been doing in my oven. I would take them out and check them out and the arm would break loose. Now I know I can just glue it back on but it is sort of disappointing to have your artwork fall apart. When I bake the sculpeyIII I follow the directions, but I'm wondering if my oven doesn't get hot enough. I picked up an oven themometer and I noticed that when the oven reaches the requested temp it cools down before kicking back on. So I'm going to us our toaster over which we never use and hope the reason is due to lack of curing.

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

I don't know. I think maybe what is going on is just the clay isn't right for the projects you are making. It's really strange, though. Also, I'm wondering if your pieces are becoming brittle maybe even from over curing them? If you weren't baking them long enough, they would still be slightly soft after they cool. I am not very precise, so I was kinda just doing a guessing game for a long time with my baking and I noticed if I didn't bake them long enough I could push my finger nail into they clay yet. If that is they problem, check a piece you have already baked in a spot where you really wouldn't see it and see if you can push your nail into it, if you can then you are under baking. You can always fill that spot in with a little more clay and then rebake. I've had small, thin pieces of sculpey crack and brake off, but as long as I keep everything a little fatter everything has been fine. My best advice would be to start using a different kind of clay. Premo is my favorite. I've never had anything I've made with that break. I feel really bad I can't seem to solve your problem, but really, it probably isn't you or what you are doing, it is probably just the quality of the clay. Sculpey is really brittle after baking. Good luck, and don't give up! You will figure it out, and then you will be so thrilled!!!

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

Thanks for the feedback. I have been trying the Premo and I find it a bit more difficult to condition then the scupley so I'm going to pick up some clay softner and maybe this will help the problem. You are definately correct about once I resolve the problem I will be as happy as a pig in mud. I know that once this gets fixed I will be working my on my sculpting and hopeful by doing this as well will get better and more imaginative. Over all I'm very excited about the prospect. Cool

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

warm it up! sit on it or stick it under your armpit, lol. I know it sounds silly, but it helps! I know a lot of people don't really care for the clay softener, I have never used it, but I have never really had a problem with conditioning. And if you don't have one, get a pasta machine, it's the best investment you will ever make if you are serious about pc! I finally got one about a year ago and honestly I don't know how I ever lived without it! You can get one for about 25 bucks at a craft store that deals with pc! Good luck!

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

I realize I'm super late responding to this, but I just joined the forum a week or two ago... I use Sculpey III all the time as well, but I've never had a problem with appendages and such falling off. What I do is press them on then Kind of smush together where the joints are so they blend together and stay. You also might want to support the arms, etc. while they are cooking so no unneccesary stress gets put on them. Good luck!

dataman · Starting Member Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 2

is it okay if I put up an animated avatar on my profile?