Favorites change day by day for some people but I have found some reliable products that I suggest using.
Air dry clay takes about 3 days to dry but that is the minimum I have found. Anywhere from 3-7 days is for any object to be completely dry not just to the touch. I consider clays dry when they are completely dry on the inside and outside.
Raccoon Honey I just got so I haven't used it yet.
Hearty is a Japanese brand resin clay.
Crayola makes Model Magic and their own form of air dry ceramic clay.
Creatology is very cheap and good for simple sculptures.
I did not include Kutsuwa brand clay since I don't like it very much.
I don't like Debika clays either I find them to be along the lines of Kutsuwa clay.
Kutsuwa clay - very moist paper clay that is easy to mold, mix with glue to soften the clay if it dries out. Feels spongy when wet but dries hard.
Takes over 5 days to dry hard (not just to the touch but throughout the clay), light weight hard texture when absolutely dry.
Pros- easy to use and mold. Kutsuwa molds are excellent. Does not shrink when drying.
Cons - too long to dry, not enough colors, comes in too small packages for the price. Glitter clays are unusable absolutely dry and don't hold shape does not mix with paint well.
Hearty Clay - soft medium texture clay that dries hard.
This is a resin clay which we don't usually see in the US but it dries to a hard solid form. If you like polymer baking clay then try Hearty brand.
Pros - easy to use, easy to mix with paint, regular drying time of 3-5 days. Does not shrink when drying. lots of colors available from international sellers.
Cons - hard to get in US, price is inflated from most international sellers.
Debika clay - similar to the Kutsuwa clay the Debika is softer than Kutsuwa. Debika is a toy maker so the clay is meant for older children like 8-11. Not a lot of colors many fake sweets and sweets deco pieces. I found it to be almost identical to Kutsuwa clay it was just a bit drier.
Pros- more advanced clay that Kutsuwa, dries in 3-4 days.
Cons - Debika molds are made of Styrofoam so they are not as durable as Kustuwa molds. This is not a multipurpose clay. Dries it a flimsy texture, spongy in a bad way. I threw out many pieces I made with Debika clay. The liquid clay (for making frosting) is better but not by much.
Creatology - almost the same as model magic, it is a less advanced clay. Does not hold as much of a shape as the model magic. Good for kids crafting and making basic shapes. I have not tried mixing it with paint, but I can already tell its not going to be good.
Pros - dries faster than model magic, holds its shape when modeled by hand comes in large packs for less than $3.
Cons - only has limited colors, not good for complex molds or designs.
Model Magic - My staple clay, Model magic mixes with paint and holds its shape in complex and simple molds. It takes a long time to dry, its a drier clay that softens as you use it. Dries to a spongy texture that is similar to the Kutsuwa brand clay.
Pro - reliable clay that comes in a huge assortment of colors. Easy to mold and sculpt for kids and adults. Crayola molds are really good and multipurpose. affordable and come in 2lb multipacks.
Cons - takes up to 7 days to dry completely inside and outside. Spongy texture may not be practical for jewelry making, because it is lightweight. (some people think light weight means cheap but that's not true)
Crayola Air Dry Clay - the air dry clay is excellent for sculpting, I have used it to make dolls. BJD lovers might want to try using the Crayola Air Dry Clay. Dries to a ceramic finish. There are paper fibers in it that absorb moisture yet the ceramic powder gives it a professional look when its dry. For any age over 3 with parent supervision. Of course that means adults as well. The white goes from a cardboard color to a white color when dry. I recommend this clay for people who are used to ceramic clays, artist grade clays and kiln baking clays.
Pros - great for sculpting, doll making, jewelry making and other sustainable projects. DO NOT MIX WITH PAINT or else ruin the clay. Paint after it has completely dried.
Cons - comes in three colors only.
Air dry clay takes about 3 days to dry but that is the minimum I have found. Anywhere from 3-7 days is for any object to be completely dry not just to the touch. I consider clays dry when they are completely dry on the inside and outside.
Raccoon Honey I just got so I haven't used it yet.
Hearty is a Japanese brand resin clay.
Crayola makes Model Magic and their own form of air dry ceramic clay.
Creatology is very cheap and good for simple sculptures.
I did not include Kutsuwa brand clay since I don't like it very much.
I don't like Debika clays either I find them to be along the lines of Kutsuwa clay.
Kutsuwa clay - very moist paper clay that is easy to mold, mix with glue to soften the clay if it dries out. Feels spongy when wet but dries hard.
Takes over 5 days to dry hard (not just to the touch but throughout the clay), light weight hard texture when absolutely dry.
Pros- easy to use and mold. Kutsuwa molds are excellent. Does not shrink when drying.
Cons - too long to dry, not enough colors, comes in too small packages for the price. Glitter clays are unusable absolutely dry and don't hold shape does not mix with paint well.
Hearty Clay - soft medium texture clay that dries hard.
This is a resin clay which we don't usually see in the US but it dries to a hard solid form. If you like polymer baking clay then try Hearty brand.
Pros - easy to use, easy to mix with paint, regular drying time of 3-5 days. Does not shrink when drying. lots of colors available from international sellers.
Cons - hard to get in US, price is inflated from most international sellers.
Debika clay - similar to the Kutsuwa clay the Debika is softer than Kutsuwa. Debika is a toy maker so the clay is meant for older children like 8-11. Not a lot of colors many fake sweets and sweets deco pieces. I found it to be almost identical to Kutsuwa clay it was just a bit drier.
Pros- more advanced clay that Kutsuwa, dries in 3-4 days.
Cons - Debika molds are made of Styrofoam so they are not as durable as Kustuwa molds. This is not a multipurpose clay. Dries it a flimsy texture, spongy in a bad way. I threw out many pieces I made with Debika clay. The liquid clay (for making frosting) is better but not by much.
Creatology - almost the same as model magic, it is a less advanced clay. Does not hold as much of a shape as the model magic. Good for kids crafting and making basic shapes. I have not tried mixing it with paint, but I can already tell its not going to be good.
Pros - dries faster than model magic, holds its shape when modeled by hand comes in large packs for less than $3.
Cons - only has limited colors, not good for complex molds or designs.
Model Magic - My staple clay, Model magic mixes with paint and holds its shape in complex and simple molds. It takes a long time to dry, its a drier clay that softens as you use it. Dries to a spongy texture that is similar to the Kutsuwa brand clay.
Pro - reliable clay that comes in a huge assortment of colors. Easy to mold and sculpt for kids and adults. Crayola molds are really good and multipurpose. affordable and come in 2lb multipacks.
Cons - takes up to 7 days to dry completely inside and outside. Spongy texture may not be practical for jewelry making, because it is lightweight. (some people think light weight means cheap but that's not true)
Crayola Air Dry Clay - the air dry clay is excellent for sculpting, I have used it to make dolls. BJD lovers might want to try using the Crayola Air Dry Clay. Dries to a ceramic finish. There are paper fibers in it that absorb moisture yet the ceramic powder gives it a professional look when its dry. For any age over 3 with parent supervision. Of course that means adults as well. The white goes from a cardboard color to a white color when dry. I recommend this clay for people who are used to ceramic clays, artist grade clays and kiln baking clays.
Pros - great for sculpting, doll making, jewelry making and other sustainable projects. DO NOT MIX WITH PAINT or else ruin the clay. Paint after it has completely dried.
Cons - comes in three colors only.
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