Never Sand Again: Seriously! Secret Tools Series Pt 3

  I'm an 'Old School' clayer. I began claying in 1995, before the internet & a gazillion wonderful talented artists were at the ready to give sound advice for every polymer clay dilemma known. I do remember the 1st polymer clay book I purchased talked about the woes of fingerprints that can ruin our artwork. I had never seen a fingerprint in my clay, but I actively searched for them after that. Hmmm... no fingerprints... ever.

  Recently, I came across yet another article discussing the woes of fingerprints here on the internet. I had to really stop & think, why do so many clay artists find this a problem & it just never has been an issue for me. I never wear latex gloves & although I do strive to make my work clean, I'm not overly fussy to the point of anal with my projects. Plus, I have Never in all these years sanded a piece - EVER! Then, the lightbulb went off, I answered that age old clayers question & knew I should share the answer.

  Being 'old school' without any counsel... I recognized clayer issues & jumped for solutions. My interest was in covering larger pieces, but it was sooo hard spreading the clay uniformly over that 1st piece. (Giggles - I hadn't even heard of a pasta or clay machine.) I had popped in at a thrift store & found a gadget. I had absolutely no idea in the universe what it's purpose for existing was, but the minute I touched it I knew it was the solution to smoothing my clay. There was a plastic back that fit in the palm of my hand & it had this fabulous pad of 'something' - slightly softer than firm rubber but much firmer than a composite styrofoam. I picked up 4 of these 'whatevers' for a buck 2 decades ago & still have 2 left - WooHoo!    

  And what incredible 'doomahickies' they are! I press my gadget into my palm & use a kind of rolling action, pressing the base of my palm against my piece & roll upwards to my fingertips. And, because it's a larger gadget, it covers a Lot of surface quickly. Well, I had to do some real gadget surfing to even figure out what these little beauties are. A drumroll please as I introduce you to my beloved 'thingamadoohickie'...

 EZ Moves II  $15.50 + FREE Shipping / set of 4

I think this is them - WooHoo! Not much to look at I guess, you Really need to be able to touch that black pad that creates the finish on your artwork - Wow! Solid, smooth, perfect finish... Always! And so easy! No exaggeration, I have Never Ever sanded a piece, ever! I grabbed several gadgets to show you, but this looks exactly like what I have. They are called EZ Moves II & are made to move furniture on a carpeted surface. And, at $15.50 + FREE Shipping / set of 4 they are still a great buy. Keep in mind, I'm an 'Amazon.com' kinda gal... you may get an even better price at a store like Wal-Mart. Here's a few more to take a peak at OR you can google furniture moving pads. The 2 things to look for in your gadget are #1 - that hard plastic back plate that allows for firm uniform pressure application & #2 - the thickest 'cushy pad' possible.

 Super Sliders   $9.58 + FREE Shipping / set of 4

The company never gives the 'pad thickness' but one of the posters comments says nearly an inch

Thickness is iffy, but a good bargain

Heavy Furniture EasySliders  $18.06 + FREE Shipping /set of 4

These 5" squares have no plastic backing But you can see they are thick & well made

For smaller sized pieces these might be great siliconed to a piece of acrylic  or wood

Since this ol gal has Never sanded, you may be wondering about the finish on my pieces. Pieces are always perfectly smooth, never a mark or blemish. I have 3 final finishes I use. The 1st is 'natural', which looks much like any piece fine sanded & then completed with a matte or non high gloss finish. The 2nd (which I do most often) is to brush on a single coat of water based Varathane for a high polished glass-like finish. I do use 2-3 coats for pieces I'm putting outside. Not to protect them from the elements - polymer does fine outside without any seal, but I like to be able to clean off dirt & dust easily. The 3rd & final finish is to 'polish' the piece with my Dremel & wonderful buffing pads, from Amazon.com of course. It's pretty quick & easy  & my pieces really do look like genuine blown glass with a beautiful 'deep' glow. Here's a few of the Buffing pads I use if you are looking for ideas.

 

Left - 1.25" top, 2" base Cone Buffer       $7.72 + FREE Shipping
Middle -4" Extra Large Mushroom Buffer       $10.99 + FREE Shipping
Right - 3" Medium Mushroom Buffer       $6.99 + FREE Shipping


It just occurred to me, you may be thinking I'm starting to sound like an Amazon.com commercial... I sure hope that isn't the case! The way I view it... polymer clay can be an expensive hobby. I'm Always on the look-out for ways to cut expenses & work while bringing out the very best in our creations. Are furniture moving pads an expense you need? Well, you'll Never have to buy sand paper again... that savings will add up, right? Giggles, & hearing many of the artsts explaining the 'Joy of wet-sanding'... I get the impression they would pay someone to do that chore if they could  :-)

