Member Benefits 012-3: Sand Buff Shine
Wow, I just found your site, Cindy. Excellent tips and instructions, and a fantastic website to boot! YOU ARE A POLYMER SUPER HERO! Finally a way to conquer the dastardly This-Clay’s-Too-Dang-Soft-n-Mushy Villian and his menacing Fingerprint Gang! Oh, man, I’ll be up all nite now playing around with these tricks! THANK YOU!! ~Lisa >> This comment was originally posted here: Avoiding Fingerprints on Polymer Clay
I have finished 3 necklaces and I could not have done it without your help. My friend who got me started does not sand or buff and she was amazed when I told her you’re suppose to. Very few of the “how to” books mention sanding or buffing either. I had been using the sculpy clay she gave me and assume that is why the beads are not as shiny. I plan to try other brands. We have Hobby Lobby here and Michaels in Tulsa to buy clay. If I get better I will order on line. The first beads I made were bad, but I made them into a mobile for my porch. Again thank you. ~Marlowe >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Dremel Tool
My primary interest in using polymer clay is to create beads for jewelry, but this article has sparked an interest in flat pendants, as well. I never would have thought of putting cardstock in the oven! Home Depot here I come, for drywall sandpaper and ceramic tiles – I can’t wait to experiment with this new idea! Thanks! Thanks also to the readers who posted some additional tips here! ~Sue >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Flat Polymer Clay Sheets
You are right. Sanding to me brings out some different aspects of the beads. It also removes any finger prints or smudges that have appeared from handling. When you sand and buff a lot of time no gloss is needed, they are shiney enough without! ~Krista >> This comment as well as the next 5 comments below, were originally posted at this blog article here: Sanding Polymer Clay
Not sanding and finishing our beads makes me think of getting ready for a perfect night out by putting on a special dress and matching shoes, putting on our best make-up, and nicest jewelry, but forgetting to comb our bed-head hair out!!! :) We would be spoiling the whole outcome, and the whole look we were trying to achieve in the first place (unless, of course, you are one of those people who look gorgeous no matter what you do, and I assure you, I am not!!!). Takin’ it all in and lovin’ every bit of it! ~Cindy >> This comment was originally posted in the same blog article as for Krista’s comment above.
Some of us just don’t have the patience to sand most beads, lol and as you say it is lazyness, no excuse there. If one wants a particular piece to stand out then one must sand. Mokume gane with translucent clay and leafing is one example, sanding just makes it ‘pop’. I totally agree that it makes the item look professional when it is well-finished. I tend to save my baked beads now until I have a tumbler full and then tumble sand it, hee. ~Tina >> This comment was originally posted in the same blog article as for Krista’s comment above.
I didn’t sand my beads! Oh my gosh! I am the one you are talking about! I need a two step program. I will promise to sand the beads from now on. I will read and find out the right sand paper to use, I promise. I want the shine!!!! ~Brenda >> This comment was originally posted in the same blog article as for Krista’s comment above.
Definitely SAND. I have not made any beads yet. Just a newbie and I started with an animal. The pictures of the beads you made are gorgeous, they shine like glass beads, which was all I needed to convince me to sand. ~Marianne >> This comment was originally posted in the same blog article as for Krista’s comment above.
When I made my first beads I didn’t know about sanding. I do now and the difference between my first beads and now is that they look very professional. And I have even received requests for beaded necklaces based on beads I had made in my own necklace. ~Annie >> This comment was originally posted in the same blog article as for Krista’s comment above.
Thanks for these tips. I have also had the Sculpey glaze chip. Didn’t know why, now I do! ~Kim >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Finishes
This is the first I have heard of polishing polymer clay beads in a tumbler. Is there a special brand you use that works best? This technique sounds wonderful for smaller beads. It gets very tiring to sand them by hand. ~Diana >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Rock Polisher
Cindy your tips as with all of your posts was very helpful. I have a hard time taking the time to finish things. Like sanding and buffing I hate doing that but I know like you said it is something that I should practice on and do. So thank you for reminding me. I have found that there is no “right” way to do something. It all just depends on how you yourself see it and what is easier for you to handle. Like the heart pin I made, I made it my way and I like it. Thank you and your DH for all that you do for us. ~Linda >> This comment was originally posted here: Confident Polymer Clay Artists
The comment about being careful with sanding your projects really hit home – I had a pretty mokune gane pattern on the inside of my tiled bracelet – well “had” is the right word because I actually sanded a lot of it off. Oh well, live and learn! (The outside side still looks good though!) ~Maria >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Pattern Backgrounds
Thank You , I was hoping that I could use it that way, one for sanding and one for buffing, just watching your tutorial answered the questions I had. ~Donna >> This comment as well as the next 5 comments below, were originally posted at this blog article here: Polymer Clay Tutorial – Polishing Beads in a Rock Tumbler
Cindy- I am so happy to see you have more un-sanded beads than I do! It was nice to a get a peak at some of those beads in the tubs. Very cute picture of Doug too. The full video on how to use the rock tumbler is excellent. I am sure it took a long time experimenting to get the results you wanted to share. Thank you for all your hard work. ~Anna >> This comment was originally posted in the same blog article as for Donna’s comment above.
Love the look and no sanding, that’s my style! ~Lindsay >> This comment was originally posted here: Faux Pebble Beads
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