[Grace] resin-like clay

Product Information

If you’re looking for a sealant to use for an indoor piece of pottery, however, white glue or Mod Podge will be just fine. There’s no need for the high level of protection that outdoor pottery requires. Pros: Inexpensive, readily available, works well to seal surface effects. Can be rebaked. Great for making textures glossy. Only you can decide what finish will provide the perfect look for your creations. Thankfully there are many options available to glaze air dry clay. Application Method

However, you will find that the various application methods do lend themselves to being better for sealing some shapes over others. Here is a brief breakdown of the methods we feel work best to waterproof air dry clay. SprayingI was delighted to receive a little parcel in the post and on opening it found 3 pendants of various shapes and sizes, 3 different types o f rings, 2 bracelets and 4 different coloured clays with a huge assortment of round crystals or “chatons” to play with. You have three basic options when you seal air-dry clay. You can brush on the sealant, spread it with a sponge, or use a spray-on varnish. There are pluses and minuses to all three methods and the best to use is largely a matter of taste. Yes, you can waterproof air dry clay. All that you need do is to apply a coat of an appropriate sealer. Our personal recommendation is to use either epoxy resin or polyurethane varnishes. Epoxy sealants are more durable but both are available in waterproof formulas and are fairly easy to apply. Does air-dry clay need to be sealed before painting? Make sure you have a clear and safe space to apply the resin and allow it to dry. The ideal space would be well-ventilated and away from any children or animals, like a garage. It’s best to push the stone down so that its broadest part is flush with the clay. I found out the hard way that if the stone sits above the surface of the clay it will catch on your clothing later and come out with a ping! However don’t press it in below the surface of the clay or the stone’s light-catching abilities will be reduced and that would be a great shame as these little beauties can REALLY sparkle.

Air-dry clay doesn’t need a kiln to cure; it dries by allowing the moisture in the clay to evaporate naturally in the air. Unfortunately, this means that if the clay is reintroduced to moisture, it will become soft again. As such, air dry clay isn’t naturally waterproof. Due to its delicate and absorbing nature, air dry clay can never truly be waterproof. However, there are seals and finishes you can apply to air-dry clay to give it a water-resistant quality. It won’t be able to hold water for a long period of time but will withstand a rainstorm or light washing. Because some materials like varnishes, paints, and glues can be softened by the plasticizers in polymer clay, compatibility with polymer clay is a common concern for clayers. Rest assured, both UV and epoxy resin work perfectly well on cured polymer clay. There are no short or long-term interactions. When Should You Use Resin?UV absorbent, Lascaux UV Protect Spray Varnish is also water-resistant, lightfast, age-resistant, and non-yellowing. It has a proprietary spray nozzle that makes it easy to achieve professional-level coatings even for novices. It can be used as an undercoat for pieces to be painted or a topcoat for projects that have already been decorated. When using varnish or resin, always work in a well-ventilated area with proper safety equipment. These types of water-resistant coatings can be toxic if inhaled for prolonged periods of time and should always be used with caution. Related Questions Do You Need To Seal Air Dry Clay Before Painting? Yes, many air-dry clays are flammable. That is why they should never be heated past 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celsius). Exceeding these temperatures can result in the spontaneous combustion of your work. Does baking air-dry clay make it stronger? While spills clean up easily with rubbing alcohol, it’s easy to miss little spills because it’s clear. Wear an apron while you work with resin. It can get messy fast. Bubbles A better use for varnish is to seal surface effects such as mica, pastels, or complex color treatments. In this case, the varnish protects the stuff that’s ON the clay. Varnish is also your best choice when you want a textured surface to have a glossy or shiny finish.

The best part of acrylic paints as a water-resistant seal is that you get to add decoration and color to your artwork. Best for: Sealing surface treatments, creating a glossy effect, and enriching translucent projects. Acrylic Varnishes If everything looks good you can continue to add layers of sealant till you get the look you are looking for. It is generally a good idea to apply at least three coats of sealant to avoid leaving any thin spots. Don’t rush this phase and only add additional layers according to your sealant’s directions. Now that we’ve discussed a little bit about the natural state of air-dry clay and warned you against using it as a material to serve food with, let’s get into the methods for making air-dry clay water-resistant. 1. Varnish Air-dry clay is wonderful to work with for novices and experts alike. Many of the techniques you can use with it easily transfer over to working with ceramics and pottery. This makes it an ideal introductory medium for people just starting to explore working with clay. It also makes air-dry clay an inexpensive way for experienced crafters to perfect their skills.Getting started at my first attempt with the crystal clay I was careful to read the instructions properly and followed them throughout, but as I said earlier, this product is so easy to work with that there wasn’t a whole lot to follow. There are really only two very important factors to take into consideration; one is to wear the gloves provided with the clay as the epoxy resin can cause irritation to some people. I value my hands too much to ignore this instruction and wore the gloves throughout the whole process. And the second is to mix the parts in equal quantities otherwise the finished clay will not set properly. I had heard that it was possible to make a marbled effect by combining two different colour clays so, being an adventurous “try anything once” kinda girl, I had to give that a go. Once I’d reached a comfortable level of skill with the clay I set about making purple and silver marble. While air-dry clay doesn’t have to be glazed unless it is going to be in a moist environment or exposed to the elements, There are several reasons you might want to apply a varnish to your air-dry clay projects.

Slightly less expensive than epoxy coatings are polyurethane varnishes. These are the sealants that we use most often and the choice of many professional crafters. They are not quite as durable as epoxy but some come very close. They are also much easier to apply as there is no mixing involved. Polyurethane can be bought as a brush-on liquid or a spray. If your item is fairly smooth and you want a glass-like shine, any resin can give you this effect. Thin coats of brushed-on resin work well for this, too, but only if you have already removed the surface flaws. Brushing resin overa bumpy surface will just accentuate the bumps. Allow your glaze to dry according to the varnish’s directions and inspect for any problem areas before proceeding further.Let’s review the different options for sealing your air dry clay to give you the right level of water resistance for your decorative pottery. Types Of Sealants For Making Air Dry Clay Water-Resistant Varnish (sometimes called glaze or sealer) is just wood varnish or the varnish that’s used to coat acrylic paintings. On wood, it soaks into the fibers to form a super-durable surface. On polymer, however, it merely forms a super thin skin on the surface of your clay. A popular brand of varnish is Varathane. I also like a newcomer on the market, Brite Tone, that you can read about in my article here.