Sometimes ceramic tiles are used for other purposes. Clay is one good example which is used for certain tools in every workshop where we work on any art or craft that we rely on so heavily that we don't even realize they're necessary. That would most definitely be the demeaning ceramic tile in my studio. I use them for each and every job I work on, and I have a dozen of them. Everyone! Here are a few examples of how I combined polymer clay and ceramic tiles. Why not combine your polymer clay with ceramic tiles? A work surface made of ceramic tiles is superb and long-lasting. Clay adheres to shiny surfaces, which makes it a terrific way to keep your clay steady while you work on it. Ceramic tiles with the project on them can be placed straight in the oven. Because they are so simple to clean, they make excellent palettes for paint or other dirty materials. To provide the oven some additional heat stability, tiles may be left inside. (See my tutorial here for a detailed explanation of baking polymer clay.) Cheap ceramic tiles can be purchased at any home improvement retailer. Using Polymer Clay and Ceramic Tiles in the Studio Desk or Table When I'm working with polymer clay, my table is covered with a ceramic tile. On it, I spread clay sheets and snakes. When I lay down clay, the tile has exactly the right amount of "grip" to prevent my clay from scooting out from under my tools as I work with it. My polymer clay item doesn't pick up any texture from the surface because it is absolutely smooth. My cutters and knife cannot cut the hard tile. And because the blade slips against the smooth tile and under the polymer clay, I can simply pick up a sheet of polymer clay without damaging it. Clay is simple to chop up for imitation stone applications. The nicest part is that I can use paint or alcohol ink to make a huge mess without damaging my work area. Try doing it on a wooden surface or Formica! (You ought to see the top of my desk at work; ew. I'm a mess. Additionally, there is always a risk when using polymer clay that the plasticizers will leak into the surface you are working on or leach out of the clay, leaving it brittle and dry. Ceramic tile won't bother you about this. I can leave clay on it endlessly without causing damage because it is entirely impenetrable. Transport Tray Since unbaked polymer clay is soft, moving it from one location to another runs the danger of leaving markings or distorting it. The ability to make my clay sculpture directly on the ceramic tile and then transport it to the oven is appealing to me (see this article for reasons why you should keep your oven out of drafts for more information). I can work on one phase of a project while putting another phase on hold. I merely take the tile in my hand and set it aside. In my studio, I frequently have tiles with clay flecks on them resting on bookcases. An idea may occasionally require to "incubate" for some time. I can easily clean my desk in this manner so I can work on something else. Baking Table You may indeed bake your polymer clay products right on a ceramic tile. The best table-to-oven gadget ever created! The tile can be placed either directly on the oven rack or inside a covered pan before being placed all together in the oven. I use a basic piece of white copy paper to prevent shining patches where the clay hits the tile because the tile's surface is shiny. Paper can be put in the oven, yes. The paper doesn't burn even at 325°F (163°C). The tile is completely secure within the oven. But keep in mind that since tiles take some time to heat up, bake for longer. This low-cost guide can help you find answers quickly if you're having trouble baking polymer clay or if it's breaking or burning. Management of Heat To help maintain uniform heating, a ceramic tile can be placed in the bottom of a toaster oven (ovens galore!). Your toaster oven will operate more consistently since the tile itself retains heat and releases it gradually. For the same reason, I always bake polymer clay on a covered ceramic tile. It aids in maintaining a constant temperature when the heating element cycles on and off. When using a heat gun to emboss, flash cure liquid polymer clay, or partially cure clay so that it may be utilized in crackle techniques, ceramic tile is also heat resistant. Palette I just squeeze a tiny puddle of acrylic paint onto a ceramic tile. I can start painting right there. When I need to blend colors, it also works wonderfully. When the paint has dried, using a razor blade to scrape it off is really simple. This, in my opinion, is preferable than utilizing paper plates, a piece of plastic, or aluminum foil. I also truly can't buy artist's disposable palette paper, despite how frequently I use paint. Flat Surface The same characteristic that results in bright areas when polymer clay is baked can also be utilized favorably. It is desirable to utilize a smooth surface, like glass, for various polymer clay techniques so that the clay will stick to the tile for easier handling. In my tutorial on graduated colors, I employ this characteristic to create the little circles. To keep their wad of clay stationary, sculptors frequently "stuck" it to the work surface. Alternately, you can use the smooth surface to give your clay, after baking, a shiny finish. By dripping liquid polymer clay over a ceramic tile and baking it there, you may create window clings. Glass serves the same role as ceramic, however ceramic is far more durable. Utilizing resin Resin can be a troublesome and nasty substance. Your object must be perfectly flat in order for the resin to cure flatly. For this, ceramic tile is excellent. Additionally, I can easily remove hardened resin off ceramic tile with a scraper blade when I produce the inevitable spills and drips. The finest benefit, though, may be that while my resin-filled things dry, I can simply pick up the tile and place them to a new, dust-free spot, freeing up my desk for another job. The leading exporting team of our company would feel great to represent the high-end ceramic tiles o the customers and cooperate with professional traders around the world.
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