TheTerrainTutor Good video! Was just thinking though, if it softens when wet, how do you go about painting it? Do you seal it with a primer or PVA mix first?
0:00 intro 1:10 dark clay and light clay 4:46 wrap/seal your clay 5:46 tools 7:30 clay fall of surface? 11:11 clay cracking ? 17:50 can i use it in molds? 24:00 tips on using different tools 28:26 adding additives 29:11 mixing das with pva 32:29 quick recap 34:10 outro
I use air dry clay a lot. I always have a small spray bottle filled with water whenever I work with it. I realized it's better to start with a thin layer of airdry clay in making sculptures let it dry and re apply another layer, building up. Sometimes I mixed airdry clay and more water to turn it into a paste and I use it in filling cracks or as a adhesive whenever I apply a new clay over a dried up clay.
hello i have a question? what if when it's dried very well in 1 year or more and then you squeeze it what would happen? it's still durable and it will never be broken?
Have I told you..that I absolutely love you!thank youu❤❤❤I dint know anything ,everything I was making a was thrown the trash lol..I now see why it cracked so bad..tytyty ..
This has probably been said but don't throw away any small parts of dried air dry, add them to a tub of water and mix them to make slip. Slip basically glues the clay better than plain water and adding a light layer to a piece before drying can avoid cracking.
I've been in a kinda of hole for a while and have been avoiding everything I've ever enjoyed, including art. I'm trying to get better and your video is the start, thank you for motivating me enough to try again
That's why I'm here too, I'm a woodcarver with no creative mojo for the last few years, so I'm looking at different materials and it's great to find channels like this, I'm watching mudlarks and crafts channels, lol, it's working, the enthusiasm is contagious ❤️😁
I just bought my first pack of air dry clay, planning to make some tiny pins, and found this whole freaking masterclass. Thank you so much for the whole-hearted instructions!
I love how you actually take the time to explain everything. Thank you so much! Some people just show you how to work with materials for a specific purpose, but you give a very basic understanding, assuming we know nothing. So helpful!
I'm a digital 3D artist, I work in the interior design field but I wanted to model organic things like animals and such, so for my birthday my girlfriend got me DAS + sculpting kit with all of the tools, I'm very glad to see such a wonderful tutorial with tips and tricks too, you show a lot of enthusiasm for what you're doing and you transmit passion to the listener. I wish more videos on youtube were like this one. Instantly subscribed! Love from Italy
I have been using air dry clay for many years in Western Canada which is a very dry climate. One idea that I use to keep my clay from drying too quickly is to take a bit of a sponge, soak it, wring it gently & place next to the clay. Cover all with cellophane wrap. I do this when working on large pieces that take several days to complete as well as when I am finished to prevent cracking.
I have added veg oil and linseed to my air drying in small amounts which seems to help prevent cracking, probably by slowing the drying time quite a lot
As a long-term user of DAS to make wargame terrain, I use it in a slightly different way. 1 - I add DAS over a thin layer of dilute PVA glue 2 - I score the base material either MDF or plastic card with a scalpel. Criss-crossing across the surface to produce a 'key' for the DAS to grip to. 3 - I bake my DAS in the oven short bursts of about 10 minutes at low temperature. 4 - When fully set I seal the DAS with a dilute PVA and water wash. I have not had any problems with cracking or lifting. If I need to add a thick layer, I will apply the DAS in two or three thinner layers or use Balsawood or foam as a bulking up product and apply DAS over the top. Finally, I prefer DAS Terracotta (I think it is is finer) , but use DAS White as it does not stain. Just my technique. Tony
Sooo helpful. I bought a block of DAS, which is labeled in German and no training provided. Your tutorials are thorough and understandable. I have watched many of your tutorials and am amazed by your skills as an artist and as one who pursues the why's and the science. Thanks.
OK, I'm 2 seconds into this video and his accent has me totally captivated....after that, the great content keep my attention! You know a video is great when the creator that is teaching you, makes you feel as though you're in the studio with them .!
