Q&A for How to Make Clay

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How do I soften clay that has hardened?

Deanna Ranlett
Pottery & Ceramics Professional
Deanna Ranlett is a Pottery and Ceramics Professional and the Owner of Mudfire Inc. in Decatur, Georgia. With more than 22 years of experience in the ceramics industry and eight years of experience owning a studio, they specialize in glaze formulation, firing ceramic and pottery pieces, general clay projects, and screen printing for ceramics. Deanna holds a BFA in Ceramic Arts and Ceramics from Georgia State University.

Deanna Ranlett

Pottery & Ceramics Professional

Expert Answer

If you have a block of it that has dried out, pour a little bit of water into the bag, seal it back up and just let it sit. The process should take just a couple of days.

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Question

How long does it take for no bake clay to dry out?

Danielle Husband

Community Answer

It usually takes about 2 days for it to fully dry out. However, you may need to wait longer if you live in an area that's high in humidity.

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Question

What should I do if the clay is more like dough?

Unicorn Believer and Lover

Community Answer

Add some cornstarch or baby oil. Let it alone for about 15 minutes. That should do the trick.

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Question

How do I soften it when it becomes hard?

Community Answer

Depending on how hard it is, you may not be able to soften it again. Start by adding a few drops of warm water to the clay, and then smooth it in. If the clay had dried out, you will not be able to soften it again.

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Question

Can you bake no-bake clay if you don't want to wait for it to air dry?

Unicorn Believer and Lover

Community Answer

Yes, you could, but air drying the clay help the clay keep its shape. Baking it may melt the clay down.

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Question

Which clay won't dry out?

Community Answer

The oil-based clay will not dry out, but it may become more brittle after a long time. You will still want to keep it in a tightly-closed container to keep it fresh and clean.

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Question

What should I do if the clay gets really oily?

Community Answer

Add more flour or cornstarch to it.

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Question

What type of flour would you need to use for the no bake clay?

Community Answer

All purpose flour is fine.

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Question

How long will a salt-based clay last?

Community Answer

Clay will stay good for around a month. It's best kept in a Ziploc bag with all the air pushed out.

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Question

I am trying to make a small bowl. How would I do that? I want it to bake in the oven, not air dry.

Danielle Husband

Community Answer

You could use any of the methods above to create clay for a small bowl. If you want to bake it, place it in the oven at 212 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 hours.

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Question

Can cornstarch harden?

Community Answer

Yes, cornstarch can harden if you don't put it in an airtight container or bag.

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Question

After I make an object, how do I make it waterproof?

Community Answer

Seal it with a layer of clear nail polish or waterproof spray.

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Question

Can you use Espom salt?

Danielle Husband

Community Answer

You can use any type of salt to make clay, but finally ground salt will work best. That's because it will dissolve into the water more easily.

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Question

Aren't there any recipes for air dry clay?

Community Answer

The no-bake clay is air dry. I would suggest that you do that.

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Question

What flour should I use?

Community Answer

Normal all purpose flour would do. You can buy it at most grocery stores.

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Question

For oil-based clay, is limestone powder the same as calcium carbonate, or it is calcium hydroxide? Or we can use both?

Community Answer

It is the same, yes, so you can use either one. But stick to one and don't mix them.

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Question

What is the best way to make clay for kids to do a project that doesn't involve a lot of work? The children are young.

Community Answer

Salt dough. It's method 3 in this article. However, if you want edible clay, do a search on the Internet. There are lots of good recipes for edible clay out there.

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Question

Can I paint no-bake clay after it has dried?

Community Answer

Yes, you can!

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Question

Do I have to get the right amount of flour or water to make clay?

Community Answer

No, but try to keep the proportions the same if you can. If the clay is too dry, add more water. If the clay is too wet, add more flour.

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Question

Did you make a clay without glue?

Danielle Husband

Community Answer

Yes, you can make clay without glue. Most clay recipes don't use glue, so it's not a necessary ingredient.

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Question

My no-bake clay isn't hardening after two days. What should I do?

Community Answer

Make sure you get the measurements and ingredients of the clay right. If they are, try leaving it out longer.

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Question

What can I use instead of flour?

Community Answer

You can make clay with cornstarch as well, but the consistency will turn out a little differently.

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Question

Can I make a clay with Borax?

Community Answer

No. It will become slimy and wet. But you can make silly putty with glue, water, and Borax.

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Question

Can I use something other than corn starch?

Community Answer

Yes, you may use cornflour instead of corn starch.

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Question

What can I use to make the clay if I don't have cornstarch in my country?

Community Answer

Different countries have different names for cornstarch. If you have corn flour, you can use that because it is the same thing.

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Question

What are the heat tolerances of all the clays once they are dry?

Community Answer

Cold porcelain clay is the most heat resistant, and the oil-based is least. The drier and smoother it is, the more resistant it would be.

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Question

How can I make polymer clay?

Community Answer

You can´t make polymer clay, but you can use one of these as a substitute for polymer clay.

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Question

Should I play with clay immediately or wait until later?

Community Answer

It's up to you! You don't have to play with your clay immediately, but if you don't, then you need to make sure it's in a sealed container so it doesn't dry out.

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Question

Is there a substitute for the baby oil?

Community Answer

Any natural oil should work.

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Question

Can I use baking soda instead of flour?

Community Answer

No, baking soda and flour are not the same thing. Flour is thicker and is used to make dough. Baking soda would just crumble.

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