Sanding Tools

When I use a cutter to make a piece of an earring, often it leaves little burrs around the edges of the piece.

There are many different ways to smooth these edges, but here are the tools that I like to use to help me do so.

First I have this Dremel Rotary Tool. If I were buying a rotary tool, I would look for one that isn’t too heavy in your hand without sacrificing speed and power. I find that this one works, but I would prefer one that was a little smaller and thinner to fit my hands better. I would also have tried to find a cordless rechargeable model. The plus side is that I have used this tool on other projects around my home, so it has come in handy.

I also like to use these felt bits. Polymer clay is soft, so you don’t need a lot of grit or pressure to take away the burrs. I like to use the conical ones in the set as you can use the lower, flatter part for long, straight edges, and the top part for more intricate parts. I’m thinking of getting some that come to even more of a point, but these have served me well so far.

Use a light pressure as you sand because the clay comes off faster than you might think. After I have finished sanding I give my pieces a bath in soapy water to remove any of the dust that accumulates. I will then dry the pieces and use a q-tip dipped in acetone to go over the edges I sanded, removing any white residue that might remain from the dust. Be careful with the acetone as sometimes it can streak or remove too much clay if you are not careful.

Also be sure to wear eye protection and a mask as this is a dusty process!

If you have any questions specifically about sanding, please send me an email at Haley@HoldenANote.com. I would love to hear from you!