How to : Sand, Buff & Finish Polymer Clay | Beginner's Guide | Comparison Demo of Varnishes & Glazes
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- This beginner's tutorial details how to go about finishing your polymer clay pieces, including sanding, buffing and adding a final finish or sealant or varnish.
I do a comparison demonstration by coating 3 pieces of clay with 3 different finishes; Fimo Gloss Varnish, Triple Thick Gloss Glaze, and Pledge Floor Care Finish. This way, you can see how these different finishes look before trying them yourself :)
I hope this video is helpful to you, and thanks very much for watching!
00:00 Intro
04:50 Sanding
10:00 Buffing
12:50 Finishing Methods
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I have watched a lot of polymer tutorials but none of them have had finishing information, not even a "you don't need to seal..." This video was enormously helpful. Thank you!
Thank you! I'm glad it proved useful :)
Agreed!
No one goes into detail on sanding and buffing. It's like a secret. Thank you.
That's exactly why I made this video in the first place...because I couldn't find it in other videos :) Thanks for watching!
Writing this in Aug 2022…. It’s still a secret!!! If they do show you, it’s not detailed at all!! So glad I found this video😁
absolutly 2023 and still the Part they never Show in a Video or Reel!! Thank u So much
Right I just tried making it perfect cause I last time I tried sanding polymer you could see every Fibre of the streak of sanding it
@@RokoleeDIYthank you so much!
As a beginner this was very helpful. Finishing my pieces to look ready to sell is important to me . Love the use of pledge 🤩
:D Thanks! I hope your selling goes well
I love how you don't add annoying stock music and yell everything, very enjoyable tutorial.
Ha thanks:D
Great tutorial, a lot of good tips and advice.
It would be great if you could show how you apply the floor polish a final finish and how many coats you apply.
Thanks so much 🤗
Brilliantly explained! Paced perfectly, fluent and with no waffle. Just the facts explained beautifully. Thank you x
Aww thanks very much :D
I realise this is an older tutorial but it is still SO useful … thank you!
I'm just starting out in polymer clay and your tutorial was very informative, now I have a basic knowledge of how to enhance my pieces thanks to your information.
Glad it was helpful for you :)
Thank you for posting. This is the first video I've watched that actually goes into detail on finishing.
Glad you found it useful :)
Excellent video! Thanks for sharing results of your experiments, success, etc. I learned so much of this on my own (years ago, pre-RUclips), but it was great to have a refresher now that I'm getting back to claying. It is amazing to me the gorgeous sheen produced by sanding in finer grits, then buffing. I often feel a varnish isn't even necessary. Thanks again!
Thanks for your comment :) I'm glad the video helped you...thanks for watching!
Thank You for doing 3 different stages on the 3 different pieces. Thanks for showing the difference between the pieces. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching :)
Thank you so much for this video! You explained a LOT of things that I didn’t know about and I’ve been playing with clay for a while.
This is a must see for beginners. This would eliminate so much trial and error for beginners!
Again. Thank you so much!
Aw that's nice to hear, thank you! :D
Exactly what am looking for months now, Thank you for sharing this, great tutorial
I'm glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching :)
This video is perfection. I was watching videos of polymer clay and no one went into so many details. I love it!
Aw thanks :D I'm glad you liked it!
Excellent tips and demo of different finishes, and resulting gloss. Will try techniques tonight. Aloha!
Thank you :)
Thank you, so much! Your tutorial was very informative, easy to understand sand exactly what I need.
Aw thank you!
I just purchased some of the triple gloss glaze, I have been looking for something that will make my art pop, and I think this will be it. Thank you so much for this video! And for the tips on sand paper, I have been using regular sand paper, but I think the ones you suggested will be better. At least more variety. :) Thanks again!
I'm very glad you found the video useful :D
I love good tutorials stuffed with many essential i iformation. Thank you for doing so.
Thank you :D
Thank you so much for this informative video. It's just what I needed 😀
Thanks for watching :D
An excellent tutorial and great info. Thank you xxx glad I found your channel xxx
Aw thank you :)
I recently started making polymer clay pens and this video has been MASSIVELY helpful! 😊
Excellent :D Glad to hear it!
This was super informative!! Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Thank u so much for the information about the finishing step of polymer clay😍 this video is amazing👍🏻
Thank you! :)
Thank you so much for this very informative video!
Thanks for watching!
This was so nice 😍 it really helps in the end thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you, I really needed this 🙏🏽
This has every info people need thank you ❣
Glad it was helpful! :)
Really detailed information! Thanks
Thanks for watching!
