If you are a potter, you probably understand that clay texture stamps need to be handled with caution. Many people ask how they should use their clay stamps, which often means going through a lot of information on each listing. Considering you don’t want to mishandle your clay stamps, it shouldn’t be a priority to use and care for them to get quality service for a long duration. This guide is a general overview of how you should use and care for the clay texture stamps. Take a look;
Keep away from children
Some stamps are quite small and should never be given to kids without supervision, especially the young ones who tend to explore everything with their mouth. If you have impression stamps for clay, don’t let the children play with them or use them without your presence or guidance.
General use and care tips
- Regular cleaning
One of the best things about clay texture stamps is they can be cleaned using warm soapy water, and a soft brush then left to dry thoroughly. The essence of cleaning is to remove the clay buildup that can cause sticking of different colors or dry clay that can affect current work.
- Press firmly with even pressure when stamping
Using clay stamps for pottery is not as straightforward as it may seem. A slight wiggle can push all the clay into the details to develop a more specific design. Potters should practice on a slab of waste clay before using the clay stamps on a real piece. Sand off chipped stamps
If whatever stamp you are using is chipped, you can sand it off with sandpaper to get rid of rough edges before putting it back. If the stamp is broken, get rid of it altogether. The last thing you need is imperfect clay stamps for pottery because they only damage your pieces’ quality.
Tips for potters and ceramic artists
Sometimes when working with clay, the stoneware clay can stick to a stamp, which affects the result significantly. In such a situation you might wonder what to do, and the following are a few insights that should be of use to you;
- Before stamping clay, give it time to dry since when it’s wet, it suctions onto stamps.
- Use oil, such as vegetable oil, to apply to the stamp.
- Make sure you wash the stamp regularly with warm soapy water and a soft brush to get rid of anything that may stick. Once you are done washing, let the clay stamp dry thoroughly before using it again.
- Occasionally dust the stamp with corn starch to keep the details clear.
It’s worth noting that if you use dark-colored clay, it will remarkably stain the stamps, but if you rinse and dry after every use, it shouldn’t have an effect if used on a light-colored clay.
How to handle polymer clay
Dealing with texture stamps for polymer clay is not as straightforward as it may appear. Sometimes the polymer clay can stick to the stamp, and if that happens you can try the following measures to get rid of it;
- Give the clay time to cool Before getting back to work. If you are in a hurry, you can put it in the freezer or fridge for a few minutes.
- If possible, let overly soft clay pass some oil out into some layers of copy paper for several hours to make it easier to work with.
- Never forget to get rid of any dust on the stamp using baby powder before stamping.
Using and caring for Clay texture stamps can be a daunting task, especially to beginners, but with the above guidelines, it should be a comfortable experience. Sometimes if you realize you are not getting enough detail on your design, you are using clay that’s too hard or rolled thin to pick up all the detail. Stamping should be reasonably comfortable when done right. Experience is also a crucial aspect when dealing with clay pieces.