Scratch

polyvinylchloride whatnow?

I love clay modelling, but I use plasticine and use clear nail polish/topcoat to seal it. If you have a flexible non-chip brand it shouldn't crack.  D

i dont generally use clay
but last halloween i got a lot of play-doh
and made cartoon minecraft guys

puppymk wrote:

Those beads are awesome! I,v never used polymer clay before but I,v worked with other types of clay. Is polymer clay nontoxic?

Yes and no.

It does contain some stuff, like plasticizer (which is what makes the polymer clay so clay-like) that some people worry about. There have been some health studies on it, there's nothing wrong with working it, but there are some things to be concerned with:

1) Ingesting it - granted you need to ingest a lot to make you ill, but it's best to wash your hand after working with it (polymer clay can be rather sticky). The same goes with any other known art material like paint or crayons.

2) Fumes - some polymer clays give off hydrochloride gas if they're burnt. But that's if you seriously burn the clay (which I did once by trying to bake one in a toaster oven). You can actually bake polymer clay at reasonable temps under the recommended one labeled on the package. I actually bake my polymer clay creations using steam instead of baking them in the oven (or, during the winter time, I place it over my old steam heater in my room); so I basically bake around 100 degrees Celcius instead of at 135.

puppymk wrote:

cheddargirl wrote:

puppymk wrote:

Those beads are awesome! I,v never used polymer clay before but I,v worked with other types of clay. Is polymer clay nontoxic?

Yes and no.

It does contain some stuff, like plasticizer (which is what makes the polymer clay so clay-like) that some people worry about. There have been some health studies on it, there's nothing wrong with working it, but there are some things to be concerned with:

1) Ingesting it - granted you need to ingest a lot to make you ill, but it's best to wash your hand after working with it (polymer clay can be rather sticky). The same goes with any other known art material like paint or crayons.

2) Fumes - some polymer clays give off hydrochloride gas if they're burnt. But that's if you seriously burn the clay (which I did once by trying to bake one in a toaster oven). You can actually bake polymer clay at reasonable temps under the recommended one labeled on the package. I actually bake my polymer clay creations using steam instead of baking them in the oven (or, during the winter time, I place it over my old steam heater in my room); so I basically bake around 100 degrees Celcius instead of at 135.

Does it need to be baked?

Yes, it needs to be baked.

Unless, of course, you're using it for claymation . 

I love clay, what kind do you use? 

Wow, those are amazing.
Have you considered using Etsy?

Dinoclor wrote:

Wow, those are amazing.
Have you considered using Etsy?

I have, but I don't think I'm in a good position to be selling stuff online right now. 

jji7skyline wrote:

What is the difference between normal clay? 

Well, what's your idea of a normal clay? There's many different types of clay: you have mineral clay (made of minerals), paper clay (made of paper), polymer clay (made with plasticizer and PVC), silicone clay (which is just silicone foam), etc.

I love this stuff! We do it every year in Art! It's awesome! 

cheddargirl wrote:

jji7skyline wrote:

cheddargirl wrote:

Dinoclor wrote:

Wow, those are amazing.
Have you considered using Etsy?

I have, but I don't think I'm in a good position to be selling stuff online right now. 


Well, what's your idea of a normal clay? There's many different types of clay: you have mineral clay (made of minerals), paper clay (made of paper), polymer clay (made with plasticizer and PVC), silicone clay (which is just silicone foam), etc.

I was thinking along the lines of natural clay, sold at craft shops... 

Greyish colour? 

Ah, you're probably talking about some kind of earthenware clay.

The big difference between the two is the ingredients used to make the clay. Earthaenware clay is a type of mineral clay. Polymer clay is like moldable plastic.

Yes. Also, mineral clay doesn't come in colors- you have to glaze it.

cheddargirl wrote:

jji7skyline wrote:

cheddargirl wrote:

Dinoclor wrote:

Wow, those are amazing.
Have you considered using Etsy?

I have, but I don't think I'm in a good position to be selling stuff online right now. 


Well, what's your idea of a normal clay? There's many different types of clay: you have mineral clay (made of minerals), paper clay (made of paper), polymer clay (made with plasticizer and PVC), silicone clay (which is just silicone foam), etc.

I was thinking along the lines of natural clay, sold at craft shops... 

Greyish colour? 

Ah, you're probably talking about some kind of earthenware clay.

The big difference between the two is the ingredients used to make the clay. Earthenware clay is a type of mineral clay. Polymer clay is like moldable plastic.

I also have some clay that doesn't dry for some reason. I'm guessing it's some sort of plastic clay or something 

jji7skyline wrote:

cheddargirl wrote:

jji7skyline wrote:

I was thinking along the lines of natural clay, sold at craft shops... 

Greyish colour? 

Ah, you're probably talking about some kind of earthenware clay.

The big difference between the two is the ingredients used to make the clay. Earthenware clay is a type of mineral clay. Polymer clay is like moldable plastic.

I also have some clay that doesn't dry for some reason. I'm guessing it's some sort of plastic clay or something 

Sounds more like you have an oil-based clay. They're intended to never dry out.

cheddargirl wrote:

Wickimen wrote:

I love clay, what kind do you use? 

I use Sculpey Ultralight because it's lightweight, which is ideal for me since I use it for jewelry making. 

Actually, I just like polymer clay in general because it can be cured (baked) several times over.

Cool    I usually use Sculpey III or Premo! Sculpey. I didn't know they had a lightweight kind