Comments on: Sanding polymer clay… oh joy…. Not!

By: Gloria

Gloria — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:45:57 +0000

Here is my tip for 2009:
I discovered that if you take the clay out of the oven and still is a little hot, you may spray your beads with Future floor wax, the liquid one -carefull because you may get your fingers burnt-
Let it dry and there you go: as shiny as glass!

By: rupydetequila

rupydetequila — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:23:35 +0000

I need to say make everything as smooth as you can before baking =)

By: Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor

Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:40:40 +0000

I’ve been using those plastic containers you buy frosting in, inside my rubber barrel to keep the beads from getting black. But I like Mel’s idea for using a plastic peanut butter jar way better! Since the volume is greater I’ll be able to do way more beads!

For those of you that don’t sand smooth beads, you’re really doing your beads a disservice. Make fewer beads if you must, but never sacrifice the quality.

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:23:12 +0000

There was an article about using a tumbler in Polymer Cafe. The author suggested cutting the sandpaper to a certain size. I cannot find the specific issue, but I’ll keep looking.

Or if you subscribe, I’m sure it was sometime in 2007.

By: Mary Kaye

Mary Kaye — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:22:24 +0000

I want you all to know that after reading Mel’s post about using plastic jars with her tumbler, I spent a whole day looking for plastic jars. Couldn’t find any but did find inexpensive glass jars at Hobby Lobby ($2.63 each) that were the EXACT size as the double barrels on my tumbler, which has been sitting on a table for 2 months while I tried to get my husband to help me do the alterations described on Desiree’s Help Desk.

I bought the two glass jars and have been a tumbling fool for 3 days! I’ve got 400 grit going in the two kiddie tumblers and 600 in the double barrel and I’m actually catching up! Today, I BUFF!

Thanks, Mel, for the great idea!

By: Marianne

Marianne — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:27:55 +0000

What great information I just read. I am a newbie to PC and I am going to the Clay
Carnival and just sanded about 80ish poker chips. Thought I was going to lose my right hand. And I just did the edges.
I am not sure a tumbler would work for them but I am anxious to hear about your experiences.
And I am definitely thinking about a tumbler.
Thanks to all the others for the great tips.

Marianne

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:37:23 +0000

Thanks so much for all the comments , they have given me ideas aplenty ! I will be announcing the winner of the DVD later on today.

By: CraftyLinda

CraftyLinda — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:00:18 +0000

I don’t have a tumbler so I can’t give you any tips on using one. But I have really enjoyed reading what others have to say. If I start to make more beads which is something I have been thinking about I will get me a tumbler. Until then I just do a few at a time. And like you my hands and wrist hurt and my neck gets so sore I can hardly stand it. May that is wa\hy I don’t make to many beads. Ya think? Have fun with your new tumbler sounds like you made a good deal.

By: Rosa Martha Celorio

Rosa Martha Celorio — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:57:20 +0000

I am using a plastic rock tumbler that is made with kids in mind (I also do not want to mix with my metal clay stuff). It was reaaaaally cheap and does a great job! I do sand by hand at first if I find there is something about the form I want to change. I do wash the beads and the tumbler in between grits. Hope that helps

By: Mary Kaye

Mary Kaye — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:00:16 +0000

My best tip is don’t let things build up until you have a week or more worth of sanding to do. I’m on day 4 of tumbler sanding. I have at least 5 more days left with all the stuff I’ve made and not finished. I’m using 2 kiddie tumblers from Hob Lob. I HAVE a Lortone but haven’t modified it yet. But now that I read Mel’s tip, I’m going to find myself a plastic jar and some rubber bands! Mel, you’re a GENIUS!

You’ll really love having the tumbler, Wendy. Your stuff will come out smoother than hand sanding, it won’t leave you scarred and be sure to rinse your beads really well after you take them out of the tumbler – as long as you put some JetDry in there and then rinse, you should have no sanding debris stuck to your beads (something that never happens with hand sanding, at least not for me).

By: Emma Todd

Emma Todd — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:46:08 +0000

My best tip is for beads. I put on gloves that have a slight texture for when I am piercing the holes. eliminates fingerprints and gives them a nice finish. For pieces that are flat I don’t mind sanding too much. I sit myself in front of the TV with a great pile. and a glass pie dish with water and a peice of that kids foam in the bottom. I pile the different grits in order and just flip the next one down off the stack as I go. I do not bother to change the water between grits, don’t find it makes any difference. There you have it my method.

By: Melanie Dilday

Melanie Dilday — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:58:49 +0000

I use a Lortone for sanding polymer clay. I actually use the rubber barrel it came with for my steel shot and metal clay pieces but I’ve found an empty plastic peanut butter jar about the same size that does the job for my polymer clay. I like to keep my mediums separate and didn’t want to fork out for a spare barrel. So long as it’s heavy with beads and has a couple of elastic bands around the circumference to assit the rollers to grap and turn the thing around, it works like a charm. I roll some wet/dry sandpaper up (cut to size) and unfurl it in my jar/barrel, then throw my round, oval and lentil beads in that. It needs at least 12-16 hours on each grit but does a great job! I sand dry (ie without water/detergent) and wash and dry beads afterwards.
You’re going to love letting it do the sanding for you! Enjoy!

Mel

By: Books and Magazines Blog » Archive » Sanding polymer clay… oh joy…. Not!

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:32:19 +0000

[...] Original post by Polymer Clay [...]

By: Sandi James

Sandi James — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:27:12 +0000

Here’s the best sanding tip that I have for you: DON’T DO IT! Make everything as smooth as you can before baking and then use a finish of some sort to bring out the shine or patina or whatever you want. There are many finishing choices that do not include sandpaper. Those are the ones for me (and my fingers, arms, neck, muscles in general).