Polymer Clay Conditioning and Blending
Clay conditioning; not fun, unless you are mad at someone and want to take out your aggressions on
something!
 
I'm only half kidding...
 
I usually condition a great deal of clay at one time- this takes serious muscle work- but I don't mind. I
would rather do a bunch at one time than have to do it often. Once the clay is properly conditioned, a
process that reactivates the plasticizers in the clay (they are 'resting' or dormant when the clay is
shipped to the stores) then it will stay in a usable state for quite a while. All that's needed later is to cut off
the amount you need to use, roll it in your hands until it's warmed up a bit and you're ready to sculpt!! The
FUN part....
Again, for this tutorial, I am going to show you a series of photos that demonstrate my process. As I said,
I work a couple of pounds of clay at a time so there's a lot here- your process should be the same but
would most likely be with less clay. Make sure your work surface is spotless and your hands are clean
and lint free.  I use a food processor, a Hamilton Beach 2 speed model, dedicated to clay processing
only, (never used for food)  to chop up the clay.  It saves time and helps to warm the clay up before I
begin to roll the clay. A pasta machine is also so helpful, particularly if you are going to be blending two
colors together.  The model I use is an Atlas, and I have had the same one for 20 years. It too has never
seen a speck of flour, it's only used for clay.  
         Roll up your sleeves and here we go!
This method uses a food provessor
to chop up the clay, but the rest of
the process is done by hand
This method uses a pasta machine
to help blend several colors of clay
together more easily
Cut  the clay up in small chunks
When I am using a food processor, I will
still cut the clay up as you see on the
left, otherwise you might break the blades
in the processor as the clay binds up
against the walls of the bowl.
Process for about a minute, pulsing
first so the clay gets moving around in
the bowl. Continue to process until the
chucks look like cottage cheese- and
stick together when pinched.
Roll the chunks all together into a log
Same here...
Continue to roll the clay into
a long coil, lay the coils
side by side and flatten with
a rolling pin.
Squeeze the chunks
together into a log,
then a coil.
This photo is from a different batch of
clay, but it shows how I roll the clay
into a long, narrow piece so it will fit
through the pasta machine rollers.
Into the pasta machine it goes. The
setting on the pasta machine is at
the largest, or widest gap between
the rollers,  setting #1.
With this method, I just
continue to roll and
twist, roll and twist.
Sometimes I pick the
clay up and literally
wring it like a dishcloth.
This helps to squeeze
out the air pockets.
Continue to roll it through,
supporting the other end so it
doesn't get all messed up. This is
almost a two person job, with one
person feeding the clay through and
the other person turning the crank
on the machine.
Fold that long strip onto
itself so you have two
layers. Cut the layers as
shown here- in a width that
will again fit through the
pasta machine.
See the color
streaks? Still need to
roll and twist  it
some more..
Still rolling and twisting- in
this photo I put the coils
by my knife so you could
see how much clay is
there. Of course less clay
takes a lot less time.
Stack up those
layers, staggering
them a bit...
Roll them through the machine
again, repeating the steps as
before. If the sheet breaks apart,
that's ok, as long as the clay is
sticking together otherwise.  If it's
really dry and crumbly, you will
need to add a conditioning agent-
like oil or Mix Quick. If you add
mineral or vegetable oil to dry
clay, a drop to an ounce is about
the right amount. Any more and
you'll have a sticky mess.
It's a lot of clay!
The streaks are becoming less
noticable now. The pasta machine
really does speed up the process
when you are adding a dark clay
to a ligher one.
Still rolling and twisting,
but now all the colors
are blended.  So, one
more time through the
process, then roll the
clay into one big log.
Repeat the
process....
Cut the clay into
sections and
continue to
smooth and roll
this, trying to
squeeze out any
air pockets.
Roll the now fully blended
clay into a log, then into
segments just as in the
process shown on the
right.
 
This demonstration is
done with Eberhard Faber
Puppen Clay, but it is the
same for any brand I use.
This clay will stay fresh in
an enclosed cabinet for
several months. 
 
All done. I
store these
in sandwich
bags away
from heat
and light.