Polymer Clay Cane Reduction Methods and Tips

So you've built up a fantastic polymer clay cane, possibly taking hours to make, and when you attempt to reduce it, you end up with a warped, disfigured , and now useless cane. Making canes, building them up layer by layer, with great care and artistry, only to ruin it in reduction is a common plight for polymer clay artists, especially for beginners. Cane reduction takes special techniques to keep the cane picture undistorted during the process. This article will show you the tips and tricks to better can reduction, so your efforts aren't wasted.

For those new to polymer clay caning, a cane is a tube of polymer clay, built up in layers, forming a uniform picture from one end of the cane to the other, with the picture running the entire length of he cane. It is built as a large, squat tube, and then carefully reduced by squeezing or rolling, making a longer tube with a smaller picture. The cane is then cut into slices of various thicknesses for beads and other polymer clay work. Canes can have any image you choose to make. Flowers, leaves, faces and abstract designs are all common.

To reduce your polymer clay cane, start with a very firm cane. You can put the cane in the refrigerator for an hour or so if it is too soft. Start the reduction by standing the cane up, with one of the image sides flat on your table or working surface. Laying the cane face side on the table will reduce the dreaded "bulge" you can sometimes get with squeezing.

Using the inside of your palms, on the pinky side of your hands, press the clay firmly, but not enough to warp the cane. press with your palms about halfway up the sides of the cane. Turn the cane a little bit, still face down, and repeat the pressing halfway up again. Keep turning until you think you've reached your starting point.

Now, flip the cane over, and repeat with the other side, always trying to keep the cane as straight as possible. Your can should be evenly reduced, with minimal distortion and bulging at the ends. However, there will still probably be some bulging, so if there is, cut off the ugly end pieces. You may also want to roll the cane on the table a little bit when you are finished reducing, mainly to keep the cane straight.

Now that you're done reducing your polymer clay cane, you can use a razor, tissue blade, or other very sharp, thin cutting implement to cut off slices of your cane. Cut straight down through the cane for the best results. You should only try to cut slices when the cane is firm. Soft clay will warp easier. Cane slices can be cut thickly for beads, or thinly to adhere to other polymer clay projects, like covering pens or making larger beads with many of the same cane slices.Wrap any unused section in plastic wrap, and store in a cool place for use later.