I just ordered an extruder and it will be here tomorrow! I’m so excited! thanks for this tutorial! I enjoy all your videos and watch regularly. But I so often watch on my TV in the living room with my Roku that I don’t have the ability to leave a message. You have a great way of presenting the information and given that I am very new to polymer clay, your videos help me feel less overwhelmed with the processes to create beautiful art in clay!
Great tutorials!!. Living in the San Francisco Bay area, I recently went down to San Jose to the home of Deborah Anderson, a great teacher of/in polymer clay. She gave a class on using the extruder cane and these tutorials were wonderful to reinforce her teachings. The use of the calking gun came up and you answered that issue perfectly!! Thank you again!! marilyn peters
I'm so glad I didn't throw away my Sculpey extruder, but it is useless to me without this calk gun trick. I just started watching your videos yesterday and have learned so much from you already. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, and all of the work you put into your videos & blog!!
I tried this trick.... or something similar to it.... when I tried to clean my extruder with a baby wipe and the plunger. The wipe went in like butter, and promptly got so stuck that my husband had to work at it with a pair of pliers for about five minutes before it came out. And what’s with Scullpey designing something that you have to bake in order to clean it out?😡
Fantastic idea to use a wet-wipe, Cindy! And love the caulking gun method too! Love your work, and thanks so much for your generosity in sharing your expertise. 💕
omg you just saved me money. I was going to buy another extruder because I couldn't push the clay through mine. I went to dad's house he gave me his old caulk gun and even helped bend it do that my extruder would fit better. thank you do much. I love your videos.
This is an excellent hack. My sculpy extruder had been sitting unused and useless until now. I happened to have a half-sized caulking gun handy, and they work much better for this than the full-sized ones. If you're buying a cheap caulking gun just for this hack, then see if you can source a mini one from your hardware shop.
Haha....this tutorial was spot on! So love the calking gun idea! I used my sculpey extruder for the first time today and had the EXACT same issues you discussed. I also tried the baby wipe but didn't think to leave it on while actually pushing the clay through. Thanks so much for the tips. Love your videos!
Exactly! I got a cheap, smooth operating calk gun and I think I have a washer that fits in the opening of the calk gun that holds the extruder. Keeping it centered is what makes a difference. I need to try the wipes in there like you did. That was the thing that could be frustrating. I found out about the calk gun soon after I got my extruder so my frustration level was not that high. Premo was the softest clay I found at the time and it worked well!
I had a very difficult time with this extruder and so, I did use my hair dryer to warm up the loaded clay. And that helped. Also, I wrapped a cling film (with one side open for the clay) and used it. That left the extruder clean and the squeezing easy.
thanks for demoing the Sculpey extruder, it made the difference when I went to buy one. Not a Sculpey because of the difficulty pushing. My hands don't have the strength they used to have. Not a good design. prepping the barrel with a wet wipe is an excellent idea for any extruder.
I learned this from a video by Margene Crossan (I think). Anyhow, it works GREAT and it's CHEAP! :-) Two things I would add. Glue a large washer at the end where the extruder is inserted, and a furniture disc(the kind for under table legs etc.) on the plunger end. The carpet or felt on the end helps the handle of the extruder not to slip. My gun just so happened to have a hole in the bottom, which is PERFECT for the handle grip to fit in! (I have pictures, but I don't know how to attach them) Thank you for all you AMAZING VIDEOS!
Thank you so much for this tute. I got my little extruder in a bundle of clay tools at a garage sale and thought..no wonder she never used it. And i never tried again...it was a huge disappointment. I will definitely try this hack since i already have everything. Tools are kind of expensive. This well work until l can save up for something a little easier to use. Thank so much!
My god!!! So much trouble and pain with my own hands and saw you´re video was like a song from heaven jajajaja. Thank you so much for this tip, is amazing!