FINALLY answer on some question and problems I have! Just started to work with clay like this and have been searching and only find useless videos. Thank you!! Also, you seem to be a really awesome guy with a really nice energy, love listening to you explaining stuff! :)
Although you've made this 5 years ago, this is Exactly what I've been looking for, mate! Brilliant! Thank you immensely. I've subscribed to your UA-cam to say the least!
A good tutorial! I use DAS for crafting and find Titebond quick & thick glue sticks it well, dusting silicone moulds with corn starch enables flipping out immediately when making multiples, scrape a knife over mould to remove (and reuse) excess before flipping out shapes and repair small cracks with some DAS in a little water to make liquid and brush gently into cracks to fill them. Happy modelling!
Hey!!! Just what I was wondering. I’ve only seen one person mention that and was asking about it. Also, do I need those actual tools? I thought I’d use plastic knife and utensils. I’ve got a couple of tools but I’ve seen others use many things for adding texture and the like. If you have any input, I’d appreciate it. 😊
@@1ronmad1n Hi, I just use anything I have to hand for shaping etc. I only do modelling now and then and some specialist tools can be pricy - so 'use what you have' is my motto! In case it is of interest I often roll out air-dry clay and use cheap silicone moulds to stamp onto it - that works well. Also, if making flat items, make them on a flat ceramic tile (from kitchen/bathroom etc) and leave them on it to dry (dusted with cornflower) - keeps them flatter. The slower things dry the less likely to crack - can lightly cover with plastic if needed. Experimenting is part of the fun - and if it goes wrong, just add water, soften, and try again - practice makes perfect as they say...
@@suebrown7882thank you so much for your assistance! Yes, I am looking forward to playing around with it now that I know you can just wet and start over. It will be a fun journey, I’m sure. I’ve also considered, as I’ve seen, to try hot glue or the like. This is something I’m determined to do, so I’m going to! Thanks again, be blessed and have a great day!😊
Oh dear this is so relieving to watch someone who works as I do! Until now I have only seen "beige" aesthetically correct videos (no critic, they are very agreeable to the eye) where everything is perfect, no mess .. which is very hard to understand for a crazy artist like me ha ha.. Just starting with air drying clay, so I really enjoy your videos, thanks and greetings from Denmark :-)
This is great. I recently bought some air dry clay and have started experimenting with using it for terrain and other wargaming applications. While I have experience with polymer clay, it was a long time ago and I have very little with airdry clay. This was really informative and I have already used some of these techniques when I stopped halfway through the video to go try stuff out before continuing. I feel like I have a bit better understanding of the material now. Thank you.
Legend. Your timing is perfect! I nearly bought some today but was worried about how much i could do to it after it dried.... excellent i just add a bit of water back into it! Thanks brother
Yes I found out myself today that water reconstitutes it. I was just making rocks for a campfire but water helped with the texturing and adding the support thingies for hanging pots on to.
I'm a ceramic artist and there are times I'd really like to use air dry DAS for pieces because I want something not as heavy as ceramic. I can't tell you how much air dry I've thrown away bcz it dried in the package! I wish I had seen this tutorial. So many things are similar to how you deal with ceramic clay. I had no idea. I'm excited to try our dry again! THANK YOU!
Love this! My hobby is doing stuff with, or sewing for, dolls. Currently turning a Barbie into a valkyrie and wanted something lightweight to make feathers for her headpiece. I was hesitant to use DAS, but after watching this I think it will be perfect.
Best DAS video out there! Well done! One correction though. Scratching the surface will actually prevent cracking. In the old times, farmers in my area used to put a clay mix as plaster on barns and houses walls. They used to scratch the clay after sticking it to the wall surface to prevent the clay from cracking and falling off.
