How to soften old and crumble polymer clay?
Polymer clay, basically, does not have a shelf life. Of course, it's always easier and better to work with fresh polymer clay, but if properly stored (even outside the original packaging), and if it is not exposed to heat (radiators, heaters and other home appliances) or direct sunlight (near the window), polymer clay can last for years. The problem is that it gets harder over the time because particles of PVC and softeners, which are part of polymer clay, tend to separate. The softener in the clay, which is on an oil base, have a tendency to leak and/or evaporate over time, so the PVC particles become misplaced and dried. When you take an old polymer clay into your hands it starts to crumble because PVC particles do not have enough softener to re-distribute and bind again. But this clay is certainly not unusable, so do not throw it away. The solution is to add softener and that way the PVC particles will re-join, and clay will get the desired flexibility and workload. Some clays, such as Fimo professional, has a tendency to crumble even when is fresh, so steps in this tutorial will help you to the condition it faster and much easier. In this tutorial, I deliberately used very, very old clay (yellow and greenish blue Fimo Classic, that is no longer produced, and which I bought sometime in 2010) in original packaging as an evidence that, with a little love and effort, it can be usable again and returned to a softer state.
About polymer clay softeners
Mix Quick is primarily intended for increasing the flexibility and softening the Fimo polymer clays (Professional, Doll, Soft and Effect), but in my experience, it works very well with other clay brands too. This softener is packed in a plastic wrapper, it looks similar to classical polymer clay bar, and it weighs 100 grams (3.5 oz). Its color is milky white, but after processing and baking, it becomes transparent and invisible. It's soft to touch. After opening the original package of Mix Quick is broken, so to keep it fresh wrap it with cling foil and store it in the zip bag away from direct sunlight and heaters. The cling foil is necessary because Mix Quick has a tendency to dry over the time.
Sculpey clay softener is clear, slightly blurred liquid. It is primarily intended for Sculpey polymer clays (Premo, Souffle, Sculpey III, Super Sculpey, Ultra Light), but you can use it for other clay brands as well. It comes in a plastic bottle and it weights 30 ml (1 fl oz). Elongated tip on the squeezable bottle makes it easier to measure droplets. It's oily to the touch. Store the Sculpey softener in original package (opened bottle is protected with the cover) away from sunlight and heaters.
Preparation
Before you start adding softener it's necessary to prepare clay so your job will be easier and faster. There are two preparation steps, and I highly recommend that you do both. Also, it's good to combine those two, and I will explain how to do it down below.
Warm up the clay - Place the clay (in the original package or unwrapped, it's your choice) in the zip bag. Then sit on the clay or put it under the armpit, as this procedure will make it easier for you to continue softening it. I know, it sounds funny, but it works. The heat of our body is high enough to warm up the clay, but also low enough not to bake it. The minimum time that you need to warm up the clay is about 15 to 20 minutes, but the more you warm it up with your body it's the better. While you're working on a computer (for example, reading posts on my blog) or watch a movie, you can use that time to warm up the clay. If you squeeze the clay after warming, you will notice that it's a bit softer then when you started the process.
If you have pets you can place zip bag with clay in their beds, and cover it with an old blanket or towel. Pets body temperature is slightly higher than humans, but it's also safe for clay. Never, ever, in any case, do not warm up the clay by putting it in hot water or near a heating bodies, because you will partially bake it and then it will not be savable. Sitting on the clay, putting it under the armpit or in your pet bed is the safest way to warm up the clay. You can use this method with fresh clay too, and that way make conditioning easier and faster. For fresh clay, 10 to 15 minutes of warming up with your body will be sufficient.
Beat up the clay - This method is bit crazy, but it's so helpful in the clay softening process. For this, I use a rubber mallet (a tool used during ceramic tile or laminate floor placement, and sometimes is called soft mallets), but a regular hammer or acrylic roller will do just fine. Place zip bag with clay on the floor, take your mallet and smash the clay firmly few times on all sides. Beside this is a great way to release the stress, by beating the clay you will help PVC particles to move and distribute evenly. You will notice that the clay has slightly deformed and flatten, which means that you had done a great job. This method is great for very, very old clay which has stayed on the shelf or in your drawer for long period of time (for e.g. few years) and it's super hard, but it can be used on fresh clay too. Also, you can hit the clay few times before warming it up with your body, and of course after that. That will help the softening process even more.
How I prepare the clay - After I pack the old clay in the zip bag I will hit it few times with the mallet, and place it under the old towel in my cat's bed to warm up overnight. In the morning I will beat up the clay again, and then unpacked it and start conditioning and adding softener.
I use this combo even for fresh clay, as part of conditioning, but then after the first beating, I warm the clay with my body for about 15 minutes. Until I finish preparing all stuff I need for claying, the clay on which I sitting has warmed enough. Then I will hit it a few more times with the mallet.
Softening clay with Fimo Mix Quick
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It is better to gradually add smaller quantities of softener in the clay, then to mix a larger amount at once. Because the clay with too much softener can become mushy. Too much softener can slightly change the color of the clay, so you should know that the maximum mixing ratio is 2/3 of the clay and 1/3 of the Mix Quick.
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Softening clay with Sculpey softener
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Alternative methods of polymer clay softening
There are three additional solutions to soften old polymer clay in case you do not have Mix Quick or Sculpey softener.
Liquid clay - This is my favorite method for softening old clay. Although I have Mix Quick and Sculpey softener, I use liquid clay to bring the life into old clay for years. I also use it when I condition fresh Fimo Professional, and sometimes I know to add a drop or two of liquid clay in the mixture of clay and softener since this makes the whole process faster and much, much easier. And, I had never had any problems with the clay I added liquid clay in.
Another reason I love to use liquid clay is that the softeners can be pricey, especially if you order them online. I can bet that every bit more serious clayer has liquid polymer clay at home. So, use it and save the money. If you do not have it buy it because you can use liquid polymer clay for various techniques, while the softener only serves for softening. The principle of softening clay with this material is the same as with Sculpey softener so you can use that part of instructions as a reference. Just keep in mind that you can't use colored liquid clays for this. For softening you can use only translucent liquid clay.
Mineral oil - Though not manufactured for the purpose, clear, odorless mineral oil can be mixed into dry polymer clay to return it to a softer state. Use it in the same way as you would Sculpey softener or liquid polymer clay. Mineral oil is stocked in the pharmacy department of most stores.
I will admit, I do not like to use mineral oils with polymer clay at all. Many years back when I started working with polymer clay I used it for a while, and I do not have happy memories about it. Maybe the problem was in the type of oil I used, I do not know, but my clay wasn't durable. Regardless of how little oil I'd put in clay, it would always crack under slight pressure. On another hand, I know many clayers who use mineral oil for years without trouble. So, it's up to you to try it or not. But, according to my logic, it is better to invest money in a liquid clay or softener manufactured especially for polymer clay then into something that may or may not be good.
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