Polymer clay finishing tutorial

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Polymer Clay: Finishing
Polymer clay items may be left as is after baking, painted with various paints, and/or covered with acrylic glazes. They may also be sanded and buffed before and/or after applying the glaze.
To achieve high-gloss surface, use multiple grids of sand paper, starting with the lowest grit. You will need sand paper with grits from 320 to 800 (some people recommend even a higher number, and some say that as low as 600 is good enough).
Wet sanding is recommended to prolong the life of sand paper and to avoid dust. You may use running water or a water bath (a drop of liquid soap or dish detergent may be added to the water bath to reduce surface tension).
Buff the sanded surface of your polymer clay item on a piece of rough cotton (old jeans are ideal for this task).
Dry the sanded and buffed polymer clay item thoroughly before applying the glaze.
Sculpey glaze is available in satin or gloss finish (at about $3.50 for 2 oz.). Alternatively, water-based clear gloss for hardwood floors may be used (such as Varathane or Future). The most economical option (if you anticipate a lot of use) is 1 gallon (128 fl.oz.) of floor finish for about $50.
To cover your creation with the glaze, you may use a brush and paint the glaze on, or you may dip your polymer clay item into the glaze.

To avoid trapping the air in your brush, prepare the brush by dipping it in water first, then squeeze the excess of water out and use it to apply the glaze. Place the brush in water immediately when you are done and wash and dry it thoroughly after each session.

When using the dip-in method, the trickiest part is removing an excess of the glaze from your polymer clay items. Turn them often during the first few minutes of drying.

The highest gloss is achieved if the glaze is applied to a cool polymer clay surface. Applying the glaze to the polymer clay item hot from the oven will result in a satin finish.

Multiple layers of the glaze may be applied. Allow your polymer clay item to dry completely between applying the layers of the glaze. You may oven-seal the glaze at 200°F for about 10 minutes after each application, but it is not necessary. Make sure the glaze is completely dry before placing the polymer clay item back in the oven!

The glazed surface may be sanded and buffed, if desired.

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