Sculptors can rely on a number of tools to easily make their creations. Polymer clay tools come in a range of options to suit every project. Knives are a great way to safely cut canes and other work. Rollers allow hobbyists to create thin sheets of clay that can easily be used for nail art or to decorate a favorite cell phone. Ovens are another tool and can easily harden polymer clay creations with precise heating. Jewelry making can be facilitated with products that are designed to assist in making beads and including them on necklaces and bracelets.

Information on a variety of tools for polymer clay are listed below.

Cutting Polymer Clay

Knives are an essential tool and are necessary to safely cut canes and other patterns. There are many options available and they feature designs that allow safe cutting and ease of use. A wire cutter is another tool that can cut sculptures and is ideal for cutting clay canes. Leaf patterns can also stamp out clay sheets in a number of realistic looking patterns for a great decoration or ornament. Sculptures that require fine detailing will be enhanced with tools that feature fine tips for easy cutting.

Molds

Molds provide sculptors a number of ways to professionally cut and finish a variety of different shapes. This is the best way to ensure that ornaments and jewelry have a sharp finish, and these products can easily mold polymer clay into a number of different designs. Dolls and fairy molds can shape clay and are easy to use.

Jewelry Tools

Hobbyists can make professional looking jewelry when they use tools that provide a number of features. Beads can easily be made with tools that are designed to shape and finish these ornaments. They can provide sculptors with a uniform bead and cut holes in the exact center of the product. This allows for beads to be included on necklaces or bracelets. A bead baking rack will bake beads so they don’t lose their shape during the drying process.

Baking Tools

Polymer clay is hardened when it is baked in an oven that heats the material to precise temperatures.

Premo:Hardens in oven at 275ºF (130ºC) for 30 minutes per ¼” thickness.

Cernit:Bake in preheated oven at 215-270º from 5-20 minutes depending on model size. Important – if you find Cernit either too soft(1) or too hard(2) for modeling, (1)warm in a preheated oven at 120ºF for 15 minutes and then allow to aircool; (2)warm in preheated oven at 120ºF for 5 minutes, and start to work immediately.

Fimo Classic: Easy to harden in the oven (20-30 minutes, maximum 265ºF. Use a domestic oven thermometer to observe temperature. Do not inhale baking fumes.

Fimo Soft: Harden in home oven at 265ºF/130ºC for approximately 30 minutes.

Sculpey III: Better than clay – hardens in oven. Bake 10-20 minutes at 275ºF in home oven.

Sculpey Modeling Compound: Sculpey bakes permanently hard in your home oven, 15-20 minutes at 275ºF.

Super Sculpey: Bake on ovenproof glass in 275ºF (130ºC) oven for 15 minutes per ¼” (6mm) of thickness. DO NOT USE A MICROWAVE OVEN. Avoid overbaking. Use good ventilation while baking.

The above are Manufacturers’ Recommended Baking Instructions

 

Polymer clay tools enable hobbyists and professionals to easily create a number of professional looking products.

Sculpting Tools:

 

 

 

 

Patterns and instructions: Provide hobbyists a way to create a number of items from polymer clay and can be found for dolls, gnomes, fairies and a host of other great works of art and useful products.