Conditioning Kato Clay - How I Do It In my Studio

Рет қаралды 2,873

Күн бұрын

Kato Polymer Clay needs to be conditioned a little differently to many of the softer polymer clay brands around at the moment.
In this video I'll run you through the conditioning process I use in the studio. It's simple, easy, won't break your back and you'll end up with a beautiful clay which is ready to work with in a few minutes.
Kato Polymer Clay is a firmer clay and is incredibly durable when conditioned and cured at the correct temperature.
You can find free tutorials, paid tutorial and so much more on my website here: www.debbiecrothers.com/
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Пікірлер: 28

@Robsquick 2 жыл бұрын

Kato now has a conditioning bar that works awesome

@debbiecrothers1 2 жыл бұрын

Yes it's great for those really old crumbly blocks of clay. The new stuff is very fresh so not needed in my opinion. Thanks for your input.

@trudifido8086 Жыл бұрын

THANK YOU - I have NEVER been able to get it workable! I saw your video and decided to give it a try -So I just got it out - bought in 2008 - and used your method- SUCCESS! I am so pleased. THANKS! ( I don't know where that line is coming from)

@sallynelson1180 2 жыл бұрын

You videos are always so helpful and loaded with lots of tips and treats! I appreciate you taking the time to help educate us!

@debbiecrothers1 2 жыл бұрын

Sally thanks so much for your gorgeous comment, I really appreciate it xxx

@fawnwolfe7355 2 жыл бұрын

Baby oil is ok. Mineral oil used to be the recommended way to soften pc waaaaaaay back when I was young. Baby oil is just scented mineral oil so I works fine just don’t use very much, it goes a really long way. I had a slight mishap and spilled. I had me some soft smooth clay. Only had to leach it for about three days with bouts of drag paper a couple times a day. It all worked out in the end. Lol

@debbiecrothers1 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Fawn, oh no, I could imagine baby oil everywhere would be pretty messy!! I do know people use baby oil and mineral oil in their firm clays and that's fine but in my experience it can weaken the clay. I simply prefer to use a clay softener. Glad your baby oil spill worked out in the end.

@juliekbrooks Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for the video. I was almost going to give up on clay because I have watched too many KZfaq videos that I felt was bad advice. Watching all of your videos, I'm going to give it a go.

@debbiecrothers1 Жыл бұрын

Hey Julie, huge thanks for your message. Please don't give up on clay - it really can be so rewarding and I'll be more than happy to help with anything I can. ♥

@annitagalvan9049 2 жыл бұрын

My dear Debbie, I've been waiting for this video, it was a must! And definitely I'm not going to use the octopus method! 😂😂 As I have told you, I use Premo and sometimes if I have to soften it, I use Cernit magic mix which indeed works great. No water, no vodka, no whisky 🤗 As usual, I have a question, is the smell of Kato clay bearable? Thanks a lot 😊

@debbiecrothers1 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Annita, hahaha no...no need to use the octopus method!! Cernit magic mix is a great softener, I use it often. I guess I really just wanted to show people how I work in my studio - everyone is different and we all have our own way of conditioning but when I see comments about adding water - well that's just crazy!! haha I actually don't mind the smell of kato....some people can't stand it. Again it depends on the individual. I personally love Kato. Thanks for getting in touch. x

@barbaraletcher9919 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Debbie. I am so pleased that you made this video. I have used Kayo clay a bit and really like it but have found conditioning some of it quite challenging. I think I know what to do to overcome this now. Very useful, thanks a lot! 💗

@debbiecrothers1 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Barbara, thanks so much for the support, I really appreciate it. I think the most important thing is to try and not get to that pasta machine too quickly. Conditioning first with the acrylic rod will make all the difference. I've seen it so many times in classes with people who aren't used to working with Kato and they treat it like it's one of the softer clays. Thanks again for getting in touch. x

@barbaraletcher9919 2 жыл бұрын

@@debbiecrothers1 ha ha I mean Kato! Spell check! Thanks and yes not going to the pasta machine too quickly is the biggest thing I learned. And to do it on the thinner setting! So different from Sculpy Premo which is the other clay I use. Awesome!

@debbiecrothers1 2 жыл бұрын

yay so glad it helped Barbara. I have just seen it so many times both online and in workshops where those who don't know Kato clay just go straight for the pasta machine....but then I understand why. Thanks heaps for the feedback, I really appreciate it. xx

@cindywalcott4124 2 жыл бұрын

I still have some really old Kato on hand. It requires pounding before using the pasta machine. Anyone remember that technique? I also have a bunch of Fimo I bought on clearance when JoAnn stopped carrying it maybe 3 years ago, Very dry and crumbly. Today I tried pounding it, and it seemed to help. Mixing with Premo works too.

@debbiecrothers1 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Cindy, I'm sure there are many who remember bashing their kato clay to condition. I have never had to do that fortunately. I have had old FIMO as well and could never bring it back together. I think it had sat in the shop window for way too long. There are lots of different options now to bring our clay back to life which is awesome. Thanks heaps for your input here Cindy. x

@anvan47 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Debbie, I guess the thing I find hard with Kato is that it cures at a higher temperature. It can be mixed with other brands of clay I know and is OK to bake at Kato’s recommend temperature, but you risk colour shift. There are certain pieces that I make and Kato is definitely the clay to use because of it’s properties.

@debbiecrothers1 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Annette, I created two videos for conditioning Kato and for mixing Kato and Premo. I've included how I cure kato and premo mix in the other video - not this one. Yes definitely there is a colour shift sometimes and it's all explained in the video.

@Frewtsalad Жыл бұрын

I bought a large block of turquoise accidentally instead of the regular block, and it's a crumbly mess. I've got cernit softener and it works, but there's a stickiness to it I don't like. Do the conditioning bars have a similar issue?

@deborahkatz5847 Жыл бұрын

Hi Deb, love your tutorials. Just a quick question. When you bake your Kato/Premo mix what temperature do you bake it at and for how long? Just a side note: I did a finishing workshop with the lovely Dani at The Whimsical Bead on Sunday and saw your pictures on the wall and heard some stories. 😊 cheers Deb

@debbiecrothers1 Жыл бұрын

Hey Deborah, great to hear from you. oh such good memories from the whimsical bead. I miss Dani and everyone over there heaps!! Okay I normally cure my kato premo mix at around 150 - 160 for at least 40 minutes. I always keep an eye on it though and I'm also aware that some Premo colours may change due to that temp. It's great if you have lots of hard Kato you want to soften (ie black or white). I normally mix half and half or thereabouts and I can end up with a really nice consistency. Hope that helps. ♥♥

@deborahkatz5847 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Deb, when you come back to Melbourne hopefully I might see you at Whimsical. Love your tutorials.

@debbiecrothers1 Жыл бұрын

@@deborahkatz5847 oh yay that would be awesome. No idea when I'll get a chance to get over your way...fingers crossed it's not too long xx

@elisabethbyrne5024 11 ай бұрын

Is that a fellow Australian accent I hear?🇦🇺🤔

@debbiecrothers1 11 ай бұрын

hey Elisabeth, yes it sure is. I'm in Geraldton on the west coast of Australia. xx

@fawnwolfe7355 2 жыл бұрын

The baby oil is ok. My study on the subject says that mineral oil is an acceptable softener. All baby oil is is scented mineral oil. I’m concerned though that the one who uses water is Finn get herself a rude awakening when something explodes in her oven.

@debbiecrothers1 2 жыл бұрын

Yessss, I was pretty gobsmacked when I read using water to soften clay. Unfortunately there's all sorts of info like that around at the moment which can make it tricky for someone to navigate when they are new to clay.