Just joined, been mucking around with polymer clay as of late, just finding my own way. I've got a couple of examples in my images, or you can look at all my little things at Izile's Oddities ( izile.esty.com ). I've also been trying to work out to make a mold out of a dried seahorse I bought in China Town, so far I've tried twice with no success. The second time I used a liquid base release agent, and it just turned into muck. I heard recently about using baby powder or flour as a release agent. Anyone else ever do successful molding with either of those? I'd hate to waste as big a chunk of clay again.
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New York City
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Re: New
Tue, March 6, 2007 - 11:34 AMNot with something as textured as a dried seahorse, no... But I have used baby powder as a release agent for making a mold of a cured polymer clay item. Works really well, but again, I think the smoothness of the clay may be a factor.
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Re: New
Fri, March 9, 2007 - 11:16 AMYou can also try using plastic wrap over the top of the clay. Press the seahorse into the clay and then use the side of the plastic wrap to pull it back up. Just have to get the plastic wrap smooth onto the clay first so as not to have pleats and wrinkles from it instead of the detail of the seahorse.
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Re: New
Fri, March 9, 2007 - 11:29 AMmy problem isn't with making the mold out of the seahorse, it's getting the unbaked clay out of the baked clay mold after I've made it. Seems each time I try it just makes a bigger mess. -
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Re: New
Mon, March 12, 2007 - 5:35 AMCover your clay with a thin coat of cornstarch before pressing it into the mold, then you can take it out either before of after baking. Hope this helps.
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Re: New
Tue, March 13, 2007 - 10:25 AMOh! Well, that's a lot easier, then.
As the person above said--cornstarch (same as baby powder). Smooth some inside the mold.
Do you take it out of the mold before baking? You could try freezing the whole thing so it's less likely to distort on the way out.
Is it a one-sided or in-the-round mold? Either way, you can arrange to have a little extra clay attached to the molded piece that will help you lift it out...then simply trim away with a razor, and bake. -
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Re: New
Tue, March 13, 2007 - 11:23 AMLast time I tried, I'd heard to use cooking spray, so I sprayed the mold then packed in the clay (one sided). Wouldn't come out, just made a big mess. So I tried to freeze it, didn't help. Then I tried to bake it, and that was an equal disaster. Pbbbtthh. I need to go buy more from the craft store before I can try again.
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Re: New
Wed, April 11, 2007 - 4:15 PMarmor all is the best release agent I have ever used. non greasy. also use it on my work surface to keep clay from sticking. -
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Re: New
Fri, June 8, 2007 - 5:36 PMI work mostly with PMC but when I use polymer clay molds I rub them with olive oil first and they come clean every time. Just a thin layer is enough to release easily. Don't know if this translates for other materials. Good luck!
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