SOOOOOO SOOOOOOO Helpful! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful :D
Thank you. I learned a lot.
:) Thanks for watching!
Very informative. Thank you!
Thanks!
Great video and super helpful information! Thank you! I noticed you replied to all 209 comments, thats very nice of you.
I try :D Thank you!
Really helpful video! Thank you!
Thanks! :D
Thanks, is good idea.
Excellent tutorial. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love this tutorial, so helpful thank you ❤
You are very welcome!
Excellent tutorial. Thanks ❤😊 I do think it's best to do the sanding in a bucket. And do the absorbent paper thing which was suggested in someone's comment , and then put the water out onto your garden! Otherwise a fantastic and very informative tutorial!! I'm so glad I watched! Thanks ❤😊
Thank you :D
Great tutorial.
Thank you :)
Thank you, this is wonderful.
Glad you enjoyed it :)
Thank you so much for this video.
You're welcome :)
very informative..thank you so much..
You are welcome! :D
So useful!!
Thanks!
Deco art should give you commission cause I just bought some because of your video, lol. Thank you!
Haha I wish! I'm glad you found the video useful :) Thanks for your comment
This is 3 years ago but just wanna say thank you for giving me hope to fix my bubble filled pieces by sanding! (kinda my fault for not sandwiching them in tiles to prevent bubbles) hopefully it works! will give an update!
Good luck!
Great video, thank you! In terms of drilling holes into the clay for jewellery, keyrings etc., what stage should this be done at? Before or after glossing?
Thanks :) I would drill before adding gloss, just so I don't risk damaging the gloss finish. Just be careful you don't fill up the hole with the gloss!
I used the floor polish and after a while it started to peel. It looked great and leveled itself and left no streaks. after about two months it started to crack and peel. I would not recommend the pledge.
Oh dear, I’m surprised about that... can I ask if the item was something that was touched a lot? Maybe it needed more coats I’m not sure what would have happened there. I guess a lot of the coatings are simply a very thin layer of plastic so can rub away. Perhaps a harder coating like resin may be better for your application? Sorry that happened for you, and thanks for your comment.
It happens sometimes when you use polish on floors too. I used to be a professional cleaner, and it was feared among us, because it ruined the whole job, and had to be cleaned up and re-done, with another polish-type. It usually did the trick, but I remember some total failures too.
I'll also recommend you buff it afterwards, because it will give a great shine and harden the polish. We did.
I'm glad I watched your video. I made polymer clay earrings for the first time after three years and I must have forgot you sand in water so tried to sand them and it was impossible that I thought I'll have to buy a dremel. At least I can save my money now.
Yay! Glad you found it useful :D
Thank you for this video
Thanks for watching :)
Hi there, and thanks for a very useful video. Do you know if the floor polish offers any protection against polymer clay fading in the sun? Sophie.
To be honest I don't know the answer to that, sorry. Maybe someone else may be able to comment, but I personally haven't left anything I have made on a windowsill or similar to test that. Sorry I can't help!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Hey this was amazing video! I have one question. As you said if you use acrylic paints you’ll need to use something to stop it from chipping away. What products would you recommend to use for this stage. Thank you xx
Thanks! Some kind of varnish (such as Fimo varnish) or resin are options - in fact, there are so many options out there! There's some excellent websites for helping you with this as well, like this one:
thebluebottletree.com/painting-polymer-clay/
Hope that helps :)
Thank you so much
Glad you liked the video 🙂
Great tutorial! I do have a question, I have a nice amount of earrings I made from polymer clay in the color black. I sanded them and found that they look rather dry with an ashy look. Does buffing them out change that? I wanted them to keep a matte finish but they don't even look black after sanding.
Hi! Yes black is a bit tricky, and looks most ‘black’ when wet, so often people add a glossy finish to it. However, if you want matte black I would finish with a very fine sandpaper and then polish/buff because then it should certainly have a slight shine but still be matte. You can get matte finishes (I use a clear matte protective spray) after that if you wish. Hope that helps, thanks for watching 🙂
I know this is a 5 year old comment, but I wash mine in water with dish soap, then rub them with some Vaseline and castor oil, then wash them off again.
Great tutorial. I only knew about the mod podge, that was really helpful thank you.
I used mod podge dimensional magic on polymer before and it worked really well but I was looking for a bigger bottle of something as I do lots of projects. Do you think the other mod podges such as gloss, matte, satin etc would work on polymer clay as well?
