High Bridge Pottery Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 I need some help, got a ceramics stamp that has a lot of small detail. When pressed into clay it deforms the clay and pulls bits up. I was reading somewhere that cornstarch could help it not stick so just wanted your ideas on this area. Maybe talc powder? I did read the article in relation to polymer clay but thought it could work on normal clay. The cornstarch would just burn off in the bisque firing? Thank you in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbo_heff Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 I need some help, got a ceramics stamp that has a lot of small detail. When pressed into clay it deforms the clay and pulls bits up. I was reading somewhere that cornstarch could help it not stick so just wanted your ideas on this area. Maybe talc powder? I did read the article in relation to polymer clay but thought it could work on normal clay. The cornstarch would just burn off in the bisque firing? Thank you in advance An easy trick is a plastic grocery bag: : works nice for signing leather clay with a dull pencil too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted April 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 Great idea, used the cling film from my lunch as a test. It worked perfectly, just got to get all the clay out the stamp now that is stuck in from my rookie mistakes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicAxe Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 sometimes finding the right consistancy of the clay helps too, with smaller details ... softer clay sticks to those fine details, more surface area to do so. plastic will work so will some ball clay in powder form, corn starch helps as well. Sometimes really it comes down to having an excellently designed stamp that is a blend of fine details and solid design that doesn't lend itself to clay failures but that just comes with using many many stamps to know what is perfect for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 I have always used talc but corn starch will do the same thing. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 Corn starch is my preferred method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted April 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 Don't have any cornstarch right now. Managing to get an OK stamp with cling film. 1.5" stamp Picture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Hogsed Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 A light spray of WD-40 on your stamp will keep it from sticking and gives a good clean impression. You can usually make several impessions before having to spray again. I've used it to spray all sorts of things I've pressed into clay with excellent results. I've also used cornstarch but the impression isn't as crisp. Marcia H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celia12345678910 Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 I need some help, got a ceramics stamp that has a lot of small detail. When pressed into clay it deforms the clay and pulls bits up. I was reading somewhere that cornstarch could help it not stick so just wanted your ideas on this area. Maybe talc powder? I did read the article in relation to polymer clay but thought it could work on normal clay. The cornstarch would just burn off in the bisque firing? Thank you in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celia12345678910 Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 toilet paper. if it sticks to the clays, it burns off in the bisque. Cheap too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fourwinds Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 I need some help, got a ceramics stamp that has a lot of small detail. When pressed into clay it deforms the clay and pulls bits up. I was reading somewhere that cornstarch could help it not stick so just wanted your ideas on this area. Maybe talc powder? I did read the article in relation to polymer clay but thought it could work on normal clay. The cornstarch would just burn off in the bisque firing? Thank you in advance I stamp a lot, and always have used any kind of cooking oil. Whatever is on hand, olive, canola, etc. dip the stamp in whenever needed. Burns off in firing. The clay should stiffen up a tiny bit. I would not stamp a bowl I had just thrown- put outside or 5-10 minutes depending on the weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyce Johntz Posted November 1, 2019 Report Share Posted November 1, 2019 Our class has been spraying rubber and metal stamps for years with PAM. It works great and burns out in the bisque kiln. We also cover commercial plastic or ceramic bowls with PAM to use for hump molds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted November 2, 2019 Report Share Posted November 2, 2019 PAM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyce Johntz Posted November 2, 2019 Report Share Posted November 2, 2019 PAM is a no-stick cooking spray. We spray almost anything that might stick to the clay. Just dont use it on commercial Plaster of Paris molds. It seems to seal the mold so it doesn't absorb water as it should, the clay doesn't dry as fast and it takes longer to remove it from the mold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted November 2, 2019 Report Share Posted November 2, 2019 a cooking spray brand here in the USA. the biggest advertising budget for such products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene the Handbuilder Posted December 2, 2019 Report Share Posted December 2, 2019 I regularly use cornstarch for all types of situations including helping a slab resist sticking to a mould, and found a nifty tool in the cake decorating section at Michaels craft store. It is a little cup with a screw-on lid and a cloth pocket inside You fill the pocket with cornstarch and then put the lid back on and use it as a "pouncer" to dust things with. It's come in handy when using really wet clay and a rolling pin as well. Just know that using cornstarch ups the chances of things getting a bit moldier or stinky if drying slowly - it burns right off though. I'm interested in the option of using Pam spray or an oil product as some of my stamps are quite intricate... I'm often stamping into clay that I will apply terra sigillata to. For those of you using an oil-based resist product, do you have any feedback about if that would resist the terra sig? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeU Posted December 4, 2019 Report Share Posted December 4, 2019 For stamps I don't use a spray, I use a cotton ball and spray the lube on that--provides a thinner coat with less mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted December 4, 2019 Report Share Posted December 4, 2019 The cake decorating thing sounds a lot classier than the old sock cornstarch pounce I was taught to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted December 4, 2019 Report Share Posted December 4, 2019 Corn starch works for most simple stamps, especially those where the stamp is pushing the detail into the clay/ the image is recessed in the clay. For stamps where the detail is raised in the clay, corn starch doesn't work nearly as well as cooking spray, especially if you have fine detail or small text. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted December 4, 2019 Report Share Posted December 4, 2019 WD-40 sprayed into a piece of foam rubber cut to fit a tin from altoids, allows the user to push the stamp into the foam to pick up just the right amount of resist. some people don't like the smell, i just close the cover on the tin. the stamp dries quickly by evaporation no matter what it is made of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Reich Posted December 5, 2019 Report Share Posted December 5, 2019 I think that cooking spray, which is oil, would resist a slip or engobe applied over the stamped area. As @oldladysays, WD40 evaporates and would be less likely to interfere with the application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene the Handbuilder Posted December 11, 2019 Report Share Posted December 11, 2019 WD 40 sounds like a great solution - thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahTaylor Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 I’ve always used WD40. Works like a charm. Cooking spray would work, too but the WD 40 was my professor’s preferred method soI jyst always use that. I use it for stamps as well as non-porous molds for slumping/forms. (glass. Plastic, metal...) works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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