Thank you so much for these tips, Cindy. I just bought my extruder and didn't realize how hard it was until I tried it. Man! I was about ready to give up using it. Now i won't have to. Thank you! I'm new to polymer clay and have questions sometimes, so I turn to your videos and almost always find the answer. Thank you for all your help. :-)
I just couldn't get on with the Sculpey extruder and in the end I gave it away. Recently a friend recommended the Makins extruder which has a twist handle instead of the plunger type and it was so much easier to use. It might be worth trying if like me you don't have much strength in your hands.
I, too, have a slightly wonky caulking gun that doesn't hold the extruder well, so the tutorials I've seen on modifying one to work with an extruder haven't been at all helpful. Your tutorial was _very_ helpful. Thank you for this tip about using a ring to hold it in-- don't know why I've never thought of that before!
I wrapped a few layers of tape around the part where you put the wipe... I have also used that extruder for clay (the one from the earth) and it worked a lot better.
I watch your videos all the time and they are always awesome but this one is truly amazing and ingenious!! I have one of those sculpey extruders and I can't use it at all because I am so weak but now I can try this. Your amazing and thank you so much for this tutorial!
Great video. You could try putting a small disc of Blu-Tack (or even scrap clay) between the plunger of the gun and the plunger of the extruder, to stop them slipping against each other.
lol you are funny in a good way. and great video. i am new to clay and got my extruder last week and hopeless as soon as i used it. thanks for the tips.
Hi.. The ULTNICE Polymer Clay Gun has a seal round the pump to stop the clay leaking as much, and the gun action is a cork screw type, so no need for pressing. Just simply turn the handle..
I had this extruder, I still do but don't use it because I got the walnut hollow. but befor . I did . I would put the extruder under my arm for a few minutes till the metal was warm from my body heat. That helped a little as well. Also if you do not have a caulking gun on hand you can place the extruder on the floor plunger side down and slowly stand on the handles to use your body weight. its not as stable as the gun but it will do in a pinch.
Thanks for the tips!!! I've had this extruded for a couple of years now and have given up with it as I don't have the strength in my hands...but I might just give these tips a try 😀
Thanks for your tips, Cindy! I have my own tip also)) When I try to inset (put) the clay into my the same extruder, I put to the front part the gun instead of back. I'm talking about a small amount and soft clay, as Sculpey brand. So, it was much easy too.))
Thanks so much Cindy for the tips! I actually have the sculpey extruder, because it was the only kind they had at the craft store when I bought it. So these were very helpful tips for me. I always use wipes when working with clay, so now I know what else I can use them for. I also have a couple of caulking guns, so woohoo for me! BTW your hubby wouldn't be that upset if you widened/adapted the caulking gun to fit, because caulking guns are really cheap, plus widening it a bit shouldn't really keep it from functioning for caulking tubes anyway. But since you have the nicer extruders, I can see why you personally wouldn't bother with it. Thanks for helping me to be able to use my sculpey extruder with things I already have on hand!
Thanks for this tip I am going to try using the baby wipes on my plunger for my walnut :-) this looks like I will have better luck with it doing this :-) I love watching your tips they have helped a lot since I started using polymer clay in the past 8-10 months and I am having a lot of fun making things :-)
Very Helpful. I bought one of these and yes it's true you have to be Hercules to get it thru. I may go get one of those caulking guns. You sure have great ideas.
Thank you! One note however, if you don't already have a calking gun and would need to buy one, it would probably be better just to buy a better extruder instead. Probably be around the same price, and the bigger and better designed extruders have way more options as far as dies go. A better use of your money, imo.
I have a Makin's extruder with a threaded plunger. I mounted a small metal vise and use it to hold the extruder, and then I have an adapter on my drill so I don't have to do it by hand. The clay comes screaming out.
