Any tricks to working with Sculpey?

[El Diablo Blanco]

I've started my first batch of custom heads using Sculpey since that's what was used in the tutorial. It's so soft, though, I was wondering if anyone had any tricks to getting really fine detail with such soft clay.

I'm not looking for perfection I just want my heads to not have that lumpy home made look.

[Random Axe]

IF you're using super sculpey, yes it is indeed soft and challenging to sculpt a head, especially if you are making it in-scale. It's unforgiving with mistakes. I can't sculpt to save my life, but there's a few guys on here who would know a little more.

I know a few who use Magic sculpt. It's a two-part epoxy you blend that air dries rock hard and is ready for sanding away fingerprints and imperfections. All I can recommend is keeping the sculpey wet and use latex gloves to eliminate fingerprints.

Scott

[jessica]

you could try mixing it with other firmer oven bake clays to try to firm it up more. You could also try refrigerating to get a firmer texture.

[samurainoir]

I know a few who use Magic sculpt. It's a two-part epoxy you blend that air dries rock hard and is ready for sanding away fingerprints and imperfections.

Scott

I was just watching an interview with Bill Merklein where he describes how he uses Magic Sculpt/Plumber's seal (when he was doing GI Joe RAH sculpts), and he smoothes the tool marks with a watercolour paintbrush dipped in soap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjfZBkTo5Pg&feature=related

[LonnieFisher]

I like Apoxiesculpt the best. Magic sculpt shrinks a little when it cures, but is easier to get. I hate sculpy.

[Bizarro Amy]

Are you going to mold and cast the heads after you're done sculpting? I'm finding that for sculpting from scratch I prefer modeling clay to Sculpey, when I need something that won't harden any time soon. If I'm adding a permanent detail to a resin head, I use Magic Sculpt or another epoxie, but I don't use those when I have to sculpt a whole piece, because I'm still learning and it takes forever. Maybe another brand of bakable clay would work, like Fimo or Premio. I also like the idea of cooling the clay first.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I use Sculpey for the base structure, bake it, and then add fine details with epoxy putty.

Don C.

[El Diablo Blanco]

Thanks folks! I'm gonna try putting it in the freezer for a while and see if I like how it works then. I'll keep you posted!

[MegoScott]

I was just watching an interview with Bill Merklein where he describes how he uses Magic Sculpt/Plumber's seal (when he was doing GI Joe RAH sculpts), and he smoothes the tool marks with a watercolour paintbrush dipped in soap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjfZBkTo5Pg&feature=related

Fantastic, thanks!

[Doctor Flarb]

There's also 'sculpty firm', which is stiffer than the pink variety.

[jessica]

There's also 'sculpty firm', which is stiffer than the pink variety.

that's what i like to use now.