Favourite tools

Here are the tools I use most often when working with Sculpey. From left to right:

Heat gun--Often, when I am sculpting, I forget what I'm doing and accidentally grab on to a part that I've just sculpted, messing it up so that I have to go back and fix it. That problem is solved by using the heat gun on small areas as I finish them. I apply the heat for about 5 minutes, which is enough to harden the clay so that it won't deform, but doesn't bake it completely. I do multiple bakes, each about 10 to 15 minutes long, and a final bake of about 25 minutes.

Liquid Sculpey--SO useful! I use it as a glue, applying it over the baked clay to add more details with fresh clay; and as a smoothing compound for areas that I will eventually sand. It is also great for repairing broken parts. I simply apply some LS between the pieces, stick them together, smooth some clay over it, and bake it for several minutes with the heat gun. This holds the bits together long enough for me to continue working until the next bake. (That little jar in the upper right has LS in it.)

Disposable scalpel--You can buy these from, I think, eBay. They come in multi-packs and can be thrown away when they get dull. Really good for scraping, carving, and etching into baked clay. The blades are MUCH sharper and thinner than X-acto knives, which is why I prefer them.

Silicon sculpting tool--This is THE best tool I have ever used for polymer clay sculpting. It is flexible, but firm, and is fantastic when you need to do detail work. I use this almost exclusively, only rarely resorting to traditional sculpting tools when I need a specific shape. You can find these in art stores, where they sell paint brushes, as it is used in various painting applications.

Black Pearl brush, bright, size 0 (4mm)--My other favorite sculpting tool. The bristles are stiff enough that I can shape the clay, and I also use it to apply the Liquid Sculpey.

Calipers--Needed for making sure I get arms, legs, etc. the same length. I have tried just "eyeballing" it, but usually end up with one arm longer than another.

Jewelry pliers (pink handles), wire cutters (blue handles)--For cutting and shaping the wire armature.

Everything is resting on a glass cutting board. Polymer clay will ruin a wood finish--it will take the varnish and stain right off!--so you need something to protect your work station. Glass is easy to clean and scrape off.