Hi! I'm glad this was helpful :) I don't use Mod Podge as a finish on clay, but I always refer people to this page:
thebluebottletree.com/testing-polymer-clay-sealers/
which seam to think Mod Podge isn't a good choice, mainly due to brushstrokes showing.
Hello, these days the price of UV resin have come down, and it is the best protection if you can handle it.
Can I use the Fimo varnish after I applied the piece with acrylic paint?
Hi! That should work yes, however because I haven’t personally tested it I can’t say for sure. Different brands of paints and varnishes can work a little different to each other so it’s best to test it out in a scrap of clay first 🙂 Thanks for watching
Very informative, thank you. Does the Dremel have various power settings, or is it just one speed?
Yes you can use various speeds :) Thanks for watching!
Thanks 😊
Wonderful tutorial! ☺️ was just wondering if rubbing alcohol does the same trick as acetone? Thank you!
I have been informed since this video that rubbing alcohol may actually be a better choice than acetone, but they both do the same job :D Thanks for watching!
The water also removes the dust particles off of the paper so it won't get clogged up and rendered useless. You did mention that.
Hi, thanks for this video, can the same result come from using liquid fimo? If so do you know the process, I’ve literally just bought my first lot of clay since I was a child 🙈
Hi! Do you mean using the liquid clay as a finish on regular liquid clay? Because yes you can do that. Liquid clay on its own is relatively soft so I wouldn't sand it, to be honest I have not used finishing techniques on it myself but I'm sure buffing would be fine. If you try it, let me know how it goes, I've not done too much with liquid clay. I'm sure there are other videos on RUclips to help you out with that. Good luck!
Great video, thank you! Do you also sand and buff if you used gold foil, or will the foil come off then?
Thanks :) Yeah you can't sand or buff gold foil directly otherwise you could damage it. Often people will put a varnish/gloss or something similar over the top to protect the foil and keep it shiny.
Where did you get the pledge and the triple thick from?
Both from Amazon 🙂 Thanks for watching!
I like the idea of the floor polish to shine the polymer clay, but does it leave any streak marks and how durable it the polish? Thanks.
Hi! I've not seen evidence of streaks when I've used the floor polish, and I've not had problems with durability at all - although what I make is mostly ornamental so it's not exactly subject to much wear and tear! I imagine that if it's designed for use on wooden floors it must be able to stand up to a fair bit of wear though. Hope that helps a bit and sorry I can't be more help :)
Well made Tube!
I'm looking for a satin varnish that can be used on Sculpey III that might have acrylic paint on it that can withstand use in a pocket - key chains and the like.
i use Pledge Floor Wax on some things but it's not durable enough for a lot of handling.
Any suggestions (three years after this video)
Thanks!
Going by what this helpful page says:
thebluebottletree.com/testing-polymer-clay-sealers/
'Polycrylic clear satin' may be a good option. I don't really use satin finishes myself though, so I can't really help with suggestions, sorry!
This was super helpful! I was just wondering what to do in terms of these things if you have a 3D element? For example a 3D flower on a flat earring base. Sand as well as I can? Or do I skip this process?
Your videos are great!
Thanks :) It depends really, but if there are edges you can get to and want to smooth then fine sanding could work. As long as sanding doesn't remove any details then it can be used. But if not, don't worry about skipping sanding or any other steps...just try to have the clay looking how you want it before you bake it and then you'll have no issues :D
💜💜
hi with the cryssal clear do you have to put in uv lamp to cure ?
Nothing in the video required a UV lamp...as far as I know only UV resin needs a lamp :)
Fab and informative video! Can i ask what's the best finish to use on something that will end up be a child's toy? Need something that is non toxic and child safe. Thanks
Hi! I'm not sure to be honest. I would say bare sanded & buffed clay would be the best idea, or perhaps a durable non-toxic paint? Sorry I can't be more help.
Please can you recommend the Dremel you use and size of buffing attachments
Hi! I have a "Dremel 4300-5/40 High Performance Rotary Tool", although you could easily use a less powerful/expensive one than this for clay. I'm pretty sure I use the 1" polishing cloth/buffing wheels - to be honest, I just use what came with my kit!
Fantastic video. Can I use Fimo varnish after gilders wax or before? Thanks!!
Hi! I would think that wax would form a barrier between the clay and the varnish, so I doubt that would work well. Maybe the other way around would work, but I haven't tried it so I would say to try everything on a test piece of clay first :)
Hello! Do you know if the same applies to air dry clay?
