Polymer clay seems an art material that can be used in a diverse assortment of craftwork. It is a bit tricky to use because without baking the polymer clay perfectly, you can’t do any work. So here is the article on how to bake polymer clay in a toaster oven to give you a guide on the matter.
The key procedure to baking polymer clay in a toaster oven is the control of the heat spikes. This ensures that the clay is not burnt and is in the perfect condition for reshaping.
However, the procedure may be a bit difficult to understand at the start. That’s why we will direct you in detail about the procedure.
How to Bake Polymer Clay in the Toaster Oven:
Polymer clay can be baked in different instruments, but a toaster oven is frequently used for its convenience. The key procedure of baking clay is to maintain the heat.
The suggested heat range is 265F – 275F. Also, the clay should be wrapped in aluminum foil or baking paper. The time required for baking should be within 30 minutes for each ¼ inch of thickness.
We will be now discussing the full procedure in detail.
The procedure of baking polymer clay in a toaster oven:
To bake polymer clay in the toaster oven, there are different tools and materials needed to get the best result. Those are:
- Necessary Tools and Materials
- Toaster oven
- Baking paper/aluminum foil
- Oven thermostat
- Ceramic tiles
- Marker pen
- White paper sheets
Step 1
The first step is selecting the type of polymer clay you want to use. And this is important because a toaster oven is not able to provide constant heat. The basic procedure of a toaster oven is that it heats up again cools down a bit and again it starts heating and cooling and the cycle goes on.
So, the correct usage of the toaster oven is key in baking the polymer clay. Because, if the fluctuation of the temperature is not controlled, your clay will be spoiled.
Step 2
As we have told before the suggested temperature to bake clay is between 265F- 275F. But the toaster oven doesn’t have a temperature reading of its own. So, to monitor the balance of temperature, an oven thermostat is required, which is cheap to buy, and available almost everywhere. If you don’t have an oven thermostat then (Click here to buy an oven thermostat).
The oven thermostat is kept inside the oven while baking which will give the temperature reading.
Step 3
Now, we have come to know that the temperature and the heat in a toaster oven fluctuate because there are two metal surface above and below that radiates the heat. Also being small in size, the toaster oven carries a cycle of heating up and cooling down.
We have a simple solution for that. Ceramic tiles are a very good material that can contain heat. So, to avoid the heat fluctuations, place a ceramic tile under the baking tray. For extra precaution, you may also place a tile on the baking tray. And lastly, place 2 ceramic tiles on the upper surface of the toaster oven.
This arrangement of tiles will reduce the heat fluctuations and you will be able to bake without any tension. Because the heat is contained by the ceramic tiles, there will be no cooling down of the toaster oven and thus there will be no need to heat it again. This saves both time and power consumption also.
Step 4
After you have prepared the toaster oven in the above way, it is time to prepare the baking tray properly. Preparing the baking surface is very important because, if the control of temperature goes haywire, the clay may become burnt, discolored, and ruined.
White clay is very susceptible to changing color and other colors may get discolored. So, to avoid this, you have to do the following things:
Place a piece of white paper on the tile kept above the baking tray
Place the clay on the white paper
Then using the baking paper or aluminum foil make a tent to cover the clay.
(The white paper will keep the direct contact of heat with the clay and the aluminum foil will help to protect from the heat coming from above)
Step 5
After doing all of the above steps, now comes the usage of the marker pen. It is actually an important hack also for polymer clay baking
When you have started the toaster oven to bake, it is impossible for one to know the correct heat settings to place on the knob of the oven to get the perfect temperature for baking.
For this, you need to tinker with the heat settings knob and keep an eye on the oven thermostat you have placed inside. When you have reached the suggested temperature range, mark the dial of the knob.
This will be very useful because now you don’t have to waste your time finding the perfect setting on your toaster oven to bake in the 266F-275F temperature range.
So, by following the above-mentioned steps, you may bake polymer clay in the toaster oven.
Tip
In addition to the above steps, you may also need this tip. It is better to preheat your toaster oven. Preheating the toaster oven will not cause the thermostat to suddenly turn off the heat and lose temperatures.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long should I bake polymer clay in the toaster oven?
Ans: The minimum time to bake polymer clay seems to be 20 minutes. (per ¼ inch of thickness). But the time can be extended up to 30 minutes for getting the best results.
How do you know when polymer clay is done baking?
Ans: The sign that indicates polymer clay has been done baking is when to press the clay with your fingernail, It will be marked, but the fingernail will not sink in it
Conclusion:
After reading the article, hopefully, you have understood how to bake polymer clay in a toaster oven. Baking polymer clay seems very important.
Because without having the perfectly baked clay the joy of making any craft item will be ruined. Even if you’re not able to master baking polymer clay in a toaster oven, don’t lose hope.
Read our article a couple of times to try to understand the steps and after a few tries, you will be able to bake polymer clay.
Interested in this related article? See our Can You Use A Toaster Oven Outside?
