Oh, the smell of burning plastic

[gategrrl]

Yesterday I went and bought a mold of sun-faces and some Fimo and Sculpey plastic clay stuff, in order to make components for a present for a friend...I make the peices, and stick them in the oven with the expensive temp gauge I bought for Mermaid's diorama project. The oven didn't seem to be getting hot enough, so I turned up the dial a bit. My mistake was to walk away.

Now the house smells like burned plastic, and it's HORRIBLE! I managed to catch the stuff in time while it was bubbling, but the peices are ruined and I'll have to make some more. :-(

Any hints from my very creative flist on how to work with this stuff? I've never used it before in my LIFE, and I thought it would be neat to try it (finally).

Comments

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Never worked with the stuff but it sounds fun!

Except for the burning stuff.

Oh and I wanted to mention something to you. For whatever reason--I don't know the how or why--but after I end up chatting with you I always have this burnign desire and surge of creativity to write my original fic. Thank you!

Or...I am starting to think you've kipnapped my muse and are holding her for ransom *narrows eyes*

[crazymadjo.livejournal.com]

I've worked with Sculpey a lot. It always gives off a yucky smell when baking. As you've seen, it's best to have the oven too cool than too hot, and you do need to keep a close eye on it. Never try to touch or move it right out of the oven - it's more prone to bending and breaking when it's hot. Once it's completely cool (give it a minimum of 30 minutes), you can test to see if it's fully hardened (a little bit of "give" is normal, especially if you've made a thicker piece). You can re-bake it if you're not satisfied with the hardness.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Really? I can put it back in the oven if it didn't finish up? Cool! This next time, I won't turn the oven up and let them go that way. The mold I bought does create some thick pieces, so they will probably have to stay in there for at least an hour! I bought two packets of Sculpey, and four of Femo. The Sculpey is much softer, but the Femo has more colors. The translucent one is really neat!

Thanks, Jo!

[crazymadjo.livejournal.com]

It's amazingly versatile stuff. The trick is not to get it too hot (it melts, as you've seen) or left in so long that it starts to burn. If the edges start turning dark or it starts smoking - take it out! I've had pieces catch on fire in the oven.

I've never used Femo, but it looks like a lot of fun. But dang, it's expensive!

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Luckily, the local Michael's is having a sale on the stuff ($1 for a 2oz brick) so I bought five or six of the things: I'll probably go back and get some more. Doesn't it come in larger brick sizes?

I followed your advice and it worked perfectly, so thank you so much! One of my burnt pieces came out kind of neat - the bubbles didn't completely snocker it, but, I wouldn't want to glue it to the bookcover. I think I'll keep it as an example of what NOT to do!

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

I used to make very thin, delicate jewelry with Fimo, so it can be done. You just need to get it warm to make it pliable - rub between your hands, or get some friction on it somehow. Sometimes you need to break it into little pieces, get them pliable, then start merging them. And yes, the translucent is WAY cool!

It doesn't make a very strong bad smell when you bake it - just sort of a warm play-doh smell. :)

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Oh, the translucent is awesome - I bought a packet of it to use, and wow, so cool!

[crazymadjo.livejournal.com]

Okay, you guys are totally getting me in the mood to go buy some of this stuff to play with. I don't need to spend money on more craft stuff!

*covers ears* Lalalalacan'thearyouuuuu