TUTORIAL:
Polyclay Bead Sander
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Uploaded on: May 15, 2009 Level: Beginner |
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Description: Ask any clayer what they dread most about making polymer clay beads, and the answer will inevitably be, “sanding.” Sanding is hard on the wrist and shoulder and can cause repetitive stress injuries to muscle groups along the ribs and back. Personally I hate sanding so I try to find ways to do it as little as possible. Price: $0.00
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Number of steps: 7
File size: 149.59 KB
Page count: 4
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Excellent idea! Thank you for sharing!
Lola D's Menageries- Be your own vision of beauty!
It's just such a simple fix. And believe it or not, I've seen someone selling them for $35 online! No joke.
Kerie
Malfunktion Junction
Polymer Clay Art and Jewelry with Attitude
http://www.MajorMalfunction.etsy.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31799986@N04/
http://malfunktionjunction.blogspot.com/
I've seen them for more than that! Thanks for putting this up.
JKay Jewelry
http://www.jkollmann.etsy.com
What a great way to "go green" with sanding. I'm glad I saw this before I almost spent way too much at another website for something similar.
Fantastic Idea. I couold not afford the other ones on line. This is awesome all my grandkids are saving me there old ones. Thank You for such a great idea
Thanks for sharing the great idea! I am usually a wire worker, but just started incorporating polymer clay. What a hassle to get it smooth. My husband is about to loose his old toothbrush to the craft room!
Way cool! I can't stand to throw some things away, like those worn out toothbrushes, cuz I just know something like this will come up! YAY! Thanks for sharing-really appreciate it!
Arya
Wow from me too!! You have saved my wallet today. I cant wait to get one set up. Thank you so very much for sharing. Big Hugs!!!!
Sonrie! Smile! *_*
Linda Rosa
Living on the Isla Bonita Puerto Rico
May good karma be granted to you!!
Web Site
http://www.keepcreatingtheunique.com
Blog
http://keepcreatingtheunique.spaces.live.com
Oh, hurray! What a great thing to wake up to, people being happy about something I did for a change. :P I feel sort of guilty about the entrepreneurs losing their income, but honestly, why spend that much money on something so easy to make? I hope this helps all of you out and saves you carpal tunnel.
Kerie
Malfunktion Junction
Polymer Clay Art and Jewelry with Attitude
http://www.MajorMalfunction.etsy.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31799986@N04/
http://malfunktionjunction.blogspot.com/
Wow! I wonder if you can use it to sand soft metal? That is very portable and you aren't tied to the rotary tool. Thank you for sharing!
This is wonderful Kerie! And if you use one of the toothbrushes that have several heads, you can have several grits ready at the same time. I don't feel bad for the "entrepreneurs" that are selling these - I feel bad for the people that bought one and realized afterwards they were ripped off.
BTW I have to ask - is 'Major Mal' from FireFly/Serenity?
"Just don't touch my pliers" ~~~Bobbi
http://www.Imaginations-Jewelry.com
http://www.MyWiredImagination.ETSY.com
http://MyWiredImagination.ARTFIRE.com
Great idea about several heads! *twists sinister mustache* I couldn't use Major Malfunction as it was too long, that's why it was shortened to Major Mal. It's a description of my life. LOL
Kerie
Malfunktion Junction
Polymer Clay Art and Jewelry with Attitude
http://www.MajorMalfunction.etsy.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31799986@N04/
http://malfunktionjunction.blogspot.com/
Sanding is what has kept me away from polymer clay, so now I will give it a try. I'm curious about the soft metals too, so will try it there as well. Thanks for a wonderful money saver!
Dawn
http://www.dawnebryantdesigns.etsy.comhttp://www.sandhillsemporium.etsy.com
http://www.dawnebryantdesigns.artfire.com
http://www.dawnebryant.com
http://www.finestofnebraska.com
http://dawnebryant-jewelryonmymind.blogspot.com/
This is a wonderful idea. Thanks! And I can think of a way to improve it already. Since you can now buy sand paper with a "velcro" backing on it, you can use velcro tape in place of the double-sided tape. Then cut your circles of sandpaper from the velcro backed paper and easily switch between grits as needed. Just a thought.