Hi! I enjoyed your video. I'm a crafter and I work with Das clay a lot. I do 3D effects on glass mason jars. It works great for that. I love this clay. I have had some trouble with cracking though, so your video gave me some solutions for that. I actually demold immediately, form the clay to the jar and let it dry there, so it captures the shape of the jar. I've found that if you brush some corn starch in the mold, it comes out easily while wet. Thanks for all the helpful information! Happy holidays to you and your family.
as we’re in lockdown now i’ve had a super hard time with sculpting (i don’t have a kiln as i rely on my school for sculpture) so this saved my life! thank you!
I know this is an older video but this was so fun to watch. You have such a great energy. I think for me and my love of air dry clay, if I was to use a mold of some sort, I might only put it in for a couple of hours and then would take it out to finish drying in a regular temp room. Additionally, in case others new to air dry clay are curious, I just tested out drying in my oven at a low temp and it worked beautifully! Keep in mind, these were for flat about 1/8 to 1/4 inch pieces that I am using for earrings. I still let them sit overnight before sanding, painting, and priming. Air dry clay is hands down my favorite. Polymer clay is nice but having to knead and prepare it to even use, is not for me. I'm pretty impatient and when I want to create, I want to do it right then. LOL!
This was great, I'm from Nicaragua and there is not that many sculping materials here, I was not sure how to use it but now it's clear, thank you so much
Great tutorial. Thank you. What is the spelling of the material you call (I think) crystokal? I googled it with some different spellings but couldn't find. Thank you again.
I don’t know if you will see this but thanks to you my creative juices begin to flow and motivates me to get into building dioramas and eventually my HO scale model railroad layout. Right now it’s in my head and I’m ready to get it on paper and then getting all of the materials. Wish me luck.
If you want to stick DAS onto plastic card or other smooth surfaces, scratch it up with the back of your Xacto blade and put a coat of PVA on it. Then apply the DAS. It will warp as it dries, but thats ok, just let it. When all dry, you can bend it back straight again and the DAS will develop "micro cracks" to relieve the stress. I put it under a magnifying glass and still couldnt see them well. A coat of paint covered them all up just fine. Thats the way I made my first thatched roof, worked great.
@@lidia1407 You might try rolling it out into a thin sheet and then wrapping that around the ball. Lay down a piece of waxed paper first. That might help you lift it up in one piece.
I wasn't sure if it could be used and today when I found my pack almost dried out, I was making a campfire so I used wet hands and broke up the block, textured the lumps to look like rocks and it looks pretty good even unpainted. I am non too bothered if it changes shape but it's always good to know these things Mel. Keep safe everyone! Those silicone shaper brushes are great for epoxy clay and this!
thank you for the video...about to start a project as a newbie. the water on the fiberboard is what i needed as well as the damp towel to allow proper drying.
Making a small base using this clay, first time doing anything like this and have found this video very helpful as regards using it and slow drying. Thank you very much 👍
I made a mask once with air dry clay and its sides cracked and warped, then i just filled in the cracks with pva glue and it worked. Thanks for tips also :)
bless you steven!! I've been dancing around working with das for decades!! yes, decades, over 30 years! your vid is so useful, and professional, and covers so many basic and important points from where to buy the stuff (and how much of it), through how clean up, all the way to how to make it stick to other materials. I'm not creating exclusively with das, is just a material that would give me easy custom elements for my main work, so all these tips you've given me, moreover explaining why the bad stuff happens, is more than enough to make me confident in using das for the elements I need. I'd love a vid about different producers of air dry clay - if you have more than one in UK. we also have crayola and kraft in Israel, and the prices are different enough to matter which one you use. thanks for sharing!
I only got into this only recently. I made a nice little tool using wood and copper taken out of old electrical wire. I shape the copper into various gouging shapes I want and then I made a special handle to accept the wire with a locking nut to clamp the wire in tight. Its cool because I just change shaping heads rather than tools and the copper wire is sturdy and can be bent into any configuration needed. I use wire intended for mains sockets as lighting wire is too thin
I bought some of this a while back but have never used it yet. So glad you made this video before I use it, especially with the adhering tip. I would have never thought about that
Thank you so much for explaining the relationship between water and the DAS clay. I have a love-hate relationship with DAS, but I’m starting to get the hang of it a little with your help! :)
If you want a dry river bed put down das put loads of water on it with a sponge so its a bit slushy, then put it somewhere warm like an airing cupboard. Dry river bed or desert pools instantly. Different thickness and more or less sludge changes the pattern. You can use over wet plaster and pva instead.
