[Grace] resin-like clay

Product Information

Best for: Deepening and enriching dark colors, giving a warm sheen to smooth clay. Liquid Polymer Clay Another source of this type of brush-on resin is sold by Teresa Salgado in her Tiny Pandora shop. Teresa calls this Deep Shine. This is a UV cure resin that’s thin enough to brush on with a brush. Troubles with Resin There are also opaque and tinted sealants available or you can create them on your own by blending clear sealants and paints. Epoxy clays can release toxic vapors when heated. While most people don’t think of these clays when discussing air-dry clay, they do fall in that category, so they need to be mentioned. Liquid epoxy resin is the best sealant if you’re looking for a high level of protection. It will provide the strongest water-resistance and keep your pottery safe from outdoor weather damage.

If you’re already planning to transform your air-dry clay into a colorful masterpiece with paint, then acrylic or water-based paints would be a great option for you to add the element of water resistance. Resinsare quite hard after curing and are crystal clear. The surface will be extremely glossy and can’t be easily peeled or lifted from a project. While you can apply resin to curved pieces, it is an advanced technique, so I only recommend applying resin to flat pieces until you have a really good feel for how to use it. Resin is lovely on sparkly or mica-covered projects as it will intensify the sparkle. Resin is a rewarding finish, but it has a huge learning curve, and your first few projects will likely incur a few tears and swear words. Always apply resin after baking your polymer clay project. It cannot be baked. There are three types of clear-coat resins as follows.

Yes, you can waterproof air dry clay. All that you need do is to apply a coat of an appropriate sealer. Our personal recommendation is to use either epoxy resin or polyurethane varnishes. Epoxy sealants are more durable but both are available in waterproof formulas and are fairly easy to apply. Does air-dry clay need to be sealed before painting? Because UV resins cure before they can run off your piece, they can be used on curved surfaces. Just brush them on. Wait just a minute for the brush strokes to settle, then cure under a light. You can do this with any UV resin, but Teresa Pandora Salgado sells her DeepShine Resin. If you’re new to UV resin, this is a great way to get started. Polyester Resin Renaissance Wax does a lovely job enriching a smooth polymer clay surface. Just apply a thin coating, let dry for a few minutes, then buff with a cloth. This will work sort of like wetting a beach pebble and can enrich a dark clay surface. Wax can also change the appearance of surface treatments, such as paint, chalk, and mica powders. I like to think of waxes as being a surface treatment themselves and not a protectant. For traditional pottery made with pottery clay, the creations need to be fired in a kiln to cure and properly seal. Once the clay has been cured, it’s generally safe to use with water and food.

At this point I’ll share a little tip regarding the gloves. The ones provided in the kit are for average ladies hands but being a tall lady myself my hands are on the large size. This made the gloves a little snug but this actually worked to my advantage as it made the clay easier to work with. There were no creases for the clay to slip under and no creases to leave impressions in the clay surface when working. I’d advise buying your own disposable vinyl gloves from the supermarket in a size smaller than your usual if you have any problems with the pair supplied with the clay. Best for: Sealing surface treatments, creating a glossy effect, and enriching translucent projects. Acrylic VarnishesThey are both considered waterproof and stand up to weathering well. All other types like PVA, acrylic, and Mod Podge can be sensitive to moister. Even outdoor acrylic paint can cloud or deteriorate when exposed to wet conditions or UV radiation. Cons: Health concerns, yellows with time, annoying to use, cannot be rebaked. Visual Comparison of Resin Alternatives You can always use an additional layer of sealant over the paint to give your pottery an extra layer of protection, but there’s no need for a base layer of sealant before painting. What Is The Best Sealant For Air Dry Clay? Yes, many air-dry clays are flammable. That is why they should never be heated past 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celsius). Exceeding these temperatures can result in the spontaneous combustion of your work. Does baking air-dry clay make it stronger? There are some acrylics that will make your clay water resistant but not waterproof. These work well in humid climates but many will cloud if left exposed to water for too long a period of time. Mod Podge also makes a dishwasher-safe sealant that is reportedly waterproof, but we haven’t tried it ourselves so hesitate to recommend it.

However, if you are going to be cleaning your work with damp rags, placing it outdoors, or you live in a humid climate then it is advisable to apply a sealer to prevent your projects from degrading over time. Don’t pour your UV resin while sitting near a sunny window or even with strong light. Even ambient light has some ability to begin the cure process. UV Resin should always be kept in a dark cabinet and preferably in a dark bottle because strong light can cause it to cure, especially over time. Brands of UV Cure Resin Any holes or missed patches in the varnish seal will weaken the water resistance and make your pottery more susceptible to water damage. Acrylic Or Water-Based Paints Water-based and non-toxic Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge is safe for kids and pets making it an ideal sealant to use in school and home settings. It has a very high gloss and provides above-average waterproof characteristics.

Doodlecraft

This product dries to a very fine, smooth finish. To glue pieces together, you should use super glue, hot glue or epoxy glue. Resin clay can be painted, or dyed by kneading acrylic paint into it (we recommend using the white option for this.) Finished pieces need to be varnished to ensure longevity. Inspect again with the magnifying glasses. Look for any bubbles that are lodged down in crevices or textures. Use a needle tool to encourage them to surface. If your item is fairly smooth and you want a glass-like shine, any resin can give you this effect. Thin coats of brushed-on resin work well for this, too, but only if you have already removed the surface flaws. Brushing resin overa bumpy surface will just accentuate the bumps. Available in gloss, matte, and satin formulas Vallejo Polyurethane Varnish is a water-based finish of superior purity. When dry it is UV and water-resistant and goes on very smoothly. It can be brushed or sponged with ease and provides a crystal clear finish that will not yellow or cloud with exposure to sunlight or damp conditions. Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating

Air-dry clay is wonderful to work with for novices and experts alike. Many of the techniques you can use with it easily transfer over to working with ceramics and pottery. This makes it an ideal introductory medium for people just starting to explore working with clay. It also makes air-dry clay an inexpensive way for experienced crafters to perfect their skills. There are many ways to seal air-dry clay, including coating it with common white glue. The best method to seal it is with one or more coats of polyurethane varnish or an acrylic sealer. Both can be had in gloss, semi-gloss, and matt finishes and provide a non-porous coating. Can you microwave air-dry clay? Renaissance Wax has persuasivemarketing that’s convinced many people, including many polymer clay artists, that it’s an all-purpose protective material. That’s not exactly true. It is a high-quality microcrystalline wax used to coat metals against corrosion and tarnish. It will also enrich the appearance ofmaterials such as tortoise shell or ivory. Because it’s acid-free, it doesn’t contain chemicals that can degrade artifacts. It is archival. But that doesn’t mean it’s a superior protective coating for all purposes. It can build up and attract dirt. Now that we’ve discussed a little bit about the natural state of air-dry clay and warned you against using it as a material to serve food with, let’s get into the methods for making air-dry clay water-resistant. 1. Varnish

Resources, guides & advice from the jewellery making experts

Each of these sealing methods has their own strengths and weaknesses and are best used for specific purposes. We’ll review each method in detail so you can determine which method is best for your pottery creation made with air-dry clay. Why Air Dry Clay Isn’t Waterproof