Air-dry clay is a durable material that's easy to shape, making it an excellent choice for various projects, like making jewelry, sculptures and ornaments. Unlike other clays, air-dry cures without being heated, fired in a kiln or baked in an oven.
As the name suggests, this type of clay only requires air to dry and harden. The drying process usually takes 24 hours but can span several days, depending on the size of the project and other factors.
What Affects the Drying Time?
The drying process is straightforward — leave it to dry once you've completed shaping the clay. In some cases, the drying time may take longer than usual due to these factors:
- Thickness:The thicker the clay, the longer it will need to dry, and the thinner the clay, the faster it will dry.
- Airflow:The parts of the clay that are in contact with surfaces dry slower because moisture gets trapped in between. You will want to occasionally rotate the piece to maximize airflow.
- Climate:The room's climate can affect the speed it takes your air-dry clay creation to dry. It will dry faster in a dry space and slower in humid conditions due to the moisture in the air.
How to Dry Air-Dry Clay Faster
While one of the best methods of curing air-dry clay is leaving it to self-harden, you can bake it in the oven to speed up the process. However, baking air-dry clay in the oven can lead to cracking from exposure to high temperatures.
When baking Sculpey Air-Dry™ clay, set your oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit, using an oven temperature to confirm. Since the thickness plays a role in how fast it dries, we suggest leaving thinner pieces in the oven for a minimum of 20 minutes. Thicker creations should be left in until fully cured but require constant checks to avoid over-drying and cracking.
If your air-dry clay gets cracked while curing in the oven, you can fix it by filling it with fresh clay.
Create With Sculpey Air-Dry™ Clay
Sculpey Air-Dry™ clay is soft and easy to mold, perfect for clayers of all skill levels. Once you've waited the right amount for it to dry, the result will be a durable item. Ready to start creating captivating jewelry, fun ornaments and other creations? Browse ourSculpey Air-Dry™ Modeling Clayproducts today.
FAQs
It generally takes 24 to 72 hours for air-dry clay to dry. Larger projects may take up to a week to dry out. You can expect air-dry clay to begin hardening as soon as it gets exposed to air, so any leftover clay should be stored in an air-tight container to keep in moisture.
How long does it take Sculpey air dry clay to dry? ›
The drying process usually takes 24 hours but can span several days, depending on the size of the project and other factors.
How to make Sculpey air dry clay dry faster? ›
While your Sculpey® Air-Dry™ creations will dry on their own, you can also cure more quickly by baking them in your oven at 200° F.
How much time does air dry clay take to dry? ›
Crayola® Air-Dry clay generally takes 24 hours to dry to the touch; 72 hours to dry completely. Drying times can be altered by environmental conditions and the size of the piece. Thoroughly dry pieces may be painted with tempera, acrylic, or watercolor.
Which is better, air dry clay or polymer clay? ›
Whilst modelling, polymer clay will always remain a soft texture in room temperature. Whereas air dry clay will begin to harden once exposed to air, which is why artists like to use slip to keep the clay soft and prevent any cracks. Once dry, polymer clay is generally sturdier than air dry clay.
What are the disadvantages of air dry clay? ›
A con to building with air dry clay is how fragile it can be. Thin additions like legs, fingers, and ears will easily break off. To avoid small parts breaking off, have students create mixed media pieces.
How do you know when air dry clay is fully dry? ›
These are signs that your air-dry sculpture is dry:
- The clay is cool. Try feeling the clay with your hands – the cooler it is, the drier the clay is.
- The clay is hard when you press it. If you press it and it's still moldable or giving it, it's not yet fully dry. ...
- Check based on type.
To help you get the most out of your clay, we've put together a list of our top tips below.
- Cover up to prevent stains. ...
- Prepare your air dry clay. ...
- Use a board or banding wheel. ...
- Choosing tools. ...
- Create an armature for extra support. ...
- Bulk larger works. ...
- Minimise cracking with a wet mix. ...
- Wrap clay for multiple sessions.
Water can be added to air dry clay to soften or join pieces. However, too much water may result in cracking as the clay dries. If too much water is added, making the clay very soft, allow the excess water to evaporate before molding pieces. Air-Dry Clay pieces should be at least 1/4 inch in thickness.
Can I bake air dry clay Crayola? ›
Description. Crayola Air Dry Clay allows your little ones to create fun and imaginative shapes with ease. This soft modeling material can either be reused or air dried to preserve your creation. No baking is ever required.
Decorating Air Dry Clay Pottery:
Acrylic paints are your best choice, as they form a protective plastic layer, but they will still likely get damaged overtime from use. Varnish might help slow that as well.
What to do after air dry clay is dry? ›
If your clay's gone dry, you can easily revive it and use it again. For air-dry clay, try kneading it for 5 minutes. The heat and moisture from your hands should soften it. If that doesn't work, mist the clay with water and leave it in a sealable bag for 5 to 10 minutes.
How to speed up air dry clay? ›
you can actually bake air dry clay so it dries faster. place your project on a baking sheet lined with parchment. and place in a cold oven. set your oven to 200 degrees and time for 20min.
Does Sculpey air dry clay dry hard? ›
Sculpey Air-Dry™ modeling clay is ideal for sculpting and can be shaped into coil or slab forms. If air-dry clay becomes stiff, you can add a little bit of water and knead it to make it soft and fresh again. This type of clay will dry hard and: – Is easy to handle and manipulate.
Do professional artists use air dry clay? ›
Types of Air-Dry Clay
Mont Marte Air Hardening Clay is the perfect choice for professional modellers, artists and students alike. This heavy-bodied clay is pliable after kneading, and because it is slow drying you can take your time forming it into your desired design.
Can you let polymer clay air dry before baking? ›
Leaving it to air dry for months would result in crumbly pieces of clay which are of no use to work with. The fastest and effective way to harden or cure the clay is by baking in the oven.
Can I paint air dry clay before it dries? ›
Most pieces will be safe to handle carefully within a day but should be allowed to dry at least 24-48 hours before painting or sealing. Actual time to completely dry may take several weeks, and the clay becomes stronger with time.
Can you wet Sculpey air dry clay? ›
Wetting Sculpey clay is not recommended because it will make the clay brittle.
Can I leave Sculpey clay out overnight? ›
Unlike natural waterborne clays, polymer clay will not harden when you leave it out at room temperature, which means you can set projects aside and return to them later. You also don't have to worry about replacing clay if you forget to put it away, as long as you keep it from heat and direct sunlight.
