Fri, Dec 14, 07 at 1:19 AM
Author:Lisa Hansen
Subject:Question..?
Hi Everyone, Hi Jack :) I find it hard to sculpt with soft clays but i have been enjoying your firmer ones especially when blended with a bit of (firm) Translucent. Being so firm it can be a bit dry, so i started blending in a bit of quick mix, a fimo product, i love the blendibility & flexibility it adds but I was wondering if there are any adverse effects to doing this.
Are they compatible? I'm thinking long term...
I do use dilutent for other things, but i'm very sensitive to it.
Any help or advice would be super :) Thanks!
Lisa
Fri, Dec 14, 07 at 9:17 AM
Author:Jack Johnston
Subject:Re: Question..? About mixing fimo and prosculpt.
I've never mixed fimo and prosculpt, so I do not know what the effect will be. I have mixed ProSculpt with Sculpey and with Cernit and it works just fine. As fimo is a PVC product just as ProSculpt is they should go together without any problem, of course testing it will let you know for sure. Most of the manufacturers say not to mix polymer clays, but I have never said that. I think they don't want you to change their formula because they can't guarantee what will happen to it in years to come, and that seems reasonable. With that said, give it a try and report back. Thanks, Jack
Wed, Dec 19, 07 at 4:57 PM
Author:Jack Johnston
Subject:Re: Question..? About mixing fimo and prosculpt.
To better answer your question I mixed some Fimo with ProSculpt and sculpted a doll. It worked just fine. I have also mixed ProSculpt and Cernit together with good results. My tests are limited to one test and should not be thought of as the final answer, but it did work just fine for me. You may wish to test it too. Good luck, Jack
Tue, Jan 1, 08 at 11:42 PM
Author:Lisa Hansen
Subject:Re: Question..? About mixing fimo and prosculpt.
Hi Jack, thank you for your response and for testing this :).
I have been mixing fimo Quick Mix (clay softener) with prosculpt and it seems to cure just fine, as you mentioned. It also seems to give a little flexibility which for me is very helpful, I am always breaking things especially tiny ears and fingers and it seems to really help. So far so good. There are so many different opinions on blending clays and I always feel a little better knowing where my answers came from and asking myself. Thanks again & Happy New Year everyone may it be wonderful and creative!
Hugs
Lisa
Wed, Jan 2, 08 at 6:23 PM
Author:Christine Wex
Subject:Re: Question..? About mixing fimo and prosculpt.
Hi Lisa,
I've tried to mix Ethnic Prosculpt and Fimo with very bad results. I got something that looks like knife cuts. I always bake my (full sculpted) figures a couple of time and the cuts appeared after the second and third baking. So you should be fine if you only bake once I assume.
Christine
Wed, Jan 2, 08 at 11:16 PM
Author:Jack Johnston
Subject:Re: Question..? About mixing fimo and prosculpt.
Mixing colors with other colors from the same manufacturer is a trusted and proven process. Mixing clays with other brands is generally just fine. Over the years many manufacturers have said that it should not be done, but I've generally thought they were saying it just to keep the brands pure. Therefore, if you choose to mix different brands it would be wise to test the mixture before you sculpt a doll. Make a mixture of the two or more brands you wish to mix into test strips. Cure them and let them cool, then test them for texture, strength and color. If they past the test and you cured them at 275 for ten minutes you should be fine for future sculpting. All polymer clays have the same ingredients in them, they just all have different recipes with different amounts of the same ingredients. Some may have a better quality resin, PVC, or plasticizer, but that should not cause problems for you. I would be interested in hearing the findings from your tests.
Thu, Jan 3, 08 at 10:14 AM
Author:Jeanine Carhart
Subject:Re: Question..? About mixing fimo and prosculpt.
Would you please explain the benefits to multiple baking?
Thanks! jeanine
Thu, Jan 3, 08 at 1:52 PM
Author:Christine Wex
Subject:Re: Question..? About mixing fimo and prosculpt.
I often make very small full-sculpted dolls (6, 8 or 10 inches tall). For me it is simply easier to first make the body and bake it, afterwards I sculpt the head (directly attached onto the body) and bake it. Last are the arms and the legs. I've tried it in one go which is (for me) nearly impossible. I squashed the fingers or the nose while doing the legs for example. And my clay tends to get dirty because I often need days/weeks to finish a doll. It's simply easier to bake in stages.
Christine
Thu, Jan 3, 08 at 3:31 PM
Author:Jack Johnston
Subject:Re: Question..? About mixing fimo and prosculpt.
Thanks for your question about why to multi cure. Christine is right! The only reason to multi cure is to give you a firm foundation to work from. For example, I cure the back of the head first and then sculpt the face. This gives me something to hold on to without smashing the back while I sculpt the front, etc. Good luck, Jack
Fri, Jan 4, 08 at 2:16 AM
Author:Jeanine Carhart
Subject:Re: Question..? About mixing fimo and prosculpt.
Thanks so much for your replies (Jack and Christine). Since I'm new to this creative process, I want to gather as much knowledge as possible. Maybe I can make up for some of the lost time :). Thanks again! jeanine