Great tips! I may try them if I'm ever crafting with a friend and we both need to extrude some clay. In the meantime my Sculpey extruder will stay stored away and I will continue to use my much easier (and prettier) Walnut Hollow extruder :)
I'm having a problem with the Sculpey extruder that's similar to getting streaks from a pasta machine: grey streaks. I think the barrel must be coated in a similar chrome.
Please tell us about your polymer clay jewelry in your videos or link to the video tutorial. I loved the earrings and necklace you had on in this video!! Thanks so much for doing these videos. I have that extruder and my hubby made an odd gadget to hold the clay gun in the caulking gun out of PVC plumbing fittings. It doesn't fit well and had to be held with a rubber band. For me, using the caulking gun is cumbersome, and it is a large tool to keep around. I think I'll get the Makins clay extruder and use a drill. Would you do a video testing a drill adapter for it? Maybe a purchased adapter and a DIY version? Thanks!!!--Leslie
Thank you for this helpful video. I just ordered mine, before making some surveys on the best extruder.. Then I saw the earlier video on this extruder, and I was like...hell...got to get another extruder then (which I did, still hasn't reached me yet). Then, I saw this video and well, I can see some hope in it😅. So, tonight I am gonna try out with the wet wipes first, and see how it works (I think I have pretty strong hands,lol). Thanks again, and yesssss...i do love all of your videos. Love from Malaysia 🇲🇾
Well, it turned out to be the Extruder that I bought was a counterfeit to Sculpey Clay Extruder. I put the wet wipe in just as shown in the video, and the bar which holds the disc just broke into two😅. However, I still manage to use it with the help of the caulking gun. Not gonna waste the Extruder and gonna use it till it's totally broken😅.
Hi, After reading about leaching excess oils out of too oiley clay I'm wondering if I can do this with some of my SculpyIII clay which I purchased when was just learning . I'm making some jewelry to sell and donate proceeds to my favorite charity. I'm wondering if mixing leached Sculpy III with primo will give me the same quality clay as using pure primo. Hope this isn't too confusing. Thanks for your help. I have just subscribed and have found so much good information I really appreciate having someone like you to learn from Cindy. Thanks again, Dodie Veres
A couple of things. First, be careful of the thickness of the wipe that you use. We use the Costco brand wipes and they are too thick...kept getting stuck in the tube! Second...my husband came up with the cool idea of using our apple corer/peeler! It's the manual kind that you crank. It would take some manipulation, but we were successful.
Hi there, I was wondering if your clay dries out in those little drawers you have them in. I know if is not supposed to, but what if you leave it for a longer time period.
TY! That is awesome info👍 I'm a total novice at PC (been crafting for years, tho). Your review saved me from buying an extruder I wouldn't have been able to use due to arthritis. I think I'll go with the Walnut Hollow one, based on your reviews, but the Sculpey one is so cute. If i didn't have RA, I'd probably buy it and use the caulk gun on it. TY again for your tips and reviews. 😃 any tips on keeping your hands/work area clean? I'm not liking the messiness of it--hands stained and little bits of clay everywhere😐 don't want to use 50 wipes an hour lol
I wonder why they even sell an extruder that is so difficult to use and *needs* so many "hacks" to be able to use? It doesn't make any sense and they really should change the design of it. They are a major name in the poly clay world and they shouldn't be this clueless when putting out a product. Just my 2cents:)
QuestionEverything, I've found that if you keep it clean and condition your clay first, it's quite easy to use. Also, though it may work for some people, it's been my experience that placing a wipe around the plunger only prevents excess air from escaping and increases the difficulty in moving the plunger. I only use wipes when cleaning it.
Thank you, Cindy, it was a very useful tip.This thing is designed for Hulk - not for an average dainty lady's hand lol. There is another problem I would like to ask you for help with. There are some dies to make hollow beads, then there is the tip to use a nail instead and I can't figure out from the photos how it works, how to mount the nail ..... It would be great if you could explain/advice on the problem, please
Wow, that was such a clever tip. I have a Walnut Hollow and I struggle with that one. I'm thinking maybe if I wet the inside of the barrel first it might help. Thanks Cindy. :o)
+Katie Felgar The maker of the extruder recommends baking it (at clay temps - typically 275 F) until the clay is hard, then it chips out of the barrel. I have done this and it works, but it's not as easy as the baby wipes.
