inspirational arts and crafts people

Cold Porcelain Paste

Has anyone had a 'bad' batch of paste that they have made?
I have been using School PVA. Yesterday I purchased Wood PVA Glue from
the hardware store and this changed everything in the cooking.
End result overcooked and almost too stiff to handle. Also hard work!
Did I bin it? No. Check out the results as they dry off.
As I use a lot of bases for setting up my finished pieces here's what happened!!
They are bumpy and full of character, so my 'bad result has added to my collection!

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Permalink Reply by LadyP on June 24, 2008 at 11:26pm: I'm very glad I read this...........I was just off to make a batch of clay and I have wood PVA!! Do you think halving the amount would help? I'm picking that school PVA wouldnt be as strong as wood PVA. I'll give it a go and get back to you.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Katy B. on June 24, 2008 at 11:37pm: Add a 1/4 cup of water. and if cooking in the microwave stir every 20 seconds, cooking for 1.3 seconds.
You can always recook if too soft.
Good luck Pene and let me know how you go.
Cheers
Katy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on June 25, 2008 at 1:43am: Oh wow - those are amazing! So there is a lesson - don't throw out what we think is a "bad batch"! I confess to throwing my very first batch out, because I wasn't sure I'd got it right. However, a little more elbow grease and cooking would have worked. I used Unibond OVA (which is used as a sealant for decorating).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on June 25, 2008 at 1:44am: correction = PVA (not ova) - nail slip on the keys!! :-); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LadyP on June 25, 2008 at 3:02am: That was an interesting exercise...........and quite hard work!!! You do need the full cup of liquid........I made the batch too dry. I just added some more glue and a dash more oil.
I've finished kneading it and it sits in an air tight bag waiting to be shaped.

I added acrylic white paint before the cooking too. I think the more powerful the microwave, the less cooking it needs......... It's all trial and error here!!!

I'll let you know how it all turns out.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LadyP on June 25, 2008 at 6:01am: It started to get very dry and crumbley as I worked it, so I just added warm water and that made it perfik!!!! My hands feel very soft and smell of eucalyptus now......lovely. Not like ordinary porcelain clay that strips the hands ...........; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Katy B. on June 25, 2008 at 10:59am: Just warm water. I will try that tomorrow. There are a couple of 'lumps' sitting wrapped up on the bench.
I guess we are really only working with a bread type dough so water should soften it.
Yes, I like the eucalyptus as I'm thinking no colds so far !!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on June 25, 2008 at 11:16am: Katy, what is the full recipe you are using for this experiment?? I want to get this right before I blow up my microwave :-) Also Lady P mentions adding the paint before cooking as well as eucalyptus oil (how much of each)? thanks Di; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Katy B. on June 25, 2008 at 10:58pm: Hi Di.
This might be a letter rather than a note!!!!!
This 'problem' only started when I bought PVA Wood Glue from the hardware store. Normally I just purchase School PVA by the 2 litre container. Consequently just doing the normal process I finished up with a very dry, crumbly lump of dough. I put this down to the PVA glue as everything else was the same.
LadyP was a starter and also purchased wood PVA. She solved her problem by kneading the cooked paste with warm water. I am happy to say that does solve the immediate problem as I tested it out first thing this morning. However we shouldn't have to do this.
So, I will go back to my tried and true mixture as well as continuing to experiment.
My recipe is:
1 cup PVA Glue. The School grade PVA is quite suitable.
1 cup cornflour ( cornstarch)
2 Tablespoons Baby oil.
1 Teaspoon eucalyptus oil.
1/2 teaspoon Citric Acid. (Preservative)
Cook in;
Non stick pan on medium heat - approx. 10 minutes - stirring all the time until it forms a ball.
Microwave for 1.5 minutes - maybe less, stirring every 30 seconds.
Leave to cool before kneading and store in a airtight container, letting it rest for 24 hours before use.
Do not refrigerate.
If the paste is sticky then I give it a few seconds in the microwave until I am satisfied and it is stretchy and smooth.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LadyP on June 25, 2008 at 11:12pm: Where can I buy the school PVA from please Katy?

I'm going to add a bit more warm water to my clay because it dries out too quickly as I'm working it.

I'll get there!!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Katy B. on June 26, 2008 at 5:24am: I bought mine from Arthurs Emporium up here in Whangarei. Maybe The Warehouse down there.
Yes it does dry out quickly with the wood glue, however I have been using it for leaves and covering stems. Works fine, just not the same as that lovely smooth texture of the other.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on June 26, 2008 at 1:35am: Thanks Katy, the last 2 tests I did, one water based, one PVA & oil based, the latter was much better and lasted a couple of months in air tight container. The water based recipe wasn't as nice to work with, I'll give your recipe a go - does the eucalyptus oil give added elasticity (or just smell gorgeous). The Unibond PVA I use is really quite thick, thicker than school type pva, which I think adds a smoothness to the paste? cheers for the info :-) Di; ▶ Reply to This