Hi! Air dry clay is quite different and I haven't used it much so I'm not sure...I really don't think it'll buff or polish like polymer clay though. Hopefully someone who knows more about air dry clay will chime in here :)
Thanks!
Thanks very much! :D
will the gloss protect the acrylic paint color from rubbing off? thank you!
It should do, yes! :)
Hi, great video! 😊 i’m from Brazil and I don’t understand what did you put in the water to sand the pieces (a drop off… on 7:30), can u tell me what it is and what is it for, please?! Thank you and nice job!
Just a drop of washing up liquid (what you use when washing dishes/cutlery etc in the sink). It's not vital to use though :)
Sandpaper sold specifically for clay is usually way over-priced.
True, usually general purpose items are cheaper than niche products. Thanks for watching!
Fantastic video.If i use gold leaf is it safe to sandpaper, buff and glaze?
Hi! Thanks 🙂 I would not recommend sanding or buffing gold leaf that is on the surface as it can be scratched off... I would recommend instead just sealing it with something like a glaze/varnish/resin. Hope that helps !
@@RokoleeDIY Thank you so much thats helped alot.
Great video was wondering can I reuse wet sandpaper? If so up to how many times?
Yes, I leave mine to dry and re-use it, normally a few times. You'll notice it becomes less effective at its job and then it's time to replace :)
the pledge gloss looks amazing ! if you’re adding one of the glosses on top - buffing is not really necessary right?
Buffing will only add more shine to the finished look, but if you get enough shine with the gloss you're using then no you don't need to buff :)
Does Fimo liquid glaze need to be ovened? Or can it dry on its own after glazing?
The Fimo varnish dries on its own; it doesn't go in the oven. You may be thinking of Fimo liquid clay which does need to go in the oven to dry :) Thanks for watching!
Does a dremel have attachments of 300/600/1200 sanders? I have carpal tunnel and hand problems
You can indeed buy sanding discs for Dremels and they usually come in packs that include a variety of grits. Just be careful with them, and don't go very fast ...quickly moving sandpaper is brutal!
Hi and thank you for such a great tutorial! I’m new to claying and I’ve been using uv resin but feel most pieces don’t need it. My issue is that I don’t like my pieces to feel “rubbery “ or be bendable after sanding and buffing. How do I do this without using uv resin? I also would like a coating that’s durable . I usually use sculpey, premo. Any help on this appreciated 😊
Glad you liked it :)
To be honest, resin is the most durable coating I can think of. With regards to being bendable, I find any thin pieces of clay to be a bit bendy; you'd probably have to make thicker pieces to eliminate that.
Maybe someone else has recommendations about clay brands that bake to a more solid and rigid finish?
Sorry I can't be more help
Kato Clay is the most rigid I have tried, even for thinner pieces. However, making them slightly thicker can help. I bake all my pieces at the recommended temperature for 1 hour. If needing to double cure for adding backing etc, I will bake 30 mins, apply a textured backing and bake for another 30 mins. And adding resin as well definitely helps.
I made some very small cake plates and painted them. I need a varnish that can be washed by hand with out peeling off over time. Can you recommend Please?
Hi! I haven't had to hand wash any clay items previously to be honest, but I found this article on the web: thebluebottletree.com/wash-polymer-clay-buttons/ Where Varathane seemed to hold up well to washing. No idea if it's food safe though, that's probably another kettle of fish!
polymer clay isn't food safe
The pledge has been discontinued for my area, is there another house cleaning polish I can use in replacement?
Aw that's a shame! Varathane or Future Floor Finish seem popular, and I would recommend this website:
www.polymerclayweb.com/Materials/Finishes/FutureFloorPolish.aspx
for any info you need about finishes and it's updated regularly :)
Thanks so much. Its ok to let the polymer clay statue after its painted or varnished to dry in the same room where i sleep?
Depends if the paint or varnish gives off toxic fumes to be honest! Check the label, but most should be fine :)
Thanks for this video.I do have a question though.Is the Pledge floor care safe on the skin? I'm thinking about jewelry pieces that would have direct contact with the skin...thanks
I would err on the side of no, because it's not a product designed to be used next to skin, so it wouldn't be tested for that purpose. There are chemicals in it...hydrogen peroxide included, so I'm thinking it wouldn't be wise!
Can you use Isopropyl instead of acetone? I know they’re similar but I only have Isopropyl.