OMG he is the art version of LindyBeige! Haha love it. Excellent tutorial. Even though I want to go into sculpture all the info was extremely helpful. You got a new subscriber!
Glad I found this video. I watch a lot of sculpture work videos on UA-cam and have decided to try my hand at it, was alright at clay work 16 years ago in high school. Any good household products I could use as tools?
You're a hoot! Thank you for taking the time to make this video with oodles of information to share with everyone! I've started playing with air dry clay (Jovi brand, made in Spain) after feeling lost craft-wise. I was making brooches (1/4" thick) for my son's kindergarten teachers. After 2 days of curing in non-humid cool weather then dry heat under the shade the next day for a few hours outside, it felt all solid and dry... but without much effort, the broke in half so easily!! Feeling a bit disheartened but I shall give it a try and make it a bit thicker and see how we go from there!
i'm definitely one of the crafters, not the terrain makers but ive just bought some das clay with the intention of experimenting with making some simple shapes and sculptures to marble (so far i've only marbled paper and MDF shapes, so going full 3D with my marbling is a big jump haha) but honestly know nothing about air dry clay - i haven't used the stuff since i was 10! i'm glad i found this video in my search cos there was a lot of really cool advice in this video and your presentation style was a joy to watch. thank you for sharing this!
This is my first time using clay, and I bought DAS clay At first I was a little confused, especially when looking for tutorials on UA-cam Most of them only use polymer clay or something else And this video is very helpful, thank you
Perfect timing Mel! just started building some terrain for a Felucia styled board for SW Legion and I'm using Das for some of those giant flowers :D This will definitely help!
You sound like the guy from art attack lol great video thanks helped me a lot with cracking. How would you recommend I go about this? I have a alien statue 14 inches tall standing on walnut base how do I go about sticking the clay to the wood to make a base? The statues finished.
Me as german don't get the thing about "crystical ar", google doesn't show me anything what goes with this description. Can somebody explain, please? I am in glass molding right now and I am looking for new things to expose more creativity. Yes I did learn something...and got a lot of new idears...
It's a plaster called Crystal R. I don't know anything about it. I just found some clues to the spelling in the comments. There's a website for it at www.saintgobainformula.com/product/crystacal-r I hope this helps.
Hi Mel, Great video! Can you suggest a varnish or other way to make the Terracotta DAS seems as wet (but not glossy) after it dries? Are there any differences between the Scola clay and DAS? Thanks!
This is the video I've been looking for. This has all my questions answered. I can't thank you enough for making this video. I have no idea how it appeared on my feed, but I'm subscribed now and very grateful ☺️💖
I've been using Das in molds for a long time. Don't let it dry in the mold! Take it out of the mold, place in a cool place, covered with a damp cloth. Perfect!
How to take it out from mold bf it dried? I flatten it with oil and it stick at my table. I put on mold, and when I try to remove it it stick to mold even though I put baby powder/oil/corn starch. Can you help me with this? im new in air dry clay for doll miniature. thank you
Small note on keeping the clay soft: based on your language accent, I assume - you live in Britain - in climate with high moisture air; I live in Western Canada and we have here very dry air and in my aria the same type of clay hardens very quickly - so I prefer keeping it tight cover or in plastic film.
That would be area honey they way you spelled it is what they sing in opera's. Lol! It sounds lovely where you live. The humidity here plays havoc with my joints too!
Say Mel, what IS this Das made of anyway? It looks like paper pulp with some kind thinned down clay added. It has some kind of fiberous texture if you break it in two. Oh BTW, there is an advantage in using Das in your silicone molds: It will be a heck of a lot lighter than Crysta-cal would be. Better for transporting around.
