handmade modelling rubber tools tutorial

[japaya]

Hi all! i just wanted to share this with you cause may be usuful for somebody. I made my first polymer doll a few days ago (a geisha wich i posted in this board yesterday) and realised about handicaps of regular hard modelling tools, i mean those that you can find in plastic, wood... they leave texture in the clay and in some tiny places you can´t get your fingers there to smoooth the surface....I,ve seen around the net some modelling tools wich looks like paintbrushes but with a rubber tip.... but they are a little expensive and i thought i could make them myself. Handles are fimo soft with a rigid metallic stick inside them, and tips are sculpey moldmaker, wich is really flexible after curing. I cured the handles first, cause each clay has a different curing timing. I applied a bit of liquid fimo into the holes where the the tips are to ensure they were well fixed with the clay so they won,t take off when used. And that´s all here they are!

Hope this helps!! ^__^

[lilfishyinbigblu]

they look fab! i tottaly understand what you are taking about with tools leaving marks you can't fix, i have some of the store bought ones of these, but i have always felt that they were odd shapes for what I wanted to do. I might have to try making these.

[beadizzygrl]

WOW, what a great idea!!
I love this and thank you very much for sharing!!
I have been using a rubber ended dental pic (kind of small) until I purchased smoothing tool off the web.  But one tool too small, one too large, now I can maybe make size just right.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

[jloveg]

smart!!!   how  do  they  do?  have  you tried them  yet?

[SupernovaDesigns]

so smart!

[japaya]

i´m really happy this is a good idea for you all, go and make yours, they´re really easy!
 i am completly satisfied with them, i´ve used them and they work like a dream.... let me know if somebody tries too!^^

[Diane B.]

Great tools...your creative brain at work!

Some polymer clay sculptors, in particular, have also made their own rubbery tools from flexible clays, as well as silicone, Plasti-Dip, and even wax or white glue, but that was before Moldmaker came out so will definitely add that to my info, as well as your way of making the handles (...always wish you had photos online I could link to though  )

(if you want to read a bit more about the other materials that have been used, check this page:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/sculpting_body_and_tools.htm
... click on Rubbery-Tipped Tools, then scroll down to Making Your Own...)


Diane B.

[japaya]

Hi Diane! I´m glad you liked them! I can give you the url link of this image, do you want the potato one too? here are them anyway:
tools:
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u232/meriporlared/herramientas.jpg
potatos:
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u232/meriporlared/imitacinpiedra3copia.jpg
if you want something more just ask me for it!

[hello color!]

I'm totally gonna make this! It'll have to wait a bit though because I've a project that I started before the finals and I've just been itching to finish, and there's something else I've wanted to try since about that time... But that picture really makes me want to try the moldmaker stuff myself! So it'll be #3-ish on my list.

I had thought of getting some Sculpey Moldmaker before but I didn't want to spend all the money just to try it, but I think you just made me get over the fence on this one. Thanks!

[Diane B.]

I can give you the url link of this image...tools:
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u232/meriporlared/herramientas.jpg

Perfect !... thanks.

do you want the potato one?
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u232/meriporlared/imitacinpiedra3copia.jpg

Hmmm, I had your Flikr url for the same photo, but will change it to the Photobucket one. 
But actually, tell me which of the sites you'll be more likely to keep for the longest time because I'd want to use the links to that site.


Diane B.