Thursday, March 11, 2010

Tool Drool: Corn Starch

The following post is written by ValeriesStuff

My favorite tool isn't a tool at all. It is corn starch. Put a tiny bit on your finger and rub on your piece to remove fingerprints. It is also very useful if your clay gets too sticky. A little corn starch will firm it up (I will also pop a piece I am working on in the refrigerator to firm it up.). Also, if you ever get those teeny tiny bits of fuzz on your clay, corn starch can make removing those much easier.
I usually give all my pieces a quick rub down with corn starch before baking. Any excess is easily washed off after they cool.
I have found that corn starch is esp. helpful (for me at least) when I make anything that requires a lot of handling like making beads:



or using a bracelet blank:



or layering:



It's my magic erasure.

6 Smooshing Thoughts:

Unknown said...

I love cornstarch too. Great for burying translucent pieces so they dont discolour.

coltpixy said...

Much to my horror I discovered the other day that white pearl can also discolor if not baked buried under corn starch.
Lesson learned.

2 Good Claymates said...

Donna Kato uses baking soda to bake beads in -- I tried it and I love how they come out.

Dori T said...

I love all the ideas.

Creative Critters said...

I'm going to have to remember this tip. Thanks for sharing!
-Michelle of CrativeCritters

Anonymous said...

I've just recently discovered this helpful tool-- I use it to bury pendants and beads that have pearl or translucent clay so that they won't burn. Great to learn there's even more uses for it!