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Michele
http://www.mikicatdesigns.com
This is an excellent tutorial, Kerie! I know it will save people a lot of time, money, and energy that they can put into their design work. It removes some of the 'gumption traps' and obstacles that folks feel about polymer clay. Thanks so much!
I added a few extra thoughts in a tip for making it even more versatile! Let the sanding begin!!!!!
Perri
http://www.ShaktipajDesigns.etsy.com
http://shaktipajdesigns.blogspot.com/
"Excellence is a better teacher than mediocrity... Truly profound and original insights are to be found only in studying the exemplary." Warren Bennis
One drawback, if you can call it that, is that the little teeny sanding circles tend to wear out pretty quick. But I end up wasting a lot of sandpaper when I fold a sheet so I can use it comfortably, so I think the net loss might actually be smaller.
Short of getting a wet belt sander, I don't know how else to make working with polymer clay easier! LOL
Kerie
Malfunktion Junction
Polymer Clay Art and Jewelry with Attitude
http://www.MajorMalfunction.etsy.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31799986@N04/
http://malfunktionjunction.blogspot.com/
Wow what a neat idea! Now that I've read this, I realise I may finally have a use for that as-seen-on-tv leg shaver hair buffer thingamajig because it didn't work on my legs... That has super fine sand paper too... GENIUS!!!
I have a feeling my Neutrogena face scrubbing thingy is going to be sacrificed to the cause. It's too hard on my sun-damaged skin ...
Kerie
Malfunktion Junction
Polymer Clay Art and Jewelry with Attitude
http://www.MajorMalfunction.etsy.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31799986@N04/
http://malfunktionjunction.blogspot.com/
This is just wonderful! Thanks!
Aren't human beings wonderful. We take something that's about to be thrown out (in the proper plastic recycling bin!) and turn it into one of the most useful tools ever.
Brilliant!
I 'recycled' my old nail buffer stick (with the four different types of polisher) to stick onto the de-nuded head. If it polishes nails, it will do a great job on my polymer beads!
Thank you MajorMal and Thank You to the person who came up with this idea in the first place.
I love imagination!!!!
jaxbarton
http://silverdaisy13.etsy.comhttp://silverdaisy13.artfire.com
I bet all those "free" electronic face exfoliaters that never get used could be modified too. A lot of kitchen ultrasonic cleaning tools are out there too. I may have to see if the exfoliating pads they come with work for a final shine. I still that I would like my dremel tool and portable sander/drilling tool (a really affordable one - under $10 for discount price - is sold at Fire Mountain - type in "rotary tool" in search because it is hard to find otherwise) for major jobs (I save them up and just spend a day sanding until my hands are numb) since I can change the sandpaper tips out quickly - I have three or four different electronic toothbrushes and only the expensive one has easy to change heads. Sorry for all the () - this is hard to read :(!
A little Ferido might work better as an adhesive since the sticky tape might get really tacky when changing it a lot. The Ferido could be shaped up to avoid the getting stuck on the toothbrush base. If you don't know what Ferido is then go to Fire Mountain and it is listed under "Jewelry Supplies."
While I, too, would opt for a dremel for fine sanding simply because of the better fit, but I appreciate that we all at times use what we have on hand. I just bought a spin-type toothbrush so when the bristles wear out, it's nice to know I'll get even further bang for my buck. I will make one even though I'm not a clayer simply because I adore the genius of homemade remedies no matter what they're fixing. Thanks for keeping us all in mind. Marian
I had to get this tut even though I've got a great little Dremel tool lol. Thank you!
Oh, boy, oh BOY, OH BOY! Have you any clue how great this is? I also do construction and remodeling as well as wire sculpture, glass art and of COURSE, house cleaning. This will get into corners and tight areas you just can't get into with sand paper or a sponge! (I am such a perfectionist.) I have these ugly cabinets they built to catch dirt. Can't wait to use the regular toothbrush WITH the bristles for those nasty cabinets so hard to clean. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this tremendous idea. I may just sand those suckers with the toothbrush and fill it with something to make that dirt catching 90 degree angles into a 45 degree angle. *happy sigh* Beth <3
Very neat. Thanks! John