I wonder if it would help to "warm" the metal extruder. Like, placing it to rest on a heated blanket, hot towel or warmed seed pillow while you condition your clay. Honestly I gave up on my sculpey extruder, I'm too lazy to wrestle with it! I'll use the baby wipes trick for my other extruders, though, since it's genius. What I'd really love to see is a automated or desktop clay extruder similar to clay rolling machines, something that can rest on the desk and easily spit out extruded clay you put into it, which would be ideal for kids, the elderly, or people with medical or fine motor disabilities for whom prolonged cranking and squeezing with a handheld extruder is difficult and even painful.
OnlyInThisLight Have you seen the Lucy CLay Extruder demo? You can hook that one up to a drill and crank out miles and miles of extrusions without any effort. Check out that video in our channel.
Instead of putting it on the desk and pressing on it, I just put my extruder on the floor and step on it, pogo stick style. I also use body heat to warm both the extruder and clay beforehand.
Brilliant. I have one of those extruders, somewhere............... . Remember, Everything old is new again? Why can't/won't they just make the small clay extruders with a pump in the first place?
This is the horrid extruder that I have, I have arthritis and cannot push it, so thankyou so much for this video...but I'm still going to order a better one ❤
Hope you are still checking your comments 8 years later. These are great tips on using the Sculpey extruder. Thank you so much.
I'm a little slow but I still check comments 8 years later, so thank you for commenting! Happy top hear this video was helpful!
I just ordered an extruder and it will be here tomorrow! I’m so excited!
thanks for this tutorial! I enjoy all your videos and watch regularly. But I so often watch on my TV in the living room with my Roku that I don’t have the ability to leave a message. You have a great way of presenting the information and given that I am very new to polymer clay, your videos help me feel less overwhelmed with the processes to create beautiful art in clay!
Great tutorials!!. Living in the San Francisco Bay area, I recently went down to San Jose to the home of Deborah Anderson, a great teacher of/in polymer clay. She gave a class on using the extruder cane and these tutorials were wonderful to reinforce her teachings. The use of the calking gun came up and you answered that issue perfectly!! Thank you again!! marilyn peters
I'm so glad I didn't throw away my Sculpey extruder, but it is useless to me without this calk gun trick. I just started watching your videos yesterday and have learned so much from you already. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, and all of the work you put into your videos & blog!!
You are supposed to load it from the bottom, not drop the clay into it. Try that and you shouldn't have any issues.
I tried this trick.... or something similar to it.... when I tried to clean my extruder with a baby wipe and the plunger. The wipe went in like butter, and promptly got so stuck that my husband had to work at it with a pair of pliers for about five minutes before it came out.
And what’s with Scullpey designing something that you have to bake in order to clean it out?😡
Fantastic idea to use a wet-wipe, Cindy! And love the caulking gun method too! Love your work, and thanks so much for your generosity in sharing your expertise. 💕
This video is still saving money and time. I found a big washer to make the caulk gun work. Thank you, thank you, a million thank yous.
omg you just saved me money. I was going to buy another extruder because I couldn't push the clay through mine. I went to dad's house he gave me his old caulk gun and even helped bend it do that my extruder would fit better. thank you do much. I love your videos.
This is an excellent hack. My sculpy extruder had been sitting unused and useless until now.
I happened to have a half-sized caulking gun handy, and they work much better for this than the full-sized ones. If you're buying a cheap caulking gun just for this hack, then see if you can source a mini one from your hardware shop.
