[Grace] resin-like clay

Product Information

Air-dry clay doesn’t need a kiln to cure; it dries by allowing the moisture in the clay to evaporate naturally in the air. Unfortunately, this means that if the clay is reintroduced to moisture, it will become soft again. As such, air dry clay isn’t naturally waterproof. 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 I was delighted to receive a little parcel in the post and on opening it found 3 pendants of various shapes and sizes, 3 different types o f rings, 2 bracelets and 4 different coloured clays with a huge assortment of round crystals or “chatons” to play with.

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. Resin flows like syrup, and if your surface isn’t level, the resin will spill over and make a mess. Make sure the table you’re pouring onto is level. 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?

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. Our next consideration is the look that you want pieces to have. Sealants come in a variety of finishes with;

Epoxy resin has two parts, one part being the resin material and the other part being the hardener (the catalyst). When the two parts (typically labeled A and B) are mixed in the correct proportions, the chemical reaction is catalyzed, and hardening begins. Rather than buying this in kit form, where the colours and styles are created for you, all parts are sold separately giving you the opportunity to combine the colour of your crystals with any colour clay and to set them into any blank you can get your hands on. The design opportunities are endless. Varnish is a good option for pottery you plan to display inside or outside. It offers a layer of protection that will stand up to rain outside or any spilled liquids inside. Best for: Deepening and enriching dark colors, giving a warm sheen to smooth clay. Liquid Polymer Clay When using varnish or resin, always work in a well-ventilated area with proper safety equipment. These types of water-resistant coatings can be toxic if inhaled for prolonged periods of time and should always be used with caution. Related Questions Do You Need To Seal Air Dry Clay Before Painting?No, you do not have to seal air-dry clay before you paint it. Most paints, including acrylic paint, will adhere to air-dry clay as long as it is properly cured before being painted. Many sealants will even allow you to apply paints in between layers of sealants. This makes it possible to create some truly unique and stunning effects. Does acrylic paint seal air dry clay? Air-dry clay is not food safe and it should be used for decorative purposes only. There are some sealants available for air-dry clay pots that are food-safe, but even if these are applied we would not recommend using air-dry clay for eating or drinking. Can you wet air-dry clay while sculpting? Both epoxy and UV resins have a short shelf life, typically a year or less. Older resin turns yellow while in the bottle and if it’s old enough, might not cure completely. Yellowing Varnish and acrylic paint are both solid options for indoor or outdoor display, though they are more of a middle-ground when it comes to sealants.

If you want your air-dry clay waterproof, it is a must. Air-dry clay has a natural chalky appearance when dry you may not care for it. Perhaps you simply want to strengthen and better preserve your artwork. This includes artists’ varnishes, wood varnishes, glazes sold by the clay manufacturers themselves, and even floor finishes. These products are typically clear to milky white liquids. Some are off-white. Once dried, most willform a stretchy plastic filmover your work. It’s best to use a soft brush and apply several thin coats. Brush strokes can be an issue with this category of finish. Applying varnish to heavily textured projects canresult in pooling and air bubbles. Varnishes do not camouflage surface imperfections such as fingerprints. Rather, they accentuatethem. Varnishes are inherently glossy, but can be made to have a satin, semi-gloss, or matte finish by using matting agents. Matting agents are particles that dull the shine of the varnish. Always stir these containers before use, as the matting agent can settle in the bottom, leaving just the glossy varnish at the top of the bottle. I’ll now break down this Varnish category into two types, Acrylic Varnish and Polyurethane Varnish. Now, start heating your oven. Be sure that it is set on bake, not broil, and the thermostat is no higher than 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celsius). Again, we can not overstress the importance of not exceeding these temperature settings. Doing so can result in personal injury, damage to your home, and the loss of your work. When varnishing flat pieces, our choice is most often spraying. Once you develop the technique it is really fast and easy to do. The secret is using long sweeping strokes.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