A guide to the different types of Clay & Tools
Author: Dana McGorlick-Appelman Date Posted:26 February 2021
Want to play with Clay?
Not sure which clay is right for you?
Keep reading to discover the difference between the different types of Clay, including Raku Clay, Polymer Clay, and Air Dry Clay.
Raku is a good all-round clay, suitable for wheelwork and hand-building. It has good plasticity and is kiln fired once modelled for a stone-like appearance.
This is a more traditional style clay that requires a kiln to fire and “set” your sculpture.
Polymer Clay is an easy to use, malleable and non-toxic synthetic clay that can be shaped then hardened in a standard household oven. It comes in a variety of colours and finishes, holds fine details, and is ideal for crafting press moulds, pattern making, figure and doll modelling, canes, beading, jewellery and many other sculptural projects.
Air Hardening Clay is the perfect choice for professional modellers, artists and students alike. The clay is suited to free form sculpting and can be sanded, drilled, painted or vanished once dry. Almost any decorative object can be created with imagination. Air dries in around 24hrs to earthenware hardness (depending on thickness). Traditional pottery techniques can be used together with non-traditional methods, and you can decorate it once dried with acrylic paints.
Mont Marte Sculpting-Clay Tool Set 11pc
This set contains a fantastic variety of tools suitable for use with clay. They may be used while the clay is still moist or on greenware (unfired air-dried clay) to carve, cut and clean.
This clay tool set may also be used with polymer clay. Each tool is made from clear varnished hardwood handles with durable steel blades.
There are infinite ways to use these tools. Below is a small selection of possibilities.
- Carve, cut and smooth with the curved end tool.
- The Spearhead tool end cuts small straight lines and is perfect for creating fine details.
- The small metal brush creates multiple fine-textured marks.
- Remove clay in square in large flat areas with the open-loop end tool.
- Carve, cut and smooth with the curved end tool
- Hand drill holes for salt and pepper shakers in greenware.
- The needlepoint end tool is ideal for placing delicate objects or scratching in fine details.
- The spoolie is great for cleaning rough spots on greenware in delicate or hard to reach places.
- The sharp blade is great for removing small areas with straight edges.
- The angled end tool is great for cutting small detailed areas and for flattening areas in hard-to-reach places.
- The needlepoint can create small holes, texture marks or can assist in the placement of small objects.
- Use the slightly forked end to create wood-like texture or sgraffito effects.
- Spearhead ends cuts small straight lines and etches fine details.
- The curved blade with the flat end lifts small areas with straight edges.
- The large spearhead blade is great for deepening details and making longer cuts.
Mont Marte Sculpting- Pottery Tool Kit 10pc
The Mont Marte Pottery Tool Kit is an excellent set of essentials for pottery enthusiasts. The tools feature stained wooden handles and are constructed with quality steel fittings. These tools are suitable for wheel throwing and hand-building from small to large clay objects, and pair well with Raku clay. Simply clean these tools with water after use and allow to dry. They can also be lightly oiled with linseed oil to prevent metal rusting or wood cracking.
This set includes the essentials for pottery, including a:
Potters Rib: This wooden tool creates uniform curves when wheel throwing.
Modelling Tool: Suitable for shaping, smoothing and sculpting clay.
Large Ribbon Tool: This tool has a large curved blade to shape and carve.
Sponge: Soak in water and use on your clay piece to prevent it from drying out.
Needle Tool: This tool is great for placing delicate objects, making small holes and scratching fine details.
Double Loop Tool: This tool has one curved loop and one flat loop to carve smaller areas of clay.
Metal Scraper: This metal blade can be used to add finishing touches to pottery pieces or to slice thin strips of clay.
Wire Clay Cutter: This wired is used to cut and portion blocks of clay easily. Also great to remove finished pieces from the pottery wheel head.
Fettling Knife: This tool has a long sharp flexible blade for sculpting, scraping and cutting clay.
Vinyl Case: Keeps your Pottery Set neatly and conveniently together.
Mont Marte Sculpting - Mini Boxwood Modelling Tools 10pc
This Mini Modelling Tool Set consists of 10 double-ended tools, providing 20 tool shapes to cut, carve, smooth, and create texture when sculpting. They feature a durable boxwood construction and ergonomic design for comfortable and controlled usage. These tools are ideally suited for use with polymer clay, but can also be used with traditional clay.
The various tools allow you to:
Create textured grooves and carve out concave areas.
Smooth out hard to reach places
Shape fine details with precision.
Cut and contour and smooth surfaces evenly
Gently flatten areas and incise and remove clay with accuracy.
Use the short blade tool to slice and cut clay and the pointed end produces uniform convex surfaces.
Crosshatch and make fine lines
Contour delicate features.
Score fine lines with the pointed angle tool.
Hollow out small areas with the small curved tool.
The pointed tool is invaluable for etching and indenting as well as aiding with the placement of small objects.
Slice and sculpt.
Create uniform patterns and place small objects with precision.
Mont Marte Sculpting - Single End Tools 6pc
Mont Marte’s 6 piece set of single ended tools contains a variety of thin steel ribbon blades in an assortment of shapes and sizes. The metal ends sculpt, carve, cut and shape both traditional and polymer clay, and the boxwood handles also double as sculpting tools that can be used in multiple ways. These tools are invaluable for creating intricate details when producing smaller objects.
The large triangular tool defines wide inclined areas.
Shape and position features with the flat round end tool
The sharp-angled ribbon tool carves out clay in hard to reach places.
The wooden tool end incises fine lines.
Create uniform indentations with the curved ribbon blade.
Produce level surfaces with the wide flat paddle tool.
Remove clay and form even shapes with the ribbon tool.
Make fine details and texture with the flat rounded end.
Use the small flat ribbon tool to cut and level clay.
The wooden end shapes, smoothes and carves.
Define large areas and regulate clay thickness with the ribbon tool.
Slice small objects and make linear marks with the wide wooden end.
The Richeson Wire Clay Cutter makes cutting clay much easier. It features a heavy gauge wire with wooden handles at each end so you can slice large blocks of clay with ease.
Mont Marte Sculpting - Pottery Banding Wheel 18cm
Mont Martes Signature Pottery Banding Wheel features smooth turning so that you can hand build and decorate your 3D projects without a hitch. It’s ideal for hand-building and decorating, and suitable for pottery, ceramics, sculptures and spin art. It features a non-slip rubber base, heavy-duty bearing for durability and a sturdy design with a cast iron body and aluminium base.
Mont Marte Polymer Clay Press - Rolling / Conditioning Machine
The Mont Marte clay press allows you to create an impressive range of marbling and blending effects. This is a great tool for all types of clay modelling. Equipped with 9 settings, this polymer clay press can be easily used to condition clay, create flat sheets and achieve a variety of effects. Perfect for blending colours. To keep it securely in place, it comes complete with a table clamp, and features 9 thickness settings.
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Got questions? Send us an email at customerservice@artshedonline.com.au and our friendly team of artists will do their best to assist you.
Happy creating!