Isopropyl alcohol should also work for cleaning polymer clay, although I haven't used it myself. Thanks for watching :)
Sanding and buffering does make the clay sbine. But hi can varnish the clay. My question is if buffering does help more to the finish look even using a garnishing liquid..Thank you.GREAT tutorial.
Buffing has a very fine smoothing effect, and the final 'shine' is dependent on how smooth the clay is, so I would say it certainly wouldn't hurt to buff the clay even if using a varnish...however, if adding a shiny varnish on top, I would say that you could skip the buffing step as long as you have removed all scratches and the clay looks smooth to the eye. Varnish has a habit of highlighting any scratches you have missed :) Hope that helps and thanks for your comment.
Hey! I use mont marte acrylic medium gloss. But if i use earrings on daily basis it comes in contact with water and it slowly start to peel of!! What do i do please help!!
A lot of jewellery is best being kept away from water, but if you can't do that then I would perhaps suggest using something waterproof like resin, or not adding a finish at all (as polymer clay is always waterproof). If you absolutely want to use the same gloss, try covering every surface of the clay with it so water can't get under any edges of the finish.
Hi I am new to polymer clay and I have a quick question, I tried sanding my baked piece in this sequence 400,600,100 in water. And it turned out uneven and dull. Even though I made sure i covered all areas. Why is that so? I wish I could share a picture here on my ruined piece.
Hi! Sorry to hear it hasn't worked for you. Could I ask what colour clay you were using? Dark colours, particularly black, can look dull after sanding. I usually use a finer grade sandpaper, then buff, then add a glossy varnish to get the shine & colour back. If it's a light colour clay then I'm not sure what to suggest, sorry. Hope that helps a bit :)
Gray in. Thanks
can i paint over applying gloss/varnish over my baked polymer clay?
Hi! Do you mean can you paint the clay instead of adding a gloss or varnish? If so , then yes! Although if the item is going to be handled or worn at all, a varnish/gloss should go on top of the paint to protect it from being chipped or scratched off. Acrylic paint is best. Thanks for watching :)
@@RokoleeDIY I plan to create some miniatures. But can you explain process.. (Please answer with correct letter)
A: I need to bake and use glaze for clay? Later paint with acrylic and apply a varnish?
B: I need to bake, paint and apply glaze?
C: I need to bake, paint and apply varnish?
C :) There are lots of options you can do...you don't have to add a finish at all, you could add a glaze or a varnish or just paint....but in my opinion yes, if you want to paint it, you bake, paint, then put a varnish on top to protect it. Good luck!
whens the best time to add decal? like a rub on ect before baking/?
I've only ever seen decals applied before baking - I certainly always do image transfers before baking anyway :)
Can u pls tell me , which sandpaper do i buy? Any link???
I normally buy wet and dry sandpaper in a variety of grits off Ebay :)
Is pledge safe to use on clay jewelry as it going next to skin
Hmm I don't know to be honest, sorry. Probably best to stick to a clay-specific varnish, or bare clay?
I am not sure if you have watched the Polymer Clay Tutor on You Tube; but she suggests baking the clay on a piece of paper (index card works) on tile; instead of directly on the tile. That way you won't have the uneven shiny finish on the back.
Hi! I’ve tried baking on baking paper before but I didn’t like the finish...I may give index cards a go now! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Can I rebake the clay once it cools to harden more?
Absolutely!
Does the fimo glaze turn yellow over time? Thank you for this video, I loved it!!
Thanks :) It hasn't turned yellow for me, no...the only finish that I've seen turn yellow is clear nail polish so I'd give that a miss. Thanks for watching!
Do you have to sand before you buff with a dremel?
You need to sand before buffing yes :)
Ok so sanding doesn’t remove the color to much thanks 🙂 and I will probably do more buffing then anything but thanks this was helpful
You’re welcome, I'm glad it helped you :)
If your pieces are flat, bake between two flat glass (trivets) or small subway tiles. This will keep from changing color or allow air bubbles to be formed.
Hi. Great tutorial!! I have a Dremel and would like to use it for buffing polymer clay. Which buffing wheels do you use and where do you get them from? I am in the UK. Many thanks, Emma 😊
Thanks :) I think mine came from Amazon, maybe Ebay, and I just searched for 'buffing wheel' and found ones that fit a Dremel. Happy buffing!
Thank you very much!! : )
can i skip the 350 gritt step ? and jump to 600?
As long as you only have very fine scratches then yes you can! The lower grits are just a lot quicker at removing material and getting rid of more obvious blemishes.