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#1
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Combining Clays, Redux
Well, that shipment of round tuits finally arrived, and I've started
fiddling around with the polyclay I've accumulated over the past couple of years. I noticed that I wasn't buying clay with any particular purpose in mind, so I found that I have, say, 4 blocks of translucent, and 3 of silver, a couple of beige, etc.. I did an inventory this morning, and discovered that I also have different types/brands of clay -- depending on whether or not that type had a color I *thought* that I needed at the time.... ) I've worked with Fimo in the past, but it doesn't seem to be as available as the Sculpey products. Consequently, all of the clay I have now is Sculpey -- and Sculpey III, Premo and Granitex. All the baking times/temperatures appear to be the same across the different types. So, other than the price (Premo seems to be the most expensive, comparatively speaking), what is the difference in the clays, and how much trouble am I likely to get into (either now or down the road) when I combine them? Arondelle -- ================================================== ========= To email me, empty the pond with a net Shop eBay with me: http://snipurl.com/3usr Visit Arondelle's Dream Worlds at: http://www.arondelle.com Read my Blog: http://www.angelfire.com/blog/arondelle/index.html |
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#2
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The difference in the clays seems to be one of hardness. Sculpey, the bulk
white stuff is almost as soft and easy to break as chalk. Sculpey lll is almost that soft too. The troubles you may have will depend largely on what you want to do with the stuff. Are you talking about combining the clays as in mixing two clays of different types together to make a new color, or as in using two clays in the same project? Premo and the other more expensive brands tend to flex rather than break *for small bits like fingers*. HTH Diana (yep, that Diana) -- Queen of FAQs Royal Peace Maker http://photos.yahoo.com/lunamom44 "Arondelle" wrote in message ... Well, that shipment of round tuits finally arrived, and I've started fiddling around with the polyclay I've accumulated over the past couple of years. I noticed that I wasn't buying clay with any particular purpose in mind, so I found that I have, say, 4 blocks of translucent, and 3 of silver, a couple of beige, etc.. I did an inventory this morning, and discovered that I also have different types/brands of clay -- depending on whether or not that type had a color I *thought* that I needed at the time.... ) I've worked with Fimo in the past, but it doesn't seem to be as available as the Sculpey products. Consequently, all of the clay I have now is Sculpey -- and Sculpey III, Premo and Granitex. All the baking times/temperatures appear to be the same across the different types. So, other than the price (Premo seems to be the most expensive, comparatively speaking), what is the difference in the clays, and how much trouble am I likely to get into (either now or down the road) when I combine them? Arondelle -- ================================================== ========= To email me, empty the pond with a net Shop eBay with me: http://snipurl.com/3usr Visit Arondelle's Dream Worlds at: http://www.arondelle.com Read my Blog: http://www.angelfire.com/blog/arondelle/index.html |
#3
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Most of the literature I have seen suggests that clays are similar enough
chemically to mix. They also say to expect mixtures of cheaper clays with "better" ones like Premo or Fimo to be intermediate in durablity. I would prefer to use Premo, as it is supposed to be stronger. But it is easy to overwork and gets too soft and sticky. I have found that combining Fimo and Premo gives a material which is easier to handle. Note: this works best if you break or cut up equal amounts of both, work them together (use the softer Premo to keep picking up crumbs of Fimo) and work them by hand until soft enough to run through the pasta machine a few times. Let the mixture sit overnight and then later, it will be easier to work - not as dry and crumbly as Fimo, not as soft and sticky as Premo (I think the plasticizer has to equilibrate throughout the mass of clay). If there is a Michael's craft store in your area, they carry Fimo and often have sales. ---Ray Jones--- All the baking times/temperatures appear to be the same across the different types. So, other than the price (Premo seems to be the most expensive, comparatively speaking), what is the difference in the clays, and how much trouble am I likely to get into (either now or down the road) when I combine them? Arondelle |
#4
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Diana Curtis wrote:
The difference in the clays seems to be one of hardness. Sculpey, the bulk white stuff is almost as soft and easy to break as chalk. Sculpey lll is almost that soft too. The troubles you may have will depend largely on what you want to do with the stuff. Are you talking about combining the clays as in mixing two clays of different types together to make a new color, or as in using two clays in the same project? Premo and the other more expensive brands tend to flex rather than break *for small bits like fingers*. HTH Diana (yep, that Diana) Hi, Diana! I'll be mixing colors, adding translucent to flat colors to make them "glow" or using two different colors for a marbling effect. I'll mostly be making cabs and faces, so there won't be very many small bits or thin spots that might break off. Fimo is *very* rubbery, once baked, but still prone to breaking. You can cut the stuff with scissors, but sanding is not an easy thing to do. My Sculpey test pieces (so far) are harder and more ceramic-like, and ultimately sandable (which is a good thing, since I need to sand the backs of the cabs flat). I haven't gotten into the Premo yet. Do you suppose that adding "elasticlay" to regular Sculpey would make it less brittle? Arondelle -- ================================================== ========= To email me, empty the pond with a net Shop eBay with me: http://snipurl.com/3usr Visit Arondelle's Dream Worlds at: http://www.arondelle.com Read my Blog: http://www.angelfire.com/blog/arondelle/index.html |
#5
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Ive never tried elasticlay so really cant guess what it might do to Sculpey.