Haha....this tutorial was spot on! So love the calking gun idea! I used my sculpey extruder for the first time today and had the EXACT same issues you discussed. I also tried the baby wipe but didn't think to leave it on while actually pushing the clay through. Thanks so much for the tips. Love your videos!
Exactly! I got a cheap, smooth operating calk gun and I think I have a washer that fits in the opening of the calk gun that holds the extruder. Keeping it centered is what makes a difference. I need to try the wipes in there like you did. That was the thing that could be frustrating. I found out about the calk gun soon after I got my extruder so my frustration level was not that high. Premo was the softest clay I found at the time and it worked well!
I had a very difficult time with this extruder and so, I did use my hair dryer to warm up the loaded clay. And that helped. Also, I wrapped a cling film (with one side open for the clay) and used it. That left the extruder clean and the squeezing easy.
thanks for demoing the Sculpey extruder, it made the difference when I went to buy one. Not a Sculpey because of the difficulty pushing. My hands don't have the strength they used to have. Not a good design. prepping the barrel with a wet wipe is an excellent idea for any extruder.
I learned this from a video by Margene Crossan (I think). Anyhow, it works GREAT and it's CHEAP! :-) Two things I would add. Glue a large washer at the end where the extruder is inserted, and a furniture disc(the kind for under table legs etc.) on the plunger end. The carpet or felt on the end helps the handle of the extruder not to slip. My gun just so happened to have a hole in the bottom, which is PERFECT for the handle grip to fit in! (I have pictures, but I don't know how to attach them) Thank you for all you AMAZING VIDEOS!
Thanks so much for this! I love the baby wipe idea. So much easier than wrapping the clay in plastic wrap!
Thank you so much for this tute. I got my little extruder in a bundle of clay tools at a garage sale and thought..no wonder she never used it. And i never tried again...it was a huge disappointment. I will definitely try this hack since i already have everything. Tools are kind of expensive. This well work until l can save up for something a little easier to use. Thank so much!
My god!!! So much trouble and pain with my own hands and saw you´re video was like a song from heaven jajajaja. Thank you so much for this tip, is amazing!
Thank you so much for these tips, Cindy. I just bought my extruder and didn't realize how hard it was until I tried it. Man! I was about ready to give up using it. Now i won't have to. Thank you! I'm new to polymer clay and have questions sometimes, so I turn to your videos and almost always find the answer. Thank you for all your help. :-)
Thanks for saying that! :)
Thank you so much! I have arthritis and had given up using my extruder. THANK YOU.
I just couldn't get on with the Sculpey extruder and in the end I gave it away. Recently a friend recommended the Makins extruder which has a twist handle instead of the plunger type and it was so much easier to use. It might be worth trying if like me you don't have much strength in your hands.
I, too, have a slightly wonky caulking gun that doesn't hold the extruder well, so the tutorials I've seen on modifying one to work with an extruder haven't been at all helpful. Your tutorial was _very_ helpful. Thank you for this tip about using a ring to hold it in-- don't know why I've never thought of that before!
Thank you so much! It is so kind of you to say! 💖💖💖
Thank you! I have this tool, these tips are great. I am disabled and these tips will be a great help to me.
I wrapped a few layers of tape around the part where you put the wipe... I have also used that extruder for clay (the one from the earth) and it worked a lot better.
I just brought a clay extruder - by coincidence - just after watching this video! Thanks for the tip for my new extruder!
Wow what great solutions for easier use of the clay extruder. On a scale of 1 to 10 I give you a solid 10 for your ideas!😀
this is an excellent solution for this type of extruder.. you're an angel 😇
I watch your videos all the time and they are always awesome but this one is truly amazing and ingenious!! I have one of those sculpey extruders and I can't use it at all because I am so weak but now I can try this. Your amazing and thank you so much for this tutorial!
You are supposed to load it from the bottom, not drop the clay into it. Try that and you shouldn't have any issues.
THANK YOU! I am just starting working with clay and would love a Lucyclay, but just not practical right now. This was so helpful!!!
