A list of the tools I use to sculpt polymer clay.
Some of the silicone dowel tools
Hello, hello and welcome. Below you'll find a list of the tools I use to sculpt polymer clay miniatures with. This list is updated regularly. If you purchase your own tools from the links provided I may earn a commission. That means you're supporting my continued sculpting and you'll be using the tools I've found most useful in my eighteen plus years of working with polymer clay. Thanks so much. I'm excited for you to sculpt!
Tools that affect the shape of the clay:
A Potters Needle: I use this tool every day. It's used to etch, draw and press small lines in many configurations onto the clay. It's thinner than some potters needles so the lines are finer which makes for more detail. Here's the link:
Light Blue Silicone Dowel Tools: I also use these every day. These are tools for precision and tiny details. Each tool in this set has a soft silicone shape on one end and a small metal ball of varying sizes on the other. The silicone end I use to smooth tiny tiny seams or smudges of clay. The metal ball ends I use to make small indents, often for eyes indents and hair texture. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/3YqmAUi
Black Silicone Dowel Tools: These tools are similar to the ones above, but larger. The silicone is also stiffer than the smaller tools. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/3wThO5J
An X-Acto Knife: Another tool I use every day. It's simple, a small knife that precisely cuts any bit of clay needed. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/3CIWdzL
Roller: I don't use this every day but it's very useful when I need a small bit of clay rolled out. Basically it's a rolling pin, but the acrylic sticks less to the clay than wood. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/46dkPhB
Extruder: I use this for the first stage of making hair or anything string like. I usually roll the strings thinner but this gives the clay a great start and saves oodles of time.
Pasta Roller: This I use when rolling out big sheets of clay. Some people also use these for warming up or mixing their clay if their hands get tired. It makes the sheets even and can roll to different thicknesses. Here's the link:
Slice Knife: This tool is another useful knife. It has a long thin blade that is very useful when a long straight line needs to be cut. So it doubles as a straight-edge/knife combo. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/42QyVD1
Little Circle Cutters: This is a set of twelve small circle cutters. I use them to make even circles when needed. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/3NfFLMr
Hardware and other useful items:
Stainless Steel Stud Earrings: These are the posts, clasps and rubber stoppers that I use to make polymer clay earrings. They are stainless steel and hypo-allergenic. There's also a gold option. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/42JCvPf
Pins: These are the pin posts and backers that I use to turn my clay pieces into pins. Several color and backer options come in this pin making set. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/3XinV03
Eye pins: These are what I put into my sculptures to turn them into charms, ornaments, dangle earrings, plant stakes, etc. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/3JoyAk2
Lobster Clasps: These cute little clasps I use to attach to the eye hooks after the sculptures have baked for charms and stitch markers. They come in gold and silver. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/3CDQpaW
Dangle Earrings: These are stainless steel and come in two different sizes. They also come in gold or silver and the earring clasps are included, plus silicone backers. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/3Pgpp8Y
Magnets: These are the magnets I use to make polymer clay needle minders. You can also use them for fridge magnets or the like. They are very strong. Here's the link:
Loctite Super Glue: I've tried dozens of glues over the years. This glue is the best I've found so far. It bonds to nearly everything and has some flex once cured. That's great because the clay I use is flexible once baked. This means that both can withstand all sorts of movement and are super durable. The glue is also really strong. Mostly I use it to secure the magnets or other hardware items to the sculptures. Here's the link:
Tin Foil: Has many uses but most frequently I use it inside my sculptures. This helps larger pieces bake more evenly and to use less clay. It can also be used to support a delicate structure in the oven and then removed after baking. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/3pb9XQV
Poly-Fil: This fluff is used to support a sculpture when baking. When you set a sculpture on a baking pan, sometimes the base turns kind of shiny where the pan and clay were together. When the sculpture is set in a bed of fluff no such mark happens. That's great for beads or the like that don't have a specified base. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/44a8jOk
Thermometer: Every oven is different. This little thermometer insures that the sculptures bake at 275 F which is important in properly curing your clay piece. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/3peeEcG
Scale: This scale weighs to .00 grams. I use it to help make sure earrings or replicated sculptures are the same size. Also, when I find a great color mixing combination I can weigh the different colors and replicate that combination later. Here's the link:
https://amzn.to/445H5s7
Convection Oven: When I teach workshops, I bring this little oven with me. Convection ovens give the clay a more even bake than regular ovens and are portable. Here's the link:
There you are. Most all the tools I use to when sculpting with polymer clay. As always, if you have any questions let me know below.
Thanks for reading, hugs - Elizabeth (miniezshop)