A question for the sculptors out there useing Super Sculpey?

[DVS Design]

Hi guys,

I have been using super sculpey lately and loving it. But I was wondering i have seen people using a paint brush to smooth it when finished before baking. What kind of brush are you guys using and are you just using water or some kind of solvent?

 

[freakinacage]

i use a wet finger or a grey shaper

i have heard of brushing, apparently if you put some solvent on it, like turps, it helps smooth it

 

[dogfacedboy uk1]

I use brushes and the colourshaper rubber tip tools - sometimes with solvent other times with nothing. Solvents (i use official fimo softner) should be used very sparingly, i think lighter fluid is pretty harsh on it and turpenoid is somewhere in between although i dont think we have that here in the UK.

 

[shanerozzell]

The softner is by sculpy and is called clay softner and you can get it from the polymer clay pit here in the uk or from the sculpy website. It says you add a few drops when kneading to soften hard clay but I use it to smooth out bitty textures or flat surfaces.

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Originally posted by freakinacage
i use a grey shaper

What is this? Some kind of burnishing stick?


@dogfacedboy uk1 - colourshaper rubber tip tools - Are these the same thing Tim\'s talking about?

 

[freakinacage]

i must have had a bit of an odd moment there. it was clay shaper that i meant. one of them is grey if that\'s any consolation..

 

[moonmin82]

the \"grey shaper\" will be refering to a colour shaper tool. theyre basically a rubber tip on a paint brush handle. often used for paints and pastels sculptors use them as a softer tool for smoothing surfaces

 

[dogfacedboy uk1]

i believe these tools are called either colourshapers or clayshapers - depends where you live. regardless, they should be widely available in any good art store. I cant recommend these enough, but make sure you get the firm type and not the soft to start with. I havent actually tried the soft, but having used the firm type for years i would say any softer and it wouldn\'t be much use for sculpting. You will still need some metal tools though for some serious pushing power! These colour shapers are great for smoothing and details. it might even be a good idea to get a silicone caulking gun, make some moulds out of fimo for some custom shaped tips to go on a homemade tool? I might try that next time i am doing some silicone sealing actually.

dfb

 

[Einion]

Back to the solvent question, you can use Sculpey Diluent but common mineral spirits/white spirit will work. I think some people also use rubbing alcohol or similar.

Water can be used as a basic tool lubricant but when you use solvents they slightly dissolve the surface clay, which allows for different effects.

Einion