Home >> Science & Nature >> Rocks & Minerals

How to Cure Clay

Polymer clay is a plastic-based modeling medium used to make jewelry and many other craft projects. It has become a popular craft clay in recent years, in part because of its versatility and vivid colors. When cured, polymer clay becomes shiny and hard; beads and other items made with it can resemble similar items made from colored glass. You must bake polymer clay to cure it and achieve a glossy finish.

Things You'll Need

Oven
Ceramic tile or glass baking pan
Free-standing oven or candy thermometer

Instructions

- 1
  Place your polymer clay pieces onto a ceramic tile. if you do not have ceramic tile, you can use a glass pan.
- 2
  Read the temperature instructions on the polymer clay package to determine how hot the oven needs to be and how long the clay needs to be in the oven. Generally, the clay should be baked longer if it is thicker -- about 30 minutes for every quarter-inch to half-inch thickness of clay.
- 3
  Preheat the oven. Place a free-standing oven or candy thermometer in the oven so you can make sure you have achieved the correct temperature for curing the clay.
- 4
  Place the clay piece on the ceramic tile; put a sheet of paper under the piece if you want to avoid shiny spots from direct contact with the tile. Bake according to the package directions until the piece is fully cured, usually at least 30 minutes.
- 5
  Allow the piece to cool completely before you try to remove it from the tile.

Rocks & Minerals