Polymer Clay Tools

If you are just starting out in the creative world of polymer clay, there are certain tools the polymer clay artist just can't do without. Here is a list of the most important tools you will need to work with polymer clay.

Pasta Machine This is one polymer clay tool you don't want to be without. Besides making conditioning your clay much easier and quicker, it is also a necessity for making a Skinner Blend, which you will probably use quite often in your work. A pasta machine is also great for simple things like extruding your clay evenly, and easily creating the correct thickness you need. Get a metal one, not plastic. Plastic machines are harder to clean, and not as accurate as a metal one.

Blades You will be doing a lot of cutting when you work with polymer clay. First, get yourself a few tissue blades. They are super sharp, and if you plan on doing any cane work, tissue blades are essential. Nothing cuts your canes as thinly and evenly as a tissue blade. There are other blades you might find you like as well, like a wavy blades, flexible blades, and rigid blades for different details and processes.

Needle Tools Needle tools should be a staple in your polymer clay tool kit. You can purchase different needle tools, or make your own. I consider anything you can poke holes in your clay with a needle tool. You can make handles on regular needles or pins by wrapping scrap clay around the dull end, and baking like any other clay. Ice picks and bamboo skewers are useful for poking holes in jewelry pieces and other clay projects.

Acrylic Roller or Brayer Brayers and rollers are also important in working with polymer clay. They are used for reducing your canes evenly, adhering clay sheets together, and creating texture on your clay, as well as having numerous other uses.

These are the very basic tools you should have if you plan on doing quality work with your polymer clay. There are many other items and tools you can use to work the clay. There are new items on the market all the time as polymer clay becomes more and more popular. There are a variety of molds you can buy for almost anything you can think of. Punches, decorative and patterned scissors, craft knives, and styluses are other common tools polymer clay artists like to use when working with polymer clay.

Basically, you can use nearly anything to create different textures and designs in your clay. Stamps, mesh, or anything else can be used to make impressions in polymer clay. The fun is in trying new things, and with polymer clay, nearly anything seems to be possible.