FAQ

Cutter Information

Specifics & Features

  • Eco-Friendly PLA: Our cutters are proudly designed and 3D-printed in-house using high-quality PLA, a biodegradable and recyclable thermoplastic. PLA is completely non-reactive and safe to use with all types of polymer clay, ensuring your materials never degrade during the design process.
  • Ultra-Clean Cuts: Our tools feature an exceptionally sharp 0.3 mm cutting blade. This allows for unmatched precision, even when working with micro-sized shapes or highly intricate details. Because the blade slices so cleanly through the clay, it minimizes or completely eliminates the need for tedious sanding after your pieces are baked. This saves you valuable time and effort in achieving a flawless finish.
  • Built to Last: Designed with 1.2 mm thick outer walls, our cutters are durable and engineered to prevent cracking or breaking under normal studio pressure.
  • Sizing: Measurements are taken from the longest inner edge of the shape, excluding the outer rim and handle. If you have any questions about our standard sizing or need a custom size that isn’t listed on the shop? Just let me know—I am always happy to design and print a custom order tailored exactly to your brand’s needs.
  • Custom Color Selection: To match your personal studio aesthetic, you can choose your own colors for your purchase. Simply select your preferred color per category inside your shopping cart before checking out!

Care Guide

  • Handle with Care: The cutting edge is ultra-thin, it is delicate and can break if bent.
  • Press Gently: Apply even, light pressure when cutting. Avoid applying excessive force.
  • Store Correctly: Never place heavy objects on top of your cutters. Store them flat in a cool, dry place.
  • Keep Away from Heat: High temperatures will warp or melt the material. Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
  • Clay Use Only: These tools are strictly engineered for polymer clay. Do not use them on harder materials.

Cleaning Guide

  • The Best Method: Wipe your cutters clean with a baby wipe immediately after use.
  • The Wash Method: Hand-wash gently in lukewarm, soapy water. Let them air-dry completely.
  • No Dishwasher: Never put your cutters in the dishwasher. The heat (above 60°C / 140°F) will ruin their shape.
  • Avoid Chemicals: Do not use harsh chemical cleaners, alcohol, or acetone, as these can degrade the material.

Ultimate Guide to Creating Polymer Clay Jewelry

Clay Brand Guide

The type of polymer clay you choose directly affects the crispness of your cut and the durability of your finished jewelry.

  • Premium Firmer Clays (Highly Recommended): For the absolute best results with detailed cutters, choose Sculpey Premo, Sculpey Soufflé, Cernit or Fimo Professional. These firmer brands hold intricate details beautifully, slide smoothly out of sharp cutter edges, and remain strong yet flexible after baking—meaning your beautiful earrings won’t snap when worn.
  • Soft & Budget Clays (Not Recommended): Avoid Sculpey III and cheap, unbranded economy clays for fine jewelry. These lines are overly soft and mushy out of the package, making them stretch, warp, or get stuck inside intricate cutter shapes. Additionally, they become incredibly brittle after baking, leading to broken accessories.

The Art of Conditioning

Conditioning is the essential step of warming up and waking up your clay before you even touch a cutter.

  • Why it matters: Massaging and kneading your clay activates the plasticizers, turning a crumbly block into a smooth, pliable and workable sheet. Unconditioned clay will trap micro-fissures that crack in the oven.
  • How to do it: You can work the clay entirely by hand or speed up the process by passing it multiple times through a dedicated clay conditioning machine or pasta roller.
  • The Cooling Pro-Tip: If you live in a warm climate or your hands overheat the clay during conditioning, it can become too sticky to stamp. Simply place your rolled-out sheet in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm it back up before using your cutters.

Tips for the Perfect Cut (No More Sticking!)

It can be frustrating when clay pulls up with your cutter, especially with small or intricate shapes. To ensure a clean release every single time, try one of these proven methods:

  • The Tile Grip Method: Roll your clay directly onto a gloss ceramic tile so it grips the surface tightly. Once the clay is stuck to the tile, stamp with your cutter and pull away the surrounding excess clay. As a bonus, you can bake your clay pieces directly on the tile! Plus, the gloss surface makes clay removal and cleanup completely effortless.
  • The Cornstarch Method: Dip your cutter’s sharp end into a small bowl of cornstarch (cornflour) before stamping, or dust a light layer directly onto your clay surface. Use a soft brush to remove any excess powder. Any remaining cornstarch will easily brush off after baking.
  • The Plastic Wrap Method: Place a sheet of plastic wrap (cling film) over your rolled-out clay and press your cutter directly through it. Pull away the wrap and excess clay. This method not only prevents sticking but also gives your clay pieces a beautifully slightly domed edge.

Baking & Curing Your Pieces

Baking is the critical chemical process that transforms your soft clay designs into permanent, wearable art.

  • The Essentials: Polymer clay must be baked to cure. It is entirely non-toxic and chemically safe to bake in your household kitchen oven, though many jewelry makers prefer a dedicated craft toaster oven.
  • Execution: Always strictly follow the specific temperature and time guidelines listed on your clay’s packaging. To protect your pieces from temperature spikes and scorching, it is highly recommended to bake them under an aluminum foil tent.
  • No Rush: You do not need to bake your cut clay shapes immediately. If you run out of time, cover your raw pieces with plastic wrap to protect them from dust and leave them in a cool spot away from sunlight until you are ready to cure them.

Sealing and Finishing

Baked polymer clay cures into a durable, completely waterproof plastic, meaning it does not actually require a sealer to protect it.

  • When to Seal: You only need to apply a protective coating if you have added vulnerable surface mediums to your design, such as acrylic paint, metallic leaf or pigment powders.
  • Choosing a Finish: If you want a brilliant, glossy shine or a velvety matte look, you can coat your cured jewelry with a specialty clay varnish, water-based glaze, or UV resin. Tip: Always test your sealer on a small baked scrap first, as certain commercial varnishes can react chemically with raw elements and become permanently sticky.

Repurposing Scraps (Zero-Waste Crafting)

One of the best benefits of working with polymer clay is that you never have to waste a single millimeter of material.

  • Infinite Reusability: Leftover pieces, trimmings, and failed cuts can be remixed and used indefinitely.
  • Creative Uses: Gather your scrap clay and roll them together into custom slab patterns or blend various colored remnants together to formulate entirely new, custom color palettes.

Correct Storage Habits

Properly storing your raw clay prevents it from collecting floating dust particles and ensures it stays fresh for months.

Environment: Keep opened clay packets wrapped in wax paper or cling film, and place them inside a tightly sealed container or ziplock bag. Store them in a dark, cool place away from windows.