For making cabs mixing the clays really shouldnt be a problem. One thing to consider too is how the different clays react to buffing. Sculpy will get a matte shine while the other clays get a more high gloss. Thats nice if you dont want to use a sealer on it, and just buff it to glossiness. Have you taken a look at www.glassattic.com ? They may have all the answers youre looking for there. Diana -- Queen of FAQs Royal Peace Maker http://photos.yahoo.com/lunamom44 "Arondelle" wrote in message ... Diana Curtis wrote: The difference in the clays seems to be one of hardness. Sculpey, the bulk white stuff is almost as soft and easy to break as chalk. Sculpey lll is almost that soft too. The troubles you may have will depend largely on what you want to do with the stuff. Are you talking about combining the clays as in mixing two clays of different types together to make a new color, or as in using two clays in the same project? Premo and the other more expensive brands tend to flex rather than break *for small bits like fingers*. HTH Diana (yep, that Diana) Hi, Diana! I'll be mixing colors, adding translucent to flat colors to make them "glow" or using two different colors for a marbling effect. I'll mostly be making cabs and faces, so there won't be very many small bits or thin spots that might break off. Fimo is *very* rubbery, once baked, but still prone to breaking. You can cut the stuff with scissors, but sanding is not an easy thing to do. My Sculpey test pieces (so far) are harder and more ceramic-like, and ultimately sandable (which is a good thing, since I need to sand the backs of the cabs flat). I haven't gotten into the Premo yet. Do you suppose that adding "elasticlay" to regular Sculpey would make it less brittle? Arondelle -- ================================================== ========= To email me, empty the pond with a net Shop eBay with me: http://snipurl.com/3usr Visit Arondelle's Dream Worlds at: http://www.arondelle.com Read my Blog: http://www.angelfire.com/blog/arondelle/index.html |
#6
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Premo can be too soft when you have a fresh batch of it. Leaching it makes
it easy to work with. Dawn Stubitsch http://www.thumbprintkids.com http://www.thumbprintkids.com/pages/caketoppers.html "Ray Jones" wrote in message s.com... Most of the literature I have seen suggests that clays are similar enough chemically to mix. They also say to expect mixtures of cheaper clays with "better" ones like Premo or Fimo to be intermediate in durablity. I would prefer to use Premo, as it is supposed to be stronger. But it is easy to overwork and gets too soft and sticky. I have found that combining Fimo and Premo gives a material which is easier to handle. Note: this works best if you break or cut up equal amounts of both, work them together (use the softer Premo to keep picking up crumbs of Fimo) and work them by hand until soft enough to run through the pasta machine a few times. Let the mixture sit overnight and then later, it will be easier to work - not as dry and crumbly as Fimo, not as soft and sticky as Premo (I think the plasticizer has to equilibrate throughout the mass of clay). If there is a Michael's craft store in your area, they carry Fimo and often have sales. ---Ray Jones--- All the baking times/temperatures appear to be the same across the different types. So, other than the price (Premo seems to be the most expensive, comparatively speaking), what is the difference in the clays, and how much trouble am I likely to get into (either now or down the road) when I combine them? Arondelle |
#7
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You shouldn't have any problems mixing the different brands of clays.
I do it all the time and have not had any problems. What you should watch for is purchasing the clay in the summer, late summer. It tends to be much stiffer than it is in the winter. It sits in those hot semi-trucks and starts to cure. I prefer to purchase my clay in the winter, it's always much fresher. But if you do get some hard slightly cured clay, you can always add one of the softer brands to it and soften it up. I do that by taking one part translucent to 3 parts of the problem clay and it blends in just find and the color had not changed much at all. |
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