You can only have so much slip, then what? I found this technique a couple of years ago for reconstituting metal clay and I love it! I recommend it to all my students.
I used to HATE reconstituting old dried metal clay projects that didn’t work out. The main reason was because I didn’t have the right method. I always ended up with a big mess. With Lisa’s method I reconstitute all the time. Check this out and you will be able to use every bit of dried clay.
Here is a tip, I had some really old dried clay, like 5 years old. After I reconstituted it I found that the binder was old. The way to tell if the binder has broken down is to test it. Do a test with the clay by creating a very simple single layered charm. In the bone dry stage, sand as usual. If the piece starts to crumble or even fall apart then the binder has broken down. To solve this, add an equal amount of fresh clay to the reconstituted clay. Combine the two clays by rolling them out without any spacers (cards) Then fold the clays onto each other and re-roll. Do this this several times and your clay will be rejuvenated to a smooth workable clay!
Is it crumbly while still in the clay stage? or in the bone dry stage?
Is it crumbly while still in the clay stage? or in the bone dry stage?
Hey Patrik,
Thanks for the tip, as I have a couple of ounces of old clay where the binder broke down and thought I could only use as past for leaves etc. But after so many leaves etc, I wished it could be clay again. I am going to mix up a batch with fresh clay and give it a go. Thanks!
You are more than welcome. I love this tip and use it all the time. It does take a little practice getting a feel for how much water needs to be added. Start adding water slowly and start to mix, then add a little more, then mix. When it starts to clump up that is when I turn it out on the board and start rolling. At that point I roll it, then fold it onto itself, then reroll it a few times. It might seem too dry but keep rolling it to be sure all the water is distributed evenly. At that point I usually end up brushing water onto the clay and then re-roll as before until I get the perfect smooth clay we all love! Hope you find it helpful.
pk
Do you mix the binderless clay to a somewhat claylike consistency and then knead in the new clay or do you mix in the new clay into the powder along with the water and knead it together?
Thanks
Reconstitute the old clay first. I mix it then roll it until it looks just like fresh clay. Then I add the new clay to that and roll them together until they are combined. But I only do this if the old clay is really old and find that the binder has degraded. Not a necessary step for most dried clay.
Thanks Patrik,
Yes the clay I have has no usable binder left.
When reconstituted it is a crumbly mess. So I was hanging on to it for some use. I am so pleased there is a way to now be able to reuse it!!
Hey Patrik,
Thanks for the tip, as I have a couple of ounces of old clay where the binder broke down and thought I could only use as past for leaves etc. But after so many leaves etc, I wished it could be clay again. I am going to mix up a batch with fresh clay and give it a go. Thanks!
You are more than welcome. I love this tip and use it all the time. It does take a little practice getting a feel for how much water needs to be added. Start adding water slowly and start to mix, then add a little more, then mix. When it starts to clump up that is when I turn it out on the board and start rolling. At that point I roll it, then fold it onto itself, then reroll it a few times. It might seem too dry but keep rolling it to be sure all the water is distributed evenly. At that point I usually end up brushing water onto the clay and then re-roll as before until I get the perfect smooth clay we all love! Hope you find it helpful.
pk
Do you mix the binderless clay to a somewhat claylike consistency and then knead in the new clay or do you mix in the new clay into the powder along with the water and knead it together?
Thanks
Reconstitute the old clay first. I mix it then roll it until it looks just like fresh clay. Then I add the new clay to that and roll them together until they are combined. But I only do this if the old clay is really old and find that the binder has degraded. Not a necessary step for most dried clay.
Thanks Patrik,
Yes the clay I have has no usable binder left.
When reconstituted it is a crumbly mess. So I was hanging on to it for some use. I am so pleased there is a way to now be able to reuse it!!