Spray painting polymer clay?

Question

I've done a few skull molds and just painted them with a chrome metallic color. Doesn't get exactly the look I want, though they came out okay. What is a good surface to use? Any techniques that will bring a better look?

Answer 1

There are several pulverized metal powders that are very effective in coating raw polymer clay with a metallic-looking finish in silver, gold, copper or bronze tones. You must wear a dust mask to avoid breathing the fine metallic particles as they become airborne. You can apply the powder using a fingertip, makeup applicator or sponge, or a brush, and it will adhere very easily to raw polymer clay. After baking your piece must be sealed with a polymer-friendly glaze to prevent the finish from rubbing off.



This shows polymer clay covered with metal pulver --

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patsparaphernalia/3675349873/



Alternatively, if your budget can bear it you can apply metal foil or leaf to the raw clay, cure and seal for a very realistic metal look. Most polymer clay artists apply the leaf or foil to the clay and then stretch the clay to get a crackled metal look, but you can leave it on in a solid coating to make the whole piece look like it is made of metal.



This shows polymer clay covered with silver leaf --

http://www.beading-arts.com/2011/10/silver-leaf-polymer-clay-cabochons-part.html



Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Please do not spray paint your clay, before OR after, with a flammable product. Despite the fact that it doesn't burst into flames, the fumes might be poisonous. Polymer clay can be painted after baking with a good fine acrylic paint. It is available in silver too.

Answer 3

First, some paints and clear finishes and also some of the propellants in sprays will interact with polymer clay if applied directly to them, and begin dissolving the clay over time.



Real "chrome" is usually a color that requires using a paint that will be one of the bad ones though, but you can always coat the hardened clay with a water-based paint or clear finish THEN use one of the "bad" types on top of that (since they won't then be in direct contact with the clay).



Many kinds of "silver" paint and other silver colorants can be used safely on polymer clay however.

For example, "imitation leaf" (silver in this case, or actually zinc) or "real-metal" powder would give quite chrome-y effects (high shine) but those aren't really "paints."

If you used imitation leaf, you'd generally apply it to the uncured clay since it will stick wonderfully well (all over if that's what you want), then bake. If you use "silver" leaf, you won't need to use a clear finish to prevent oxidation as with "gold," etc, but you could if you wanted to.

If you used metal powder (use a mask for this kind of metal powder), you'd generally brush it onto raw polymer clay before baking, but you could actually mix it into a clear finish of some kind and use it as a paint (after baking). Again, some of those real-metal powders would need sealing from oxidation, though most metallic *mica* powders (which aren't as "hard" a shine, and not bad for lungs too) wouldn't.



There are also metallic (acrylic) "inks" you might use, as well as metallic pens (Krylon, etc...though some aren't safe directly on polymer clay), and metallic waxes (usually not really high shine), etc.



Check out those materials and techniques from these pages at my polymer clay "encyclopedia" site to use on your skull casts (or on any polymer clay):

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/Faux--many.htm < Metals

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/leaf.htm

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/powders_metallicwaxes.htm

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/paints.htm

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/letters_inks.htm



...and some of my previous answers may have summaries about those things:

https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20120515015152AAi1WJj



(It would help if you could say just why your results didn't look the way you wanted too.)



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