You really need to play with Crystacal R matey ..... Prestia Casting Plaster - 1691PSI, 14-32s, easily carved Prestia Classic Plaster - 2131PSI, 8-19s, carvable dental plaster Herculite2 - approx 5000PSI, 6-20s, similar to Modell and Stonepowder Basic Alpha Plaster - 7054PSI, 12-25s, ALPHA (for polymer resins that require the use of alpha plasters) Modell Plaster - 9000PSI, 12-16s, good starter plaster, hard and durable but can be carved or modified, very similar to Stonepowder and Herculite2 Crystacast - approx 10-12000PSI, 14-25s very durable Crystacal R - approx 12-14000PSI, 10-25s, extremely hard wearing
Thanx for the info Mel. I got 3/4 of a bucket of Hydro-cal to use up. But Crystacal-r is my next plaster purchase. If I ever get thru with this stuff, lol. I'm a very small fish in a very big ocean. I can only work as fast as my health (mental as well as physical) may permit. ;-)
Just found you! Impressive! Great teaching style! I’m interested in trying air dry clay to create some projects and wanted to learn more about it…..thank you for all the helpful tips!
I found that cloth or gas work great together with this clay, to strengthen it when making thin walls. Or when i use it to build up and around metal cake tins. To prevent it from breaking off. I guess it would be the same on bottles. i just soak them in slip like you would do with gypsum cast. Then further build it up as i like it to be. Wires/sticks aso, can also be added to this first lair, then dried for support of the part of the structure that sticks out more.
OK, that's what I've got tip wise, anything to add folks?
Nice video again, Mel, and as usual I've learned a thing or two. Keep it up!
Nice informative vid... I have a question though... Can you put sand / grit on while it is wet, does it stay adhered when it dries?
TheTerrainTutor Good video! Was just thinking though, if it softens when wet, how do you go about painting it? Do you seal it with a primer or PVA mix first?
Thanks Mal..good stuff...what about using "corflute" as a base
PS who and WTF is Mel..melissa...oh well new days..tarar
he gives me favorite art teacher vibes
Yep.
Same!
very much that
you are absolutely stunning omg ur beautiful
I would love him as a teacher
0:00 intro
1:10 dark clay and light clay
4:46 wrap/seal your clay
5:46 tools
7:30 clay fall of surface?
11:11 clay cracking ?
17:50 can i use it in molds?
24:00 tips on using different tools
28:26 adding additives
29:11 mixing das with pva
32:29 quick recap
34:10 outro
I was worried like "oh I might have some bad clay" but then I saw you had the exact same clay as me and I thought : oh that's good
lmfaoo same i was trying to figure out if i had the right clay or not
Omggg love your pfp ❤️
Also relieved that he's got the same clay
I’m getting it for my bday so erm i looked up das clay .w.
cool lain pfp
I use air dry clay a lot. I always have a small spray bottle filled with water whenever I work with it. I realized it's better to start with a thin layer of airdry clay in making sculptures let it dry and re apply another layer, building up. Sometimes I mixed airdry clay and more water to turn it into a paste and I use it in filling cracks or as a adhesive whenever I apply a new clay over a dried up clay.
This helps a lot thank you
hello i have a question? what if when it's dried very well in 1 year or more and then you squeeze it what would happen? it's still durable and it will never be broken?
Have I told you..that I absolutely love you!thank youu❤❤❤I dint know anything ,everything I was making a was thrown the trash lol..I now see why it cracked so bad..tytyty ..
Michael Jayson Banua Thanks for sharing! This really helps!
Thank you!!
This has probably been said but don't throw away any small parts of dried air dry, add them to a tub of water and mix them to make slip. Slip basically glues the clay better than plain water and adding a light layer to a piece before drying can avoid cracking.
I've been in a kinda of hole for a while and have been avoiding everything I've ever enjoyed, including art. I'm trying to get better and your video is the start, thank you for motivating me enough to try again
Just keep going mate, plenty of vids on here to motivate you
Depression is bad news. Keep fighting.