Great video. You could try putting a small disc of Blu-Tack (or even scrap clay) between the plunger of the gun and the plunger of the extruder, to stop them slipping against each other.
lol you are funny in a good way. and great video. i am new to clay and got my extruder last week and hopeless as soon as i used it. thanks for the tips.
Hi.. The ULTNICE Polymer Clay Gun has a seal round the pump to stop the clay leaking as much, and the gun action is a cork screw type, so no need for pressing. Just simply turn the handle..
I had this extruder, I still do but don't use it because I got the walnut hollow. but befor . I did . I would put the extruder under my arm for a few minutes till the metal was warm from my body heat. That helped a little as well. Also if you do not have a caulking gun on hand you can place the extruder on the floor plunger side down and slowly stand on the handles to use your body weight. its not as stable as the gun but it will do in a pinch.
Thanks for the tips!!! I've had this extruded for a couple of years now and have given up with it as I don't have the strength in my hands...but I might just give these tips a try 😀
Thanks for your tips, Cindy! I have my own tip also)) When I try to inset (put) the clay into my the same extruder, I put to the front part the gun instead of back. I'm talking about a small amount and soft clay, as Sculpey brand. So, it was much easy too.))
Thanks so much Cindy for the tips! I actually have the sculpey extruder, because it was the only kind they had at the craft store when I bought it. So these were very helpful tips for me. I always use wipes when working with clay, so now I know what else I can use them for. I also have a couple of caulking guns, so woohoo for me! BTW your hubby wouldn't be that upset if you widened/adapted the caulking gun to fit, because caulking guns are really cheap, plus widening it a bit shouldn't really keep it from functioning for caulking tubes anyway. But since you have the nicer extruders, I can see why you personally wouldn't bother with it. Thanks for helping me to be able to use my sculpey extruder with things I already have on hand!
Lindy Diddle I was in the same spot. JoAnn crafts only has Sculpey branded items so it's a little difficult sometimes!!
EXTREMELY HELPFUL! Thank you.
Hi great idea and i think you can get different sizes in the glue gun my husband has large and small in it
Thanks for this tip I am going to try using the baby wipes on my plunger for my walnut :-) this looks like I will have better luck with it doing this :-)
I love watching your tips they have helped a lot since I started using polymer clay in the past 8-10 months and I am having a lot of fun making things :-)
Wow! That was SUPER helpful Cindy! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for this tip with baby wipes. It was REALLY helpful. I don`t hate my extruder anymore :) .
I have arthritis and can no longer use my extruder; until now! Thanks Cindy!
Very Helpful. I bought one of these and yes it's true you have to be Hercules to get it thru. I may go get one of those caulking guns. You sure have great ideas.
Thank you! One note however, if you don't already have a calking gun and would need to buy one, it would probably be better just to buy a better extruder instead. Probably be around the same price, and the bigger and better designed extruders have way more options as far as dies go. A better use of your money, imo.
Oh wow this was super helpful, I was already despairing that I can't use my extruder but this works!
I have a Makin's extruder with a threaded plunger. I mounted a small metal vise and use it to hold the extruder, and then I have an adapter on my drill so I don't have to do it by hand. The clay comes screaming out.
Great tips! I may try them if I'm ever crafting with a friend and we both need to extrude some clay. In the meantime my Sculpey extruder will stay stored away and I will continue to use my much easier (and prettier) Walnut Hollow extruder :)
I'm having a problem with the Sculpey extruder that's similar to getting streaks from a pasta machine: grey streaks. I think the barrel must be coated in a similar chrome.
It gets the work done :-). I just went out and purchase a clamp from Home Depot. cant wait to try it out.
