How long?

[Eiledon]

How long do you bake polymer clay for and should it be rock hard when it has been baked?

I rolled out some clay (using my pasta machine) and then used an mould to print leaf designs onto the clay. I cut out rectangle shapes and put holes in. The idea was to make earrings, but when I had baked them at the recommended time for the thickness, they were still bendy!

Is this right or should they be rock solid?

Please help as I'd really like to get it right and get practising making other things, but not until I've at least got the baking thing sorted.

Thanks.

http://eiledon.co.uk

[Jonesi]

They'll still be bendy until they cool right down then you should find they're hard. I had the same problem myself but found it was fine once they'd cooled down.

[Lilac Moon]

Hi I think a lot of it is to do with what sort of clay you are using . the soft fimo is still bendy once cooked, the classic I find is the hardest but I haven't tried all varieties yet. I'm sure Emma, EJRalph will be along soon she seems to know more about it.

[ejralph]

The stronger formulation polymer clays will be somewhat flexible when baked, if you are making thin sheets. It most likely just means you have baked the clay correctly.

If they didn't bend, they would be more likely to snap or break. This is perfectly normal. The thicker the clay is, the less flexible it will be after baking.

[Eiledon]

Thanks for your replies. I've looked at other polymer clay jewellery at craft fairs and theirs all seem so hard, though of course I've not squeezed or bent any!
Nice to know I'm on the right track!
:D
http://eiledon.co.uk