How do you get clay smooth and blend it well with vinyl?

DrewJ · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:02 pm **Posts:** 1150

Hey everyone. I know this is probably a total newbie question but I am adding clay to my Munny and am wondering how customizers blend sculpty with vinyl so well? No matter how much time I put into it I can't see to get my sculpty as smooth as I've seen other people be able to get it and I'm wondering if there is a special chemical or thing I can use?

Below is a picture of what I am doing. I'm basically trying to sculpt some hair but I want it to blend as seamlessly as possible with the rest of the figure. Since sculpty is obviously a different material than vinyl I'm not sure if I should really be expecting a seamless blend, but then how do others do it so well?

Pause · **Posted:** Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:27 pm

Using rubbing alcohol (99%) with a soft paint brush is great for smoothing out clay before it's fired. Then after you fire it you can use a nice light sand paper, a ton of patience, and you're golden.

I also find holding the clay right up to a light to create harsh shadows on your sculpt is a great way to find bumps and imperfections you might miss with the naked eye.

Nikejerk · **Posted:** Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:13 pm

And I find certain compounds blend better. I think Super sculpey blends great, and Magic sculpt no so much. Pause is correct about the Isopropyl Alcohol. Use that to help blend, but mostly I use my finger to mash it down, fire, then sand.

DrewJ · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:02 pm **Posts:** 1150

Thanks for the tips guys!

So by Fire you mean Bake right?

Or do you actually use a blow torch on it?

Pause · **Posted:** Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:31 pm

DrewJ wrote:

Thanks for the tips guys!

So by Fire you mean Bake right?

Or do you actually use a blow torch on it?

Yeah fire=bake. Do not set it on fire.

Also, if you have a heat gun handy. There about a million times more convenient than an oven.

DrewJ · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:02 pm **Posts:** 1150

How much does it matter that the rubbing alcohol is 99%? CVS only has 70% and 91%

Pause · **Posted:** Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:25 pm

91% should be sufficient. It might just take a little more.

Nikejerk · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:35 am

A heat gun is handy to cure in stages. I like to work a bit and set it so I don't mess it up, and keep working. Problem with the heat gun is it's inconsistent and it can actually burn it much faster than the oven. I actually use a toaster oven now for all my sculpey and that is it's sole use. No food has ever been cooked in it. Heats up faster than a full size oven and I have it right in my studio.

DrewJ · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:02 pm **Posts:** 1150

Thanks for all your help everyone, the comments on this thread have been amazing. I bought the alcohol and heat gun yesterday and already things are so much easier and my mummy is looking better.

Are there any other tools you all use often that you can recommend me? What do you use to sculpt? Right now I'm using this thing I got from an art supply store, it is pretty much the pin of a thumbtack but much longer and meant for sculpting.

Also, usIng the heat gun, I have burnt the clay in a few spots and it has turned brown. How much does it really matter that the clay has turned brown if I plan in painting everything anyway? Is there another reason why it may be bad to burn the clay?

Nikejerk · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:41 pm

Burning the clay is no big deal. You can still sand and paint it just as if it were not burned. ACtually burning it is better than it being undercured. It only becomes a problem if and when there are small air bubbles below the surface or if the layer is really thin. Like at times I will need to fill in patches or divots to smooth things out and if you put too much heat on that section all at once it will bubble a bit and won't turn out smooth where if you popped it in the oven that wouldn't happen.

I use a whole array of things for sculpting including a bunch of dental instruments, exacto blades, some purchased instruments like rubber tipped shaping tools and some extruders, as well as a mini plastic rolling pin, a machine that you can put sculpey into and it spits out flat even sheets...you feed it between 2 rollers, and a caliper to measure things. It's all about finding what works for you.

DrewJ · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:02 pm **Posts:** 1150

Nikejerk wrote:

a machine that you can put sculpey into and it spits out flat even sheets...you feed it between 2 rollers, and a caliper to measure things. It's all about finding what works for you.

That machine that gives you flap even sheets - Is that an expensive thing or do they sell small cheep ones? Where can I find one?

Freakinkram88 · **Joined:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:11 pm **Posts:** 665

DrewJ wrote:

Nikejerk wrote:

a machine that you can put sculpey into and it spits out flat even sheets...you feed it between 2 rollers, and a caliper to measure things. It's all about finding what works for you.

That machine that gives you flap even sheets - Is that an expensive thing or do they sell small cheep ones? Where can I find one?

basically find a cheap pasta roller or get a coupon and get one at michaels.. about $12 in the end. The pasta makers can be found at ross, but really random. one that has adjustable thicknesses is also a plus.

Nikejerk · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2012 2:41 pm

Kram is right. I couldn't think of the right word but yeah I got mine at Michaels. It's only about 10" wide or so and is adjustable. Comes in handy when kneading sculpey because sometimes it is really stiff when you buy it and for just making even sheets for cutting out shapes and whatnot.

Mongo Lloyd · **Joined:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:41 pm **Posts:** 1232

Have you tried Super Sculpey? I've found that it blends into vinyl effortlessly. I just recently started using it for an Odd Future munny and it works great. Also if you have a local target you may want to check them for Toaster Ovens this week. Mine had a bunch on sale and I was able to get a pretty nice one for relatively cheap, like another poster said above it will be used solely for sculpts.

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