Off to show you how to save boodles on your clay expenses. (no amazon.com visits)
As always... Happy Claying

THE Tool Every Polymer Clay Artist Must Have...Seriously! Secret Tool Series Pt 2

Each of us were drawn to Polymer Clay for different reasons. For me personally... I adore clay because it's the Only medium that can mimic all of my passions in 1 fun filled playground! I love stained glass, Polymer can do that! I Love blown glass beads, mosaic work, natural & polished gemstones, ornate stone settings, & above all - I Adore millifiore & blown glass paperweights. Our polymer clay can do all that, and then some! We can perfectly duplicate carved ivory & bone (without ever harming a lovely critter), I enjoy covering boxes of cardboard, canisters, wood boxes, fired raw (unglazed) ceramic pieces, ceramic pots & vases & metal pieces of all types. And, of course... where would we be without a whimsical teapot or some uber cool steampunk art in our eye candy collection. Even wonderful delicate jewelry pieces NEED this secret weapon... & I've never heard anyone discuss them

Weapon #2 & THE Most Wonderful Tool:

Like Superman... they are quiet, boring, unassuming

Until it's time for them to rock our playground!

Plain old 'white' glue is categorized as PVA glue – PolyVinylAcetate. I positively

refuse to bore any of you with 'scientific' mumbo jumbo, so let's just say... they

are a match made in heaven! It can be used wet or dry & has 1001 different

clay related uses. I've been using it since 1995, not only has it opened a whole

new universe of 'Clay Play' possibilities in jewelry making, but... in

understanding the basics of PVA – it opened a whole new world of items I

can play with. Resin statues from thrift stores (ugly as sin) can be breathtaking

covered in clay. A ceramic pot with a big chip is like new & stunning

combined with a lovely clay coat. Plain old cardboard boxes become works

of art. ANY item other than 100% plastic is fair game now. PVA doesn't just

seal – it creates a 'suction cup' type of finish... NO more air bubbles!

Here's a few examples of 'thinking outside the box.

 Raw Unglazed Ceramics                     

  I pick up pieces at ceramic stores

  & thrift stores. Inexpensive! Slap on
  a coat of glue with 1 of those cheap

  sponge brushes, allow to dry for an

  hour & put on a 2^nd coat. Wait

  another hour & you will have a perfect

  non-pourous surface & your clay will

  stick like magic with NO bubbles!

Ceramic Tiles are in Clay!

Coat tiles & then create 1 single

tile OR create an entire mural 

as a backsplash for your sink. 

I'll even be sharing tutorials for 

mosaics & other fun stuff.

Raw = 2 coats of glue.

Already sealed = 1 coat.

FREE pattern books to come

 

Any Glass ~ Etched, Labels  or Raw,  etc

Glue creates a type of suction cup action on glass (& ALL non-porous surfaces). 

No more air bubbles!
Raw = 1 coat glue.    Paint, labels, etc = 2 coats

                                                    

 

ANY Wood ~ Raw OR Sealed

How about a raw wood cutting board to hang on wall?

 2 coats of glue & you are good to go. 

$1 Stores here in Las Vegas sell raw wood bird houses, statues & photo frames.

Let your imagination soar! 

                               Raw = 2 coats glue.      Already sealed = 1 coat

 Dimensional
      Pieces

Use Everywhere
you might think
about using Liquid
Clay for strong
sturdy pieces that

will last, even with
a lot of handling

   

Secure Jewelry Joints

 

Locks all joints, findings & even

multiple stamped

sheets sturdy as soldering

                                            
                           

Other 'White' Glue Benefits:

Can fill a Crack or Chip

Rubbery, has a bit of Flexible to it
Strong to handle Heavy Needs 

Can be Used while wet OR dry

If used after drying - forms suction

Strengthens Fragile Objects

Good even outdoors & in heat/cold

Sets quickly Without a heat gun

Dries clear with a glossy sheen

Can be tinted with acrylic paint, chalk & inks

ALSO Used for Specialty Techniques we'll be looking at like:

Faux Cloisonne', creating Cabochons & several other techniques 

Best of all, it's dirt cheap - WooHoo!

I stock up on Elmers All Purpose at the 'back to school' sale.

 Then I simply buy a gallon here or there from Dick Blicks

 

      Dick Blick Link Here: 

         Go ahead, 
   build that Teapot

            Build your 
    Heavy Journal
cover on Cardstock

       Have Fun 
   Experimenting!

See the Next 2 Posts for a few more Secret Claying Tools

#1: Never Sand Again ~ #2: Save HUGE $ on your Clay

 

& as always... Happy Claying

NOTE: Alice Stroppel has done it yet again... 
shared her Brilliant idea to store canes for easy access.

you can read the whole story right here...      Alice Stroppel Studio 215  

Be sure that you sign up for her Email OR G+ OR Bloglovin - She Rules!

