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COMPARISON TEST
BETWEEN TRANSLUCENT LIQUID SCULPEY, KATO LIQUID
POLYCLAY AND FIMO DEKO GEL.
Which is the clearest?
Finally, I am able to test all three types of polymer clay liquid medium.
Here are some of the basic information for the three types liquid clay listed
on their individual technique booklets,
Translucent Liquid Sculpey : Baking temperature 130ºC (275ºF) for
15-20 minutes. TLS can be bakeed at 149ºC (300ºF) to increased
transparency and intensify transfer image; however this is not
recommended when TLS is combined with solid clay. Bakable transfer
and Color medium uses, transfers from, black, white, color photocopies,
color laser prints and color pencil drawings. Create stained glass effects,
able to mix with oil paints for bakable painting and surface medium. Add
dry pigments to create glazes and color washes. Other uses with polymer
clay, bakable adhensive, softener, grouting for mosaic, faux enameling,
translucent glazing and polishing medium.
Kato Liquid Clay : Baking temperature depending on the technique,
Multi Layer Technique, 135ºC (275ºF) for 10 minutes, Instant Transfers,
Photo Transfer Method, 135ºC (275ºF) for 5 to 15 minutes. Clear Medium
Grout, 135ºC (275ºF) for 30 minutes.
The various ways of using Kato Liquid Polyclay, Clear finish coat, Glazing
effects, Bakable adhesive, Mosaic grout, Soften and restore polymer clay.
Fimo Liquid Deko Gel : Baking temperature 130ºC (275ºF) hardened
in 20 minutes. Image transfer from magazines, photocopies, blacklead and
color pencil drawings. Self-adhensive, translucent, embedding with all kinds
of materials. Adhensive and varnish for Fimo polymer clay and hardened
Fimo object. Deko Gel can be mixed with oils paints, paint powder and
glitter
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Pouring the uncure liquid clay onto the cardboard shows that Sculpey
and Kato liquid are opaque, off white and white in color, Fimo liquid is
the most transparent.
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TESTING TRANSPARENCY IN KATO POLYCLAY
CREATING A MINIATURE AQUARIUM, BAKING 130ºC
TEMPERATURE FOR 45 minutes.
Crab: I am very happy today, I am going to test the new kato sauce!
Octo: Just wait a minute its not your turn yet!
Crab: Hey! I am waiting for this moment to test the Kato sauce, can I
jump in with you?
Octo: Sorry this space is too small for two, I need to relax and stretch
my tenticles.
Octo: See I told you so the space is just nice for me!
Octo: Oooohhhh.........its so smooth, I'm going to pamper myself.
Octo: Come on...bubbles...fill me up...bubbles.... its milky and smooth.
Octo: Bubbles.......bubbles.......(sing).....I'd like to be....bubbles...under
the sea.......bubbles........In an octopus' garden in the shade....
Octo : Hot!.....its so hot in here!
Octo: Yaks!! I can't see, let me out of here!
Top view of the KPC block after curing at 130ºC for 45 minutes, the
side is expanded, bubbles and lots of "mooning" spots.
Side view of the Kato Polyclay block.
The above are blocks of baked liquid clay, the clearest liquid clay is still
Fimo Deko Gel.
BAKING CURED KATO POLYCLAY BLOCK AT 150ºC
FOR 45 MINIUTES IN A CONVECTION OVEN
The above cured KPC block is further subjected to baking at 150º C for
45 minutes.
The KPC block turns greenish yellow when subjected to further baking
at 150º C for 45 minutes.
Where is Octo?
At this point there is no clarity in the KPC block.
All the above cured liquid blocks are further baked to a temperature
of 150º C for 45 minutes, the clearest is still Fimo Deko Gel.
From the top view (A) Translucent Liquid Sculpey the block is over
expanded due to air bubbles (B) Kato Polyclay lesser expansion,
lesser bubbles with mooning spots, it's clearer than TLS (C) Fimo
Liquid Deko Gel is the clearest not much expansion or bubbles,
the cured liquid is quite stable.
BAKING ALL LIQUID IN MINIATURE BOTTLES AT 130ºC
FOR 30 MINUTES, THEN SUBJECT THE CURED LIQUID
TO 150ºC FOR 30 MINUTES IN A CONVECTION OVEN
Kato Polyclay
Miniature bear in a miniature glass bottle approximately 20mm ht.
Kato Polyclay is fill into the miniature bottle.
This is the filled level for the KPC in the bottle.
Baking temperature from 130ºC for 30 minutes to 150ºC for 30 minutes
in the convection oven.
After baking for 45 minutes, the KPC is much clearer but, there are
"mooning" spots in the cured liquid clay.
Closer observation shows some clarity in the liquid but there's "mooning"
spots and color changes to greenish yellow
Testing transparency of the cured Kato liquid under the sunlight.
Translucent Liquid Sculpey
Next Translucent Liquid Sculpey to be fill into the bottle with a purple
miniature bear
Filling TLS into the bottle submerging the clay bear.
The TLS is filled to the same level as the KPC bottle.