Please tell us about your polymer clay jewelry in your videos or link to the video tutorial. I loved the earrings and necklace you had on in this video!! Thanks so much for doing these videos. I have that extruder and my hubby made an odd gadget to hold the clay gun in the caulking gun out of PVC plumbing fittings. It doesn't fit well and had to be held with a rubber band. For me, using the caulking gun is cumbersome, and it is a large tool to keep around. I think I'll get the Makins clay extruder and use a drill. Would you do a video testing a drill adapter for it? Maybe a purchased adapter and a DIY version? Thanks!!!--Leslie
That helped me so much thank you. I have a suggestion.! Can you make rings using polymer clay?
Thank you for this helpful video. I just ordered mine, before making some surveys on the best extruder.. Then I saw the earlier video on this extruder, and I was like...hell...got to get another extruder then (which I did, still hasn't reached me yet). Then, I saw this video and well, I can see some hope in it😅. So, tonight I am gonna try out with the wet wipes first, and see how it works (I think I have pretty strong hands,lol). Thanks again, and yesssss...i do love all of your videos.
Love from Malaysia 🇲🇾
Well, it turned out to be the Extruder that I bought was a counterfeit to Sculpey Clay Extruder. I put the wet wipe in just as shown in the video, and the bar which holds the disc just broke into two😅. However, I still manage to use it with the help of the caulking gun. Not gonna waste the Extruder and gonna use it till it's totally broken😅.
Hi, After reading about leaching excess oils out of too oiley clay I'm wondering if I can do this with some of my SculpyIII clay which I purchased when was just learning . I'm making some jewelry to sell and donate proceeds to my favorite charity. I'm wondering if mixing leached Sculpy III with primo will give me the same quality clay as using pure primo. Hope this isn't too confusing. Thanks for your help. I have just subscribed and have found so much good information I really appreciate having someone like you to learn from Cindy.
Thanks again,
Dodie Veres
Do you have any tips or tricks for the "crank" type of extruders such as Walnut Hollow?
Thank you so much for that tip I was not using my extruder because I couldn't push it thanks again can't wait to try it
You are so welcome! 💖
A couple of things. First, be careful of the thickness of the wipe that you use. We use the Costco brand wipes and they are too thick...kept getting stuck in the tube! Second...my husband came up with the cool idea of using our apple corer/peeler! It's the manual kind that you crank. It would take some manipulation, but we were successful.
Finally I will be able to use my extruder, thank you!
Hi there, I was wondering if your clay dries out in those little drawers you have them in. I know if is not supposed to, but what if you leave it for a longer time period.
TY! That is awesome info👍 I'm a total novice at PC (been crafting for years, tho). Your review saved me from buying an extruder I wouldn't have been able to use due to arthritis. I think I'll go with the Walnut Hollow one, based on your reviews, but the Sculpey one is so cute. If i didn't have RA, I'd probably buy it and use the caulk gun on it. TY again for your tips and reviews. 😃
any tips on keeping your hands/work area clean? I'm not liking the messiness of it--hands stained and little bits of clay everywhere😐 don't want to use 50 wipes an hour lol
I wonder why they even sell an extruder that is so difficult to use and *needs* so many "hacks" to be able to use? It doesn't make any sense and they really should change the design of it. They are a major name in the poly clay world and they shouldn't be this clueless when putting out a product. Just my 2cents:)
QuestionEverything, I've found that if you keep it clean and condition your clay first, it's quite easy to use. Also, though it may work for some people, it's been my experience that placing a wipe around the plunger only prevents excess air from escaping and increases the difficulty in moving the plunger. I only use wipes when cleaning it.
If they cared about public at all, and future sales going forward, they could also include such instructions. I'm saving for a Lucy Clay.
Genius idea!
Thank you, Cindy, it was a very useful tip.This thing is designed for Hulk - not for an average dainty lady's hand lol. There is another problem I would like to ask you for help with. There are some dies to make hollow beads, then there is the tip to use a nail instead and I can't figure out from the photos how it works, how to mount the nail ..... It would be great if you could explain/advice on the problem, please
Fantastic tips. You are a gem 😃🇦🇺👏🌈 Thanks 👏👏
Brilliant. Excellent solution... thank you!
