7 replies to this topic

[Whizard Hlavaz]

Not a painting question per se, but one related.

For those of you who use Sculpey with frequency, let me ask you this: Can it be double baked? I ask because I noticed when sculpting my tiny pumkins that the interior of the models were still moist even though the outside was crusted and hard (I sculpted the pumpkin shape first, then carved the jack-o-lantern face afterwards. The unfired Sculpey was too soft to sculpt in the face.) While I didn't have need to double bake the pumpkins I am working on a larger project that I anticipate will need multiple bakings. That is I think I'd like to build a portion, bake it, and then add more and bake again. Is this possible? Or will once-baked Sculpey char and burn as the new stuff bakes?

Thanks in advance for any and all answers.

[Froggy the Great]

Yes, you can double-bake Sculpey.  Just make sure that you don't overbake it.  If it turns brown at the tips, that's ok, but if it starts to bubble, you've cooked it too long.

I've only done that once.  Most of the time, you can cook something 2-3 times with no irreparable problems.  Make sure you ventilate the area though, as the jury's still ( I think) out on the toxicity.

[Paintrix]

I've had no problems re-baking a piece up to six or seven times. Just be sure to adjust your baking time for the thickness of your layers, and try to work from thickest to thinnest layers from the 'inside' out, to avoid overbaking. Thick layers, 3/4" and more, are more prone to burning.

On larger pieces, I use foil, wire mesh, etc. to bulk out an armature as needed, then put a 1/4" 'skin' over it. Details go on top of this. This avoids a heavy and expensive chunk of solid Sculpey. ;) And just as in working with green stuff, you will want an armature (wire or wood) for any projections and the like.

[coogle]

MMM.. I'd also imagine it's like normal baking, if you think the outside is going to char then drop the heat but increase the time, this will slow the process, but should fix 'the inside is still damp' phenomena... ;)

What I'd like to know is can you put sculpy on a mini and then bake it? ie what temp does sculpy need to bake at, and what temp does pewter melt? ???

[Froggy the Great]

Well, Sculpey recommends cooking it at 275F for 20 minutes. I don't know the melting point of Pewter, but I think it's higher than that.

[Whizard Hlavaz]

Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the answers and am glad I can double-, triple-, quadruple-bake, etc., etc., etc.... :D

[Gobbo]

Pewter has a very low melting point [240°C]. White Metal [what most miniatures are cast in] has a low melting point [185-275°C] as well.

[Enchantra]

1) NEVER bake a mini and sculpey together. The mini will either warp or melt depending on the temerpature.
2) You can bake sculpey over and over again as often as needed aslong as you do not overbake it any one time you do bake it. The usual instructions are 275 degrees farenheit and in my experience, 15 minute for every 1/4 inch thickness. Your baking time will vary depending on altitude and humidity.
3) You can join baked pieces of sculpey together with liquid sculpey and rebake.

Paintrix has a good point, always use an armature for larger pieces. This will decrease baking time.

I'm currently using sculpey to make painting blanks and to sculpt bases for Vect's Captive, a GW mini, and also Vect's Slave. Supersculpey I find is the best of all to use for this.

Some useful tools:
Small clay extruder
Small sharp knife or a Nu blade.
Pins
Needles
Soft paintbrush
toothpicks
shells (for impressions)
Beads
ruler
Clay roller
wax paper
Baking parchment


If you are patient enough you can get fine detail using the sculpey just like you can with kneadatite. Give it a whirl.

:D