3 Homemade clay questions

If you know a better place to ask these questions please say, I don't know if I could ask a clay artist cuz it seems like they would have more than enough motivation to buy things for their work or do things the hard but more excellent way lol.

1. I made clay using a recipe by someone who had experimented a lot of recipes to do it right, but it hardens kind of fast while you're working it with it, so does anyone know why or what ingredient would help? The woman didn't respond to many old comments so she may not know how to answer their questions.

2. Have you found a clay recipe you like? I'd rather ask a person than google's information overload! Which one, which one. My uncle who's a teacher said there's hundreds of clay recipes, but I don't want to experiment too much lol, don't have that much glue.

3. I found an instruction to make clay hands and it says if paper clay is used it can harden in the sun, but does that count for homemade paper clay? I googled it but it didn't work.

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4 replies since 4th September 2012 • Last reply 4th September 2012

Reply #1:

Here are a few that I have tried with success. Hope this helps.
http://www.ehow.com/how_12068570_make-sturdy-modeling-clay.html

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=how+to+make+clay+without+cooking&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CDkQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fanswers.yahoo.com%2Fquestion%2Findex%3Fqid%3D20080430193651AA0FqvY&ei=qvFXULv1CJSc9QTIwYDwCg&usg=AFQjCNFfjNklP0Y0gyqkYovmBtx5cMOvtA

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Reply #2:

I've stuck by this super cheap cold porcelain recipe for about a year now. I love it because it leaves a lot of leeway if you mess up or if you need it in small batches.
*1 part glue
*1 part cornstarch
*Petroleum Jelly or baby oil
*Vinegar
*Microwave safe container (preferably something you don't eat out of. Plastic tupperware is perfect)
*Spoon or some other stirring tool
a. Smear petroleum jelly or baby oil inside your container. This'll save you a lot of grief later.
b. Toss in the cornstarch. Add the glue a small amount at a time. Stir the cornstarch until there's no more lumps before adding more glue. Once it's all in there, add a splash of vinegar.
c. Microwave for 15 seconds. If yours is fancier than mine and has temperature settings and whatnot, go for the lowest heat you have. Take it out and stir. Repeat until you reach the consistency you're happy with. I stop when my clay begins to be solid enough to roll around the container when I stir. It's better under-cooked than over.
d. Let it cool. Kneading it now is optional, but I like getting this out of the way so I wouldn't have to later. Store in an airtight container. This stuff keeps for a few weeks.

This clay is air dry. When it dries too soon, cover your hands with petroleum jelly and mix some glue into the clay. It'll be better than before.
One of my early batches, I greased the sides and added a heaping tablespoon of petroleum jelly to a cup of the mixture. The clay took days to days to dry, which was unfortunate because I was very impatient lol
Good luck on your homemade clay endeavors!

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Reply #3:

i atchully just used salt flour oil and small amounts of water and bake! its called salt clay recpie here:

http://www.kinderplanet.com/saltclay.htm

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Reply #4:

okay guys. actual clay is made from Silica and Alumina with other things to make it fire the way you want. It's done in a kiln (1500 to over 2000 degrees. Now that I've said that I'm assuming you mean some kind of air dry clay, which can or cannot be made of clay with a binder of some kind. Then there is polymer (plastic kind of) like sculpty. this can be fired in a reg. oven not used for food. I really like the the faux porcelain clay mentioned in the answers.
For clay based air dry clay you need to keep it bagged as much as possible. taking out only what you need. Keep a mister handy and wet it down if it looks like it going to dry on you. I use a filbert brush and a little water for small sculptures. I do a lot of relief tiles with young kids. Good luck and keep experimenting with your clay.

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