Polymer Clay Conditioning
Before clay can be used it needs to be conditioned. Basically like blu-tac or plasticine, polymer clay isn't at it's best working condition straight out of the pack. Working or conditioning the clay helps to soften and prepare it for being worked, modeled and molded.
There are several ways to condition clay. You can roll, squeeze and fold it between your thumb and forefinger for several minutes. This can become a tiresome chore and can leave you with sore fingers so the next two options might be more ideal.
You can place the clay on your work surface and roll it with your Acrylic Clay Roller. Fold and roll, alternating between vertical and horizontal folds to mix the clay through. The best and easiest way to condition clay is with a clay roller machine. If you have one, this is the time to get it out! Start with the widest setting and squeeze the clay down into a roughly oval shape. Feed the clay through your roller and fold it in half once. Feed it back through the machine and fold it over again. Continue this process until you notice the clay has become much softer and easier to work.
You may find some clays may be a little brittle and tend to crumble. This can happen from time to time for a number of reasons. Some colours, particularly darker colours and browns can be inherently more brittle. Some older pieces of clay and even just the odd batch due to variation in consistency can lead to a more brittle clay. If this is the case, use a single drop of Clay Softener.
Roll and condition the clay over and over again until the softener is worked through. Add another drop if needed, up to several drops of softener over time. Remember, it's better to use a single drop at a time. You can always add another drop, but you can't remove a drop if you've worked too much softener into your clay piece!
When using softener you may find the colour of the clay begins to coat your fingers and the roller. When this starts to happen, you need to work the clay through and through with the roller without adding more softener. Wet baby wipes are ideal for cleaning your hands, the work surface and your roller. hold onto the wipe as you turn the handle of the roller machine to allow the wipes to rub down the entire roller surface.
There are several ways to condition clay. You can roll, squeeze and fold it between your thumb and forefinger for several minutes. This can become a tiresome chore and can leave you with sore fingers so the next two options might be more ideal.
You can place the clay on your work surface and roll it with your Acrylic Clay Roller. Fold and roll, alternating between vertical and horizontal folds to mix the clay through. The best and easiest way to condition clay is with a clay roller machine. If you have one, this is the time to get it out! Start with the widest setting and squeeze the clay down into a roughly oval shape. Feed the clay through your roller and fold it in half once. Feed it back through the machine and fold it over again. Continue this process until you notice the clay has become much softer and easier to work.
You may find some clays may be a little brittle and tend to crumble. This can happen from time to time for a number of reasons. Some colours, particularly darker colours and browns can be inherently more brittle. Some older pieces of clay and even just the odd batch due to variation in consistency can lead to a more brittle clay. If this is the case, use a single drop of Clay Softener.
Roll and condition the clay over and over again until the softener is worked through. Add another drop if needed, up to several drops of softener over time. Remember, it's better to use a single drop at a time. You can always add another drop, but you can't remove a drop if you've worked too much softener into your clay piece!
When using softener you may find the colour of the clay begins to coat your fingers and the roller. When this starts to happen, you need to work the clay through and through with the roller without adding more softener. Wet baby wipes are ideal for cleaning your hands, the work surface and your roller. hold onto the wipe as you turn the handle of the roller machine to allow the wipes to rub down the entire roller surface.