Wow, that was such a clever tip. I have a Walnut Hollow and I struggle with that one. I'm thinking maybe if I wet the inside of the barrel first it might help. Thanks Cindy. :o)
Which extruder do you recommend that doesn't cost the price of a small car?💕
Oh Lord! More and more I love my Fimo Extruder.
Genius! I was ready to throw my extruder across the room! lol
Okay, I watched the follow up - thanks for posting - still, it looks like something that my be difficult for me. I'll search your other videos.
This is an amazingly helpful hack!!! Thank you!!!
Glad you liked that! 💖
how. do you suggest. cleaning the extruder if you don't or didn't use baby wipes to help fill up the extra space.
+Katie Felgar The maker of the extruder recommends baking it (at clay temps - typically 275 F) until the clay is hard, then it chips out of the barrel. I have done this and it works, but it's not as easy as the baby wipes.
Okay thanks for the idea.
I am a new subscriber. New to clay too.
I wonder if it would help to "warm" the metal extruder. Like, placing it to rest on a heated blanket, hot towel or warmed seed pillow while you condition your clay. Honestly I gave up on my sculpey extruder, I'm too lazy to wrestle with it! I'll use the baby wipes trick for my other extruders, though, since it's genius. What I'd really love to see is a automated or desktop clay extruder similar to clay rolling machines, something that can rest on the desk and easily spit out extruded clay you put into it, which would be ideal for kids, the elderly, or people with medical or fine motor disabilities for whom prolonged cranking and squeezing with a handheld extruder is difficult and even painful.
Kind of like a mincing machine? You should develop that idea then Cindy can demo it!! LOL 😀
OnlyInThisLight Have you seen the Lucy CLay Extruder demo? You can hook that one up to a drill and crank out miles and miles of extrusions without any effort. Check out that video in our channel.
Nicola Benton :)
What an excellent idea!!
What a great tutorial. I can't even use the extruder that cranks because I can't hold the barrel tight enough. YEAH !
You can put a crank extruder into a vise to hold it, instead of using your hands. It's way easier!
thanks
Instead of putting it on the desk and pressing on it, I just put my extruder on the floor and step on it, pogo stick style.
I also use body heat to warm both the extruder and clay beforehand.
Where can I buy thouse plastic little boxes?
You can get them on Amazon (**Affiliate Link) amzn.to/2LVrwy3
Thanks Cindy!
Brilliant. I have one of those extruders, somewhere............... . Remember, Everything old is new again? Why can't/won't they just make the small clay extruders with a pump in the first place?
Thank you for this! I was worried I was going to have to purchase another extruder
Glad I could help!
Wow, that’s a great idea!
This is the horrid extruder that I have, I have arthritis and cannot push it, so thankyou so much for this video...but I'm still going to order a better one ❤
you should insert the clay from the desk side that would make it much easier when you push
Absolutely amazing tips!
If you use a piece of dampened nylon stocking, instead of the baby wipe, it works so much better!
Great tip!
very clever idea!
Found out the hard way, until I saw this video. Great tip, I have been extruding all afternoon just for the hell of it.
Great video glad I did my research glad I didn't buy that type of extruder Thank You!
Thank you! Nice idea!
Great idea. Thanks.
Thank you
Thank you! 💘
Life saver! Thank you!
Glad it helped!
Thanks for the tutorial!
Nice tips!! Thank you!
Thanks for another cool idea! The caulking gun set-up looks like the answer for the smaller faced dies!
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Brilliant!
thank you I have that extruder and hardly ever use it because it's so hard on my hands lol :o/ but I will have to try the babywipes idea :o)
Thanks.
great tip , thanks
Actually think the mastic plunger is a good idea.
That is great. Ty
Wow I love it
that is a cool idea