Clay baking question

[Fire Marshal Bill]

Going by the tutorial for scuplting here at the Museum..... i have baked my sculpt 3 times so far at 275 for 8-10 minutes. Performing each bake as i add features. I anticipate at least one more round in the oven for that duration, maybe two. Am i limited on how many times i can do this? When i am finished with my sculpt do i need to do a final bake for a longer period of time or am i done? Thanks.

[Fire Marshal Bill]

I was all excited to log on this morning and see all kinds of answers to my question here . I know you fine customizers can't all be using air dry clay . I just don't want to mess this head up as it's my first attempt at sculpting. Thanks guys.

[jessica]

I have had no problems with multiple bakings. The older layers just get darker...once it's cured, you don't really need to rebake further. I think I read somewhere that the longer you bake the clay the harder it gets.



I've also burned it too:

[Fire Marshal Bill]

Good to know Jessica..... thanks so much for the info.

[Random Axe]

I need to get some air dry magic scuplt and just go that route, but for now when I sculpt(which is rare) I use the boil method. Just drop it in boiling water for a few minutes and it does the same thing. I've yet to have a problem unless the material I'm sculpting over isn't hot water friendly.

[jessica]

I've never tried the boil method for curing sculpey. I have a small convection oven I use for my crafting.

[jessica]

I have seen those crescents form on some of my stuff!

[SeattleEd]

I need to get some air dry magic scuplt and just go that route, but for now when I sculpt(which is rare) I use the boil method. Just drop it in boiling water for a few minutes and it does the same thing. I've yet to have a problem unless the material I'm sculpting over isn't hot water friendly.

I sometimes boil and bake/rebake. With the boil method if I'm sculpting over an pre-fab plastic part I boil but put inside a zip lock back that is suspended in the middle of the pot with tongs. When done the part does come off but I'm careful with it, then I just cement back onto part and sand.
Sometimes I use the travel blow dryer to dry the sculpty if the part is small enough, usually on stuff my daughter makes.
I too want to try air dry clay but once my sculpting skills have gotten better.

[Cosmicman]

I have developed the craft of designing stuff with sculpty on the figure and then using a long grill lighter to heat/bake the clay without burning the figure. It took a lot of practice and burnt fabric but now I think I have a knack for knowing when it is heating/harding right. Been doing it like for awhile. Sometimes a figure with a special mask or weapons has to be done this way. I'm backwards.

[Fire Marshal Bill]

Nice thing is that it doesn't contaminate your oven with philates sp? (they say not to cook with an oven after cooking sculpey)....

Maybe i should call the wife and tell her to hold off on dinner tonight! I did bake the clay off in the oven the other day. I guess i need to invest in a toaster oven .

[jessica]

I did that a few times before I invested in a toaster oven.

[Cmonster]

The curing of sculpey is a chemical reaction. If you eat food that was cooked in oven in which sculpey was baked, you will die.

SC

[thunderbolt]

I got a old toaster oven and do it outside, but I'm pretty sold on magic sculpt now and don't need the sculpy so much.

[jessica]

The curing of sculpey is a chemical reaction. If you eat food that was cooked in oven in which sculpey was baked, you will die.

SC

I would offer you some of my home baked apple pie but...you know...

[Fire Marshal Bill]

Picked up a decent toaster oven at a garage sale this morning for $4 .