Non-drying clay, specifically polymer clay, doesn't dry out through air exposure; instead, it requires heat to cure and harden.
Understanding Non-Drying Clay
Non-drying clays like polymer clay are designed to stay pliable until you choose to harden them. This property is quite different from traditional clays, which dry and harden naturally. Here are some key points about polymer clay:
- No Air Drying: Polymer clay will not harden or dry out when exposed to air. This means you can take your time crafting and not worry about your clay becoming unusable too quickly.
- Heat Curing: To make polymer clay hard and permanent, it must be baked or cured in an oven. This process initiates a chemical reaction that solidifies the clay.
- Workability: Until baked, polymer clay remains workable and can be molded, shaped, and re-worked as desired. This makes it ideal for intricate projects.
The Curing Process
Since non-drying clay does not dry out naturally, "drying out" it is not the right term. Instead, you need to cure it. Here is how the curing process works:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to the temperature recommended by the manufacturer of your polymer clay.
- Place Clay: Place your completed polymer clay creation onto a baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake the clay for the recommended time per the manufacturer instructions.
- Cool: After baking, let the clay cool completely. This will ensure it's fully hardened.
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Preheat | Heat the oven to the correct temp | Ensures the clay cures properly |
| 2. Place Clay | Put clay on baking sheet | Gets the clay ready for baking |
| 3. Bake | Bake at recommended temp/time | Hardens the clay through a chemical reaction |
| 4. Cool | Allow clay to cool | Completes the hardening process |
In Summary
Non-drying clay, such as polymer clay, will not dry out from exposure to air. Instead, it must be baked in an oven to cure and become hard. According to the reference, polymer clay remains workable until cured in the oven, and only then will it become permanently hardened.
