What sculpting material do you use and why?

[Darkeye]

i'm taking another crack at Super Sculpey today. I think it's the Firm that is unreliable for me; my last attempt was in SSF grey and it cracked open like a Lake Bed.
Never had issues with sculpey in the past and i'm certain it was because I only knew about and used Super Sculpey.
Idont mind the translucency since I want to undercoat and paint any successes....

atb --tim

[Boondog]

Sculpey all the way. Through I am now doing more waste molds for wax finishing lately, I still prefer to do as much work in polymers as I can before going into the final stages.

[Darkeye]

Originally Posted by Boondog

Sculpey all the way. Through I am now doing more waste molds for wax finishing lately, I still prefer to do as much work in polymers as I can before going into the final stages.

I would like to end up that way Sean. SS is cheap on line and an ideal way to make cheap art in your kitchen or studio. I like the chavant to waste mold but it's an extra process and gets expensive. Great if you are a Studio guy or In House sculptor for a company.

atb --tim

[Niinui]

Monster Clay

I've tried polymer clays (sculpey, fimo) and other oil-based clays (Klean Klay, Prima Plastilina, Chavant), none of which were easy to work with. Monster Clay offers all the properties the others are missing one way or another:

• it can be heated up and poured if necessary
• when cool it is very hard and accepts details really well
• it is not sticky, so you don't end up with the stuff all over your hands and tools
• it melts great when putting an alcohol torch to it
• it can be easily smoothed with solvents like rubbing alcohol
• it is non-toxic

I'm never going to use other oil based clay again I think

[barneyjoseph]

I'm going to try Monster clay someday

[Patu]

Originally Posted by barneyjoseph

I'm going to try Monster clay someday

I'm keen to try it also, I'm hearing more and more great things about it from some great sculptors the only problem is the cost!!

[barneyjoseph]

How about this oil based clay.... normally used for automobile sculpting. The clay is called Industrial clay NS60L. This clay is now available in India and it is made by this Tools Int'l, Japan: http://www.tools-web.com/ADBD/eng/

I tried sculpting with it... It's a little less wax or something compared to Chavant. When smudging you can feel that it is powdery underneath.

Here's a blog post of what I tried:
http://barneyjoseph.blogspot.in/2013...o-testing.html

Chavant is still not available in India... this is the alternative. Has anyone used it? Has anyone heard of it?

[Alaneye]

Originally Posted by Niinui

Monster Clay

I've tried polymer clays (sculpey, fimo) and other oil-based clays (Klean Klay, Prima Plastilina, Chavant), none of which were easy to work with. Monster Clay offers all the properties the others are missing one way or another:

• it can be heated up and poured if necessary
• when cool it is very hard and accepts details really well
• it is not sticky, so you don't end up with the stuff all over your hands and tools
• it melts great when putting an alcohol torch to it
• it can be easily smoothed with solvents like rubbing alcohol
• it is non-toxic

I'm never going to use other oil based clay again I think

Rubbing alcohol (70% isopropanol) didn't do much to Monster Clay when I tried it. Also cost wise, I found it not much different than sculpey pound for pound even with the postage. In fact, I think it was slightly cheaper, and it's reusable.

[warbux]

I use to use sculpey/firm and mixed but mixing them together was to tough on my fingers after awhile, I've been using chavant med now and enjoy it, just heat it up and its really soft.

[moonmonkey]

i just ordered some monster clay should be here by tuesday so well see how it feels, im inspired... im going to tackle a one of a kind joker New 52 version and ill post wip of it.... hopefully i can manage to create something im happy with!