Meanwhile - her post recommends clear plastic stackable storage bins for cane display

Since PC & hard plastic aren't compatible, 
she recommends tempered glass sheets for each tray.

This is an Excellent idea!

IF your budget is tight OR the support the trays sit on 
can't handle the extra tempered weight...

get out your 'White Glue'

Put on 2 coats with 1 hour dry time in between & You will be good to go

& don't forget to do the side walls, just in case a cane touches

Ok, now for a heads up on how to avoid sanding... ever!

Happy Claying 

Homemade Polymer Cane Slicer - Olga Nicolas

Look how pretty the finished Slicer is - WooHoo!

Folded Crumpled Clay + Bracelet - 123Clay

Lucy Clay Mini Slicer Rant, Followed by BRILLIANT Slicer Ideas - Secret Tool Series Pt 1

The ability to make a Perfect cane or slab slice is a goal we all share. How often have we needed a paper thin slice, only to find the top half of the slice is a bit to thick & we're so off course by the base it's 3x times thicker than what we intended? Not to mention, the waste of cutting away the 'unsquared' waste to get back to a straight edge? It can be frustrating! The straight cut is especially more difficult for me, because I work on Large Pieces covered in clay. My canes & slabs are often a foot long (12") & can be 6-8" wide & 4-8" tall.
The waste involved in just 1 bad cut is crazy... & without a tool to keep me on track, there would be a Lot of waste!

So, let's resolve the Slicing issue once & for all! But, let's do it WITHOUT spending hundreds of dollars, shall we? But first, a much needed rant. Although it will most likely seem just plain mean spirited... I give you my word - I share this rant to help you avoid a costly mistake such as I made, ok? So, here goes...

Lucy Clay Mini Slicer... SUCKS!!!

There, I said it. Why is my humble opinion so negative? I must say, a big part of it is my own fault. They give specs for their slicer as130mm x 170mm. Since I'm in the US & metric measurements mean less than nothing here... I'm totally clueless. So, I based my assumptions on this photo, trying to judge size. Hmmm, photo looks ok.

Dumb bunny me, I looked at width of the blade & how far back the base plate extended. I knew I could put in a longer base plate. Ok, let's look at what I Didn't see. The overhead arch (roof) limits us to a Maximum cane or slab height of 1 7/8" inch high PLUS 1 7/8" width. Uh oh, trouble in paradise. But wait... it get's even better. Let's pretend I reduce away my canes & try to work within the height & width limitations... at least there's still plenty of length for a long cane, right???  Look closely at this photo & let's compare it to another.

 How funny, they completely managed to hide the maximum cane or slab length in the last photo. As you can see, we are left with a whopping 2" (inches) length of cane... MAXIMUM! Who in the universe works with such teansie canes??? A nail artist maybe? OK, let's pretend I'm not a total moron for a moment & pretend I understood the size limitations. Well, you have a blade that's locked in place on 1 end that you raise & lower to slice your canes. You have to keep pressing the blade against the 'Arch' to try to get a straight slice, & because the maximum combined weight of slicer (made from a laminated compressed paper) & the tiny cane is a few ounces at best - pressing the blade against the arch sends the whole gadget sailing across your work surface. Lets pretend you refuse to accept you just threw away $120- USD & GLUE the slicer to your work surface, now you find the little mat your cane sits on has a little shimmy as you apply pressure... so no matter what you do - there seems to be No Way possible to get a straight cut - even from the tiniest canes. I guess if you are a nail artist ... a Perfect uniform cut isn't essential & this may well be the gadget for you! Be warned though... they are going to be getting $24- USD PLUS hefty shipping fees to the US for replacement blades... ouch. In Lucy Clays'  defense, although shipping is a bit steep (I'm spoiled on Amazon's free shipping) they had this slicer to me from the Czech Republic in 4 days - WOW!

I must say, there are a Lot of notable Polymer Artists out there using & demoing the full sized Lucy Clay Slicer & I'm certain it's a much better tool & was much more along the lines of what I actually thought I was getting as far as tool specs & size of canes & slabs it can handle... but at $248- USD - I just can't justify that kind of investment. I clay for amusement, not a living & have a somewhat limited budget.

Thank you for your patience, now... let's get to the Good stuff - killer deals on slicers that the snappy gadgets just can't get near!

Thinking outside the box... SLICERS

1:  You can build your own homemade slicer. I made my own 'Plexiglas' body slicer that worked really good for a few years. I will post several articles right after this for How-To's. Bare in mind, most give specs to accommodate smaller canes. You can make your slicer any size, but I found you will need to put a bar (or 2) across the top - locking the top of each side bar together for added stability to handle the Really large canes & slabs.

Video How To by Olga Nicolas

OK, you just wanna play in your clay 
without all the handiman build it yourself stuff, no problem!


