To make polymer clay firmer, you can speed up the natural leaching process.
Making Polymer Clay Firmer: Speeding Up Leaching
Polymer clay can sometimes be too soft for certain techniques or preferences. This softness is due to plasticizers (oils) in the clay. A natural way for the clay to firm up is through a process called leaching, where some of these oils are absorbed by porous materials. You can accelerate this process to achieve firmer clay more quickly.
A Simple Method to Firm Clay
Based on information from Sculpey.com, speeding up the leaching process is a straightforward way to make your polymer clay firmer. Here’s how you can do it:
- Prepare: Take the soft polymer clay you wish to firm up.
- Add a Barrier: Place a barrier sheet directly over the clay. Suitable materials for this barrier include:
- Wax paper
- Deli paper
- Apply Weight: Place a heavy object on top of the barrier sheet and clay. A heavy book is a common and effective choice.
This method helps absorb some of the excess oils from the clay into the barrier paper, resulting in a firmer consistency. While this technique is helpful when your clay is too soft, the reference notes that it is not always necessary for every project or every batch of clay.
