[Grace] resin-like clay

Product Information

Available in gloss, matte, and satin formulas Vallejo Polyurethane Varnish is a water-based finish of superior purity. When dry it is UV and water-resistant and goes on very smoothly. It can be brushed or sponged with ease and provides a crystal clear finish that will not yellow or cloud with exposure to sunlight or damp conditions. Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating No, air-dry clay can not be glazed. Glazing requires temperatures far beyond what air-dry can withstand. It can be sealed, though, with polyurethane and painted with many different types of paint. What do you seal air-dry clay with?

One of the most versatile sealants on the market, Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating can be used on just about anything from air-dry clay to dried flowers. It is easy to apply in very light coats and provides a deep color-enhancing finish when built up. Resin is a wonderful material that does what it does very well. There is no substitute that matches it exactly. But by understanding which features you’re seeking, such as gloss or protection, you can make a better decision about which resin alternatives you want to use for your polymer clay work. Personally, I use all of these finishes (including resin) for different projects because they have such different features, results, and appearances.

Resources, guides & advice from the jewellery making experts

The most expensive sealants for making air-dry clay water-resistant are epoxy resins. In fact, they don’t just repel moister they are waterproof. When you also consider that they are also resistant to impact, UV rays, and abrasion it is easy to understand why they are worth the cost. Crystal Clay is AMAZINGLY easy to work with. It’s a 2 part clay, like epoxy resin. The two parts are 1 part richly coloured clay and 1 part epoxy, equal parts of which have to be combined and kneaded together before being pressed into your favourite setting before placing the crystals into the clay in a pattern of your choice. FDA 21 CFR 175.300 compliant for food safety, EnviroTex Lite Epoxy Resin is ideal for creating air-dry clay candy dishes and similar projects. It is self-leveling, water-proof, and has a very high gloss. An excellent sealant and varnish for a wide variety of crafting applications, Vallejo Polyurethane Varnish is water-resistant, provides UV protection, and has a beautiful finish. Comes in gloss, matte, and satin formulas. Resin clay can be painted, or dyed by kneading acrylic paint into it (we recommend using the white option for this.) Finished pieces need to be varnished to ensure longevity.

They are both considered waterproof and stand up to weathering well. All other types like PVA, acrylic, and Mod Podge can be sensitive to moister. Even outdoor acrylic paint can cloud or deteriorate when exposed to wet conditions or UV radiation. Regular and paper air-dry clay can be warmed to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celsius) to make them dry faster. However, any hotter than this and you risk them catching on fire. Air-dry clays can be very flammable. This is especially true of paper clays. Using an oven to dry your air-dry clay projects is a straightforward process that requires no special tools or skills. Here is a simple seven-part process that should lead you to success. 1. Gather the Needed Supplies 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. Now, start heating your oven. Be sure that it is set on bake, not broil, and the thermostat is no higher than 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celsius). Again, we can not overstress the importance of not exceeding these temperature settings. Doing so can result in personal injury, damage to your home, and the loss of your work.Liquid epoxy resin is by far the strongest water-resistant seal you can use for air dry clay. It will provide you with the most protection, but it’s also the most difficult to use. The most expensive coatings to use on air-dry clay are epoxy resin. In fact, depending on the brand they can be quite a bit higher. The thing is, you get what you pay for. 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. Air-dry clay doesn’t have to be sealed unless it is going to be exposed to moister. Many artists actually like the chalky look most air-dry clays have.

Any baked clay can be sanded and buffed to make it shiny. This process can’t be used on surface treatments because it will sand them off. This process leaves a warm, burnished, pleasing feel to the clay’s surface that is a sensory delight. You can buffy a texture to create a warm, burnished appearance. Since there are no coatings or products on the clay’s surface, you can rebake it. This includes artists’ varnishes, wood varnishes, glazes sold by the clay manufacturers themselves, and even floor finishes. These products are typically clear to milky white liquids. Some are off-white. Once dried, most willform a stretchy plastic filmover your work. It’s best to use a soft brush and apply several thin coats. Brush strokes can be an issue with this category of finish. Applying varnish to heavily textured projects canresult in pooling and air bubbles. Varnishes do not camouflage surface imperfections such as fingerprints. Rather, they accentuatethem. Varnishes are inherently glossy, but can be made to have a satin, semi-gloss, or matte finish by using matting agents. Matting agents are particles that dull the shine of the varnish. Always stir these containers before use, as the matting agent can settle in the bottom, leaving just the glossy varnish at the top of the bottle. I’ll now break down this Varnish category into two types, Acrylic Varnish and Polyurethane Varnish. Air-dry clay, whether dried or in a workable state is water-soluble. That is, it will dissolve in water. Even humid conditions can cause them to deteriorate over time. To have any permanents, air dry clay should be sealed with an appropriate water-resistant sealant. These can range from the completely waterproof epoxy coatings on the market to watered down PVA glue (white glue) Is air dry clay food safe? I’ve separated the polyurethane varnishes because they are marketed differently. But please knowthat thesevarnishes still contain acrylic resins. For example, Varathane‘s resin is an acrylic modified urethane. By the same token, many acrylic varnishes contain urethane as part of their resin makeup. So the distinction between these two categories is more one of marketing than chemistry. Best for: Sealing surface treatments, especially mica powders. Great on textured items where varnish would pool. Embossing PowderFor best results, we recommend using a clear polyurethane varnish to seal your air-dry clay. This will provide a layer of protection against water and dust without altering the look of your pottery.