The Top 10 Polymer Clay Tools You Actually Need
If you're new to polymer clay, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tools out there. There are so many options, where do you even begin?
The good news is that you don't need a lot to get started and I'll be sharing with you the must-have polymer clay tools that we reach for in every single clay session. I'll also be sharing some alternatives you can find around the home so you can start making without spending a fortune.
(Want to see these tools in action? Watch our free YouTube tutorial here where we show you exactly how we use each one.)
1. A Clay Roller
You're going to need something to roll your clay out flat, and a good roller makes all the difference. We love a solid roller and avoid hollow ones because they don't have as much weight behind them, and they can crack if you press too hard.
Don't have a roller handy? A firm bottle works well. You can use a wine bottle or drink bottle as a stand-in. Pens and pencils can work in a pinch too, though they're a little small and can create unwanted dents.
Need to grab one? Find the roller we use on our website here.
2. A Tissue Blade
Tissue blades come in a few different options, including rigid, flexible blade, and crimped. The one we use in every session is the rigid tissue blade. We actually use them more so for moving our clay pieces around than actually cutting things.
To lift a polymer clay piece cleanly off your work surface, you hold the blade at about a 45° angle and make a smooth, swift movement underneath the clay. It's a game changer when you're layering pieces or want to transfer them for baking.
Safety note: Tissue blades are very sharp!
Need to grab one? Find the tissue blade we use here. If you're after a full set of blades you can find the Sculpey set here or Cernit set here.
3. A Craft Knife
An inexpensive craft knife is one of those tools that you don't even realise how much you use it. We use ours for cutting pieces, trimming around bezels and embedded charms, and even texturing clay!
Most craft stores stock them, and if you've done any other crafting, you've probably already got one hiding in a drawer somewhere.
Need a craft knife? Find one on our website here.
4. A Work Surface (We Love a Gloss Ceramic Tile!)
Your work surface matters more than you might think. Our favourite work surface is a gloss ceramic tile. They're inexpensive (often just a couple of dollars as a sample from a hardware or tile shop), and they have a few brilliant advantages:
- Clay sticks nicely to the gloss surface, so it won't lift up into your cutters when you're cutting out shapes
- They're perfectly flat
- You can pop them straight in the oven so no fussing with moving your pieces and risking distortion
Some people prefer glass or baking paper, and that's totally fine. As we like to say, different equals different! It doesn't mean better or worse, just whatever works for you.
5. Baby Wipes
Not technically a tool, but one of our must-haves! There's something almost magical about baby wipes, they remove clay from your hands in a way that water just doesn't, and they're brilliant for wiping down your tools between colours too.
6. A Needle Tool
A needle tool is useful for so many things. We use ours for moving small pieces around, layering florals, and adding texture. Really, you just need something fine and pointy but needle tools are inexpensive if you're looking to pick one up.
Household alternatives: Alternatively you can use a sewing needle, a toothpick, or a skewer.
Need to grab one? Find the needle tool we use on our website here.
7. Clay Cutters
If you're making jewellery or accessories, cutters are going to become your best friends. They're much faster than hand-cutting around templates, and a good sharp cutter gives you a clean edge with minimal finishing.
A few tips when choosing your first cutters:
- Go for sharp blades (like ours!😉). A blunt cutter requires a lot more sanding afterwards and can warp the edges of your clay.
- Start with classic shapes. If you're just starting your collection, then the basics (like these Classic Collection Cutters) are versatile and great for building your collection.
- We prefer 3D printed cutters over metal ones, as metal cutters can have a seam that leaves a mark on your clay. 3D printed cutters also come in a much wider variety of shapes to help you with your creating.
If you're not ready to invest in cutters yet, cutting around a paper template is a great starting point.
Browse our full range of cutters on our website here.
8. A Pasta Machine (yep, they're not just for making pasta!)
Full disclosure, we didn't get our first pasta machine until a year into creating with polymer clay, but when we finally did, it was a total game changer. No more aching hands from conditioning clay blocks and colour mixing!
A pasta machine (the Atlas 150 or 180 is a great option) conditions your clay quickly and gives you a beautifully even thickness. You can also adjust the settings to roll thinner or thicker sheets depending on what you're making.
Want to look at getting a pasta machine? Find the one we use here on Amazon (ad).
9. An Acrylic Clay Press
Simple, but so useful. We use our acrylic press for pressing down on cutters for a uniform cut, embedding charms, helping with bead making, squishing down canes or faux stone logs, and the list goes on!
Don't have one? A glass coaster, a small ceramic tile, or even a hardcover book may work too.
Want to grab one? Find the acrylic clay press we use on our website here.
10. An Oven Thermometer
One of the most common questions we get is about clay not curing properly and it almost always comes down to temperature or timing. Make sure you check the packet directions for your specific clay, and if you're having trouble, an oven thermometer (around $10–15) will tell you if your oven is actually running at the temperature it says it is. So worth it!
(We've got a whole blog post on baking polymer clay here.)
Want to get an oven thermometer? Find one here on Amazon (ad).
Looking to Get Started?
Now that you know what you need, the best thing you can do is just dive in! Check out our Polymer Clay Starter Kits here. If you're looking for somewhere to learn polymer clay basics, head over to our Polymer Clay Starter YouTube playlist here.
Got Questions?
We answer a bunch of FAQ's here or you can check out our YouTube channel here that shares over 100 free tutorials. You can also get in touch with us at hello@myclayco.com.au!
Happy making!
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