Sculpey 3 Polymer Clay - Does it smell bad enough to wreck my oven?

Question

I bought two packs of Sculpey 3 polymer clay the other day and I would like to cure it, I'm just wondering if I can do it in my household oven or if it will make my food taste like plastic for the next month? Also, could I just buy a cheap toaster oven and use it to cure the sculptures? They cure at about 175 degrees Fahrenheit or so.

Answer 1

Hello, if you are concerned about the fumes getting into food you can always bake your pieces inside an 'oven bag'.  By the way, you bake Sculpey at 275F NOT 175F.  It has to reach 275F in order to cure properly.  Under cooking will result in breakage.   When your pieces are finished baking you can take the bag outside to open it up.  No fumes in the house.   I've been baking in my regular oven for over 10 years, no problems.

Again, for your information, Sculpey III (or 3) is extremely brittle after baking.  Do not use it for thin areas.  Your best bet is to switch to Premo (another Sculpey product).  It is much more durable, especially in thin areas.  I use it exclusively in my classes.  

Answer 2

HI.  As long as you follow the directions for the temperature and the time limit it is not a problem.  I sculpt dolls and I also paint reborn dolls.  With both we have to use the oven.  My husband actually has cooked in between curing sessions lol and there has never been a problem.  I do recommend purchasing an oven gauge.  I was surprised to see that when I set my oven at 300 it only was getting as hot as 250 my oven is only a few years old!  Best of luck.  What are you sculpting?  Debra Jadick Lasting Memories Nursery www.lastingmemoriesnursery.com

Answer 3

I was doing some commercial work with Sculpey some years ago and I bought a cheap toaster oven which worked perfectly.  I would not have wanted to cook any food in it after using it for clay...

Mainly, since the clay does gas off, I didn't want to cure it inside the house because of the fumes, so with the toaster oven I could do that work outside.

If you REALLY were to clean the inside of the oven once your clay work was done, you probably could cook food in it, but just remember it does gas off and there will be a film on the top and insides of the oven.

Answer 4

If you overheat it, it is pretty bad and most ovens have trouble holding or setting below 200F. Besides, I thought polymer cured higher than that (just over 225F or so)