And, you'll save a Bundle, WooHoo!

Mitre Boxes have been in use for 1,000's of years - the ideal easy way to make perfect cuts in pieces of wood, but... they work just as well if not even better for our polymer clay canes & slabs.

Here's a Quick & Simple video to show you how easy they are... on wood  :-)

   

How do they compare in price 
to those official snappy polymer slicers?

Get ready to do the Happy Dance!

2: Mini Slicer  Mitre Tool - $10.71 & FREE Shipping
     Slot Angles 45* & 90*, 5-1/2" Length x 1-3/4" Wide x 3/4" High
     Aluminum construction will last forever! Awesome Low Price - Woop!

Zona 35-260 Aluminum Wide Slot Miter Box

3:  Small Slicer  Mitre Tool - $11.23 & FREE Shipping

      Slot Angles 45* & 90*,  9-7/8" Length x 2" wide x 2-3/4" Height

      Aluminum body lasts forever & includes wood base insert to protect blade  

Shop Fox D3201 Aluminum Miter Box Large

4:  Medium Slicer  Mitre Tool - $28.00 + $7.70 shipping

      Slot angle - Straight forward 90*, Measures 4 5/8" wide x 3 1/2 " high

      Stainless Steel Polished Metal, Long Lasting - original purpose is to slice bar soap

      (Note: Couldn't find length - I would put in Plexiglas base of desired length)

      ~ Comes with Wavy Blade, see below for blade alternatives ~

 Stainless Steel Soapmaking Miter Box

Drum Roll Please...My Personal Favorites

5:  Large Slicer  Mitre Tool + Saw - $18.47 & FREE Shipping
     Slot Angles 90*, 45*, 45* Diagonal  PLUS 22-1/2* for PERFECT Octagon Shapes  
     19" Length x 5.5" Width x 3.5" Height - ABS Plastic with good warranty 

Stanley 19-800 Saw Storage Mitre Box with 12-Inch Backsaw

   

 

6:  Large Slicer  Mitre Tool -  $10.43 & FREE Shipping

      Slot Angles 90*, 45*, 45* Diagonal  PLUS 22-1/2* for PERFECT Octagon Shapes  

      4.4" Wide x 4.5" Height x 12.2" Length - Over-all measurements, still decent sized 

     Stanley 20-112 Clamping Miter Box

     

7:  Large Slicer  Mitre Tool + Saw - $23.89 & FREE Shipping 
      Slot Angles 90*, 45*, 45* Diagonal  PLUS 22-1/2* for PERFECT Octagon Shapes
      4-3/4" Wide x 3" Height  x 14" Length - Hard ABS Plastic + Warranty

 Stanley 20-600 Clamping Mitre Box with Saw

 I have #6 above & Adore it! Perfect slices are easy cheesy!

 You will want to place a piece of plexiglas or another protective piece in the floor,
It will make moving your cane & faster cutting easy.

Quick Info on Alternate Slicers

Depending on the Mitre Box you select, you may need a longer blade to make your slices.

Here are a few options to consider:

1:  Life of the Party Soap Cutter - $8.86 & FREE Shipping

      7.5" Wide x 5" Height Clearance - Made in the U.S.A.

2:  Commercial Crinkle Cutter with Double Riveted Handle - $3.72 & FREE Shipping
      7.5" Wide x 4.6 " Height Clearance

3:  Culina Premium Stainless Steel Rocking Cutter - $8.95 & FREE Shipping
      14.5" Wide x 4.4" Height Clearance

4:  Commercial Grade Gourmet Rocking Slicer - $19.95 & FREE Shipping
      14" Wide x 8" Height - No Clearance Limits... This is the one I have

 

One final note... Although I have sharpening stones... IF you have a 'Sharpening' company or service in your area... they'll renew your sharpest edges for a buck or 2 as a rule.

Remember, always be thinking 'Outside the Box' & as always...
Happy Claying

  

Extruded Scottish Cane: Version 4 - Cristalline.blogspot.com

Extruded Scottish Cane: Version 3 - Cristalline.blogspot.com

Extruded Scottish Cane: Version 2 - Cristalline.blogspot.com

Extruded Scottish Canes: Version 1 - Cristalline.blogspot.com

Small Note: after production: there are bugs in the lines .. . Canne slightly soft, the simple version (that of the 6th photo) was tighter: I would not have continued p'têtre reduction and worse as I thought the double line in the large light green square, it would a nice effect that it gave at the end. Well, it's not too serious, I was still made ​​owls buttons and I was too lazy to redo the trick to show pictures all nickelles ... Me not mind ;-)? So here are the series of steps: attention to rigor, nothing must exceed if not, it's curling right online!

Pink Gardenia Flower Cane - Cristalline.blogspot.com