What is FIMO clay and how to use best of it

03 Oct What is FIMO clay and how to use best of it

Posted at 08:37h in Educational by coffeecupids 0 Comments

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Many people think of the FIMO as “FIMO dough for kids” or “FIMO playdough for kids” but FIMO is simply more than that. According to Staedtler website, FIMO clay was the first clay for modeling that could be baked and hardened in regular ovens. Back in mid-20^th century artists and specially sculptors were looking for a suitable clay for their projects. Käthe Kruse, developed a type of clay that was the best match for building model dolls, heads and … with highest details. Later on, her daughter, Sophie Rehbinder-Kruse, perfected her mother’s work and made better version of the clay. She made colored clay which were suitable for building vase, toys, figures and all other types of sculptors. The FIMO clay is named after nick name of Sophie Rehbinder-Kruse, Fifi, and her passion for mosaic art work.

FIMO clay can be used in a similar way to other sculpting materials such as modeling clay and ceramic. It is easy to carve and form. Sculptor or anyone working with the FIMO clay can also use it with other modeling materials such as armature wire or aluminum foil. You can mix different colors together to make lighter or darker shades of different colors. A hand roll pasta machine could be suitable for this mean in small projects.

FIMO clays are made in two major types, oven-hardening and air-drying.

Oven-hardening

It can be hardened in the oven at 110 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature should not exceed 130 degrees. If you increase the temperature the clay will burnout.
You can put the FIMO oven-hardening clay in oven multiple times.
After baking the clay, you can sand, polish or coat and color it.
Baked clays can be attached together with super glue. You can also apply the super glue for broken clay parts.
The clay should be hand washed as dishwashing liquid damages the clay.
If you have some opened FIMO clay blocks, store them in a container with a closing lid. In this way the clay will not gather dust. You can also knead your stored clay to make it soft again.

What is FIMO clay and how to use best of it - FIMO clay — FIMO Clays. Source: Staedtler website

Air-drying

You don’t need to bake this type of clay and it dries in the air.
FIMO air-drying or FIMOair is the best choice for art, spare time and hobbies. It is suitable for both adults and children and can be used in school projects, kindergartens and so on.
Remember to store the FIMOair clay in closed container to prevent it from drying out and hardening.
You can polish, sand, paint or coat the clay after it is dried and hardened.