TLS is baked from 130ºC for 30 minutes to 150ºC for 30 minutes. The
result shows the expansion of the cure clay over the bottle neck, tthis is
due to tiny bubbles forming during process of curing the liquid clay.
Closer observation shows the bottle filled with lots of bubbles, visibility
of the tiny purple bear is zero.
Testing transparency of the cured Sculpey liquid under the sunlight.
Fimo Liquid Deko Gel
Final bottle is filled with Fimo Deko Gel with a tiny brown clay
bear inside.
Deko Gel is filled to the same level as others.
Baking Deko Gel from 130ºC for 30 minutes to 150ºC for 30 minutes
in the convection oven.
Baked cured Deko Gel is clear with slight bubbling, you could seen the
tiny bear sitting on the bottle base.
Close up view of the cured Deko Gel.
Testing transparency of the cured Fimo liquid under the sunlight.
From the picture you can tell which miniature bottle is the clearest.
Mister Crab Final Choice
Crab : Hey! stop taking my measurment, I 'm the smallest.
Crab : Put me down or I won't be a finger licking crab, I will make you
lick your swollen finger.
Crab : Oooh......I certainly feeling good with Fimo Gel, I'm so sorry for
poor Octo, he's permanently blinded in his small aquarium.
Crab : Give me more......(sing) ....that's the way...ah huh....ah huh......
I like it.....ah huh....ah huh....(repeat)
Crab : I'm so happy that I'm going to share the Fimo Deko Gel
information with all my friends.
CONCLUSION
The Liquid Clay are created for transferring of images from photocopy magazine,
newspaper and many other applications, enhancing with all types of polymer clay
to create beautiful jewelry, decoration, motif and all kind of mixed-media projects.
It is a very important medium for all polymer clay artist, creative usage of the liquid
enable them to express their individual talent creating unusual and beautiful effects
with polymer clay.
In my previous test on Fimo Deko Gel and Translucent Liquid Sculpey, it turns out
that Fimo Deko Gel is more transparent.
I am glad that I am able to test all the three types of liquid clay,
Translucent Liquid Sculpey,
It is the least transparent liquid, but the medium is consistent and stable, baking at
the recommended temperature of 130ºC to high temperature of 150ºC, the liquid
expanded, it is due to tiny bubbles forming during the stage of curing. When subjected
to higher temperature there is no change in color. Baking it at 1mm thick the liquid
clay is flexible and translucent. The best baking temperature is still 130ºC, minimum
30 miniutes for 1mm to 2mm thickness.
Kato Poly clay
Kato Liquid is a new product to the polymer clay market, it is still unstable and not
consistant, expanding a little after curing. Baking between 130ºC to 140º causes
"mooning" spots in many tests, the liquid is also not transparent. When Kato liquid is
subjected to a higher temperature at 150ºC for 45 minutes of baking time, the cured
liquid change color from translucent off white to greenish yellow. It is slightly more
transparent, but the "mooning" problem mar the effects of the liquid clay.
After conducting many tests, perhaps the best way to achieve transparent effect for
Kato Polyclay, is to bake on a small piece of clear glass panel. The temperature
setting should be 150ºC and not 135ºC, thickness vary from 1mm to 2mm, baking
duration 30 minutes in the convection oven. The baked 1mm and 2mm thick liquid is
transparent and flexible. Therefore, the best temperature for bakiing Kato liquid is
150ºC, minimum 30 minutes for 1mm to 2mm thickness.
Fimo Liquid Gel
Fimo Liquid is the most transparent, consistant and stable, expanding very slightly,
during the curing process. The cured transparent liquid is subjected to baking at a higher
temperature of 150ºC for 45 minutes, there is no change in color except bubbling.
Fimo Liquid is very transparent in various thickness ranging from 1mm to 20mm
thickness, at 1mm thick the baked transparent liquid is flexible. It is not recommended
to bake the uncure liquid starting at 150ºC, it will distort the clarity of the liquid clay with
tiny bubbles forming. The best baking temperature is still130ºC, minimum 30 minutes,
from 1mm to 5mm thickness and 45 minutes from 5mm to 20mm thickness.
Finally, of all the three liquids, I 've choosen Fimo liquid Deko Gel to be the clearest. The
first impression when pouring the Fimo liquid from the bottle tells you that it is transparent,
compared to Sculpey and Kato Liquid they are opaque. It will take a little more heat to
create chemical changes from opague to translucent then transparent even at 1mm
thickness of the liquid clay.
Fimo Liquid not only transparent at 1 mm thick but also transparent even at 15mm of
thickness after curing the liquid in the oven at the right temperature and duration.
Dated: 17/07/07
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TESTING FIMO DEKO GEL AND TRANSLUCENT LIQUID SCULPEY
APPLICATION OF FIMO LACQUER ON FIMO DEKO GEL CREATES
WATER EFFECT
MORE COMPARISON TESTS ON ALL THE LIQUID POLYMER CLAY,
BAKING AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE AND DURATION
HOW TO IMPROVE THE CLARITY OF TRANSLUCENT LIQUID SCULPEY
CREATING YOUR OWN COLORED LIQUID POLYMER CLAY,
USING FIMO LIQUID, KATO LIQUID AND SCULPEY LIQUID
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