Cheap Ways To Make Polymer Clay Tools

January 14th, 2009 admin Posted in Articles | Comments Off

I've been using and playing with polymer clay for over 10 years now. When I first started I was in junior high, I didn't have a lot of money, and I didn't have many supplies. Most of my money went into polymer clay and then I didn't have enough to purchase tools, which were expensive, costing as much as $10-50 tool.

So I had to get creative. Through my creativity I was able to come up with some of the best tools that cost my pennies or less, and I still use them today.

My favorite tools are knitting needles. My grandma does a lot of knitting and I was at her house one day, and I put the idea to use those with sculpting. You can get knitting needles in all sorts of sizes, and they make good smoothing and manipulating tools for edges and hard to reach places.

Dental tools - I went to my dentist and asked him if he had any old sets. He said that they through out tools on occassion and promised me some. After going home and immediately boiling them for sanitary reasons, they are great. I also pick up algernate from the Dentist for making one-off molds.

Texture tools - For texturing tools I tried to think of the texture I need and find a material that replicates it. For hair, I simply take several sewing needles, push them down in a pencil shaped polymer clay tube that I've rolled, and then bake it. Or I have used leaves, and leather, and shoes, and rocks, and you get the picture.

That's the easiest tool though is find the shape you need in objects you already have. If they can be baked make a "snakey" with polymer clay and jab the end of the clay with the object firmly in place. After baking you have a tool that will last you a life time.

For makeshift rolling pins I have used toilet paper or paper towel rolls, weighted the inside with rocks or something, heavy and plugged the ends with clay.

These are just a few ideas for you to make cheap tools with good results.