Roma Plastilina Problem

[GaryR52]

I've recently received a shipment of ten pounds of Roma Plastilina and, first off, made the mistake of ordering medium instead of soft (I had to use a hammer on it to make it pliable enough to work with!), but the main problem is that it is separating from the wire/wadded paper/duct tape armature I made. I wondering if I should have used masking tape instead of duct tape.

Gary

[Tristan]

There's not going to be much of a mechanincal bond with the smooth surface of tape. Firstly, you can soften the clay to make it easier to move large amounts of it quickly in an oven and forgo the need to hammer it. Warm, soft clay will grip tape better as it can be smeared on to the surface, rather than pressed on to it. Use very low warmth rather than "Heat". Cut the clay in to little 1 1/2" to 2" pieces, put them on a cookie tray (one you won't be using for food anymore). Set the oven dial to it's lowest setting -- my oven has a starting temp called "WARM", but the low end of "LOW" on the oven is good too. It takes about 5 - 10 minues to get a good deal softer. If you use too much heat too quickly then the sulfur in the clay can settle out in little, brittle granular globs that will infest the clay.

Better than tape over your armature is plaster scrim (bandage or burlap). It will have a coaser texture for the clay to grip. Also, if you are using a wire mesh that is tight enough (smaller than chicken wire, though I've used chicklen wire), you can forgo any surfacing material, plaster or otherwise. The clay will grip the wire mesh really well, just don't push it through.

T

[GaryR52]

Thanks for the tips, Tristan. :D

Gary

[realsculpt]

you can microwave the clay (it smells) but be carefule it will be molten inside, do it for 15 seconds at a time.

[GaryR52]

I gather that will make it a bit tackier, so it sticks to the duct tape? Or were you addressing the hardness of the clay? I found that I could work it with my hands, a couple of days later, having worked it before. It was fresh out of the wrapping paper it was too hard to work with.

Gary

[realsculpt]

really both, it will spread on the paper and stick better (oven trick works too) , and be softer to work with, then get a bit harder after a while.

definatle the bandage thing that the other person sugessted is best.

[GaryR52]

I'll have to remember to try that next time; too late now. ;)

Gary

[fritchie]

Gary - What you have gotten above pretty much covers the field. These artificial clays, of all sorts, are made to be worked when a bit warm, and to harden as they cool, for the making of molds or for additions or detail. Heat can be applied by microwave, a simple heat lamp or even an ordinary lightbulb.

[GaryR52]

Thanks, Fritchie. I haven't been working with the plasticine, lately; still working on my carved foam piece. But, when I get back to it, I'll try everyone's suggestions. :D

Gary