I hope you got back into it ❤️
You got this!! Everything is going to be ok. Rooting for you!
That's why I'm here too, I'm a woodcarver with no creative mojo for the last few years, so I'm looking at different materials and it's great to find channels like this, I'm watching mudlarks and crafts channels, lol, it's working, the enthusiasm is contagious ❤️😁
I just bought my first pack of air dry clay, planning to make some tiny pins, and found this whole freaking masterclass. Thank you so much for the whole-hearted instructions!
I love how you actually take the time to explain everything. Thank you so much! Some people just show you how to work with materials for a specific purpose, but you give a very basic understanding, assuming we know nothing. So helpful!
it's how we roll bud
Man , I love this guys energy!
Pure isn't it. You know you could have a pint of bitter and a natter with him.
Flash is like a fat cat against him
Ya!
No doubt!
I'm a digital 3D artist, I work in the interior design field but I wanted to model organic things like animals and such, so for my birthday my girlfriend got me DAS + sculpting kit with all of the tools, I'm very glad to see such a wonderful tutorial with tips and tricks too, you show a lot of enthusiasm for what you're doing and you transmit passion to the listener. I wish more videos on youtube were like this one. Instantly subscribed! Love from Italy
This is the best 30+ min video I’ve seen in the past 2 years on UA-cam
I have been using air dry clay for many years in Western Canada which is a very dry climate. One idea that I use to keep my clay from drying too quickly is to take a bit of a sponge, soak it, wring it gently & place next to the clay. Cover all with cellophane wrap. I do this when working on large pieces that take several days to complete as well as when I am finished to prevent cracking.
I have added veg oil and linseed to my air drying in small amounts which seems to help prevent cracking, probably by slowing the drying time quite a lot
Only problem with veg oil is rancidification which could make the sculpt go bad so people tend to go for mineral oil
he makes me feel like i’m actually there, this is super helpful. i just bought this clay knowing almost nothing about it and now i do thanks to you!
the way i just smiled when he started talking like i already know that im gonna learn sumn from him
The kind of teacher I'd like to have when I was at school ...he explains it so easily and makes a joke too that brings you in to learn
As a long-term user of DAS to make wargame terrain, I use it in a slightly different way.
1 - I add DAS over a thin layer of dilute PVA glue
2 - I score the base material either MDF or plastic card with a scalpel. Criss-crossing across the surface to produce a 'key' for the DAS to grip to.
3 - I bake my DAS in the oven short bursts of about 10 minutes at low temperature.
4 - When fully set I seal the DAS with a dilute PVA and water wash.
I have not had any problems with cracking or lifting.
If I need to add a thick layer, I will apply the DAS in two or three thinner layers or use Balsawood or foam as a bulking up product and apply DAS over the top.
Finally, I prefer DAS Terracotta (I think it is is finer) , but use DAS White as it does not stain.
Just my technique.
Tony
I've heard tou can't waterproof it, is that true? I'm making a far less cill fary garden lamp for my daughter so need it as strong as possible
So what temperature do you bake it at?
can I bake das clay air drying too?
I so appreciate your placement of ads in natural breaks rather than mid sentence. Great content too. Thank you. (Typo edit.)
I was not prepared for this level of enthusiasm at this time of the morning 😅
Sooo helpful. I bought a block of DAS, which is labeled in German and no training provided. Your tutorials are thorough and understandable. I have watched many of your tutorials and am amazed by your skills as an artist and as one who pursues the why's and the science. Thanks.
Just starting my clay modelling journey. This guy is fab !
OK, I'm 2 seconds into this video and his accent has me totally captivated....after that, the great content keep my attention! You know a video is great when the creator that is teaching you, makes you feel as though you're in the studio with them .!
FINALLY answer on some question and problems I have! Just started to work with clay like this and have been searching and only find useless videos. Thank you!! Also, you seem to be a really awesome guy with a really nice energy, love listening to you explaining stuff! :)
Glad the vid helped mate
Although you've made this 5 years ago, this is Exactly what I've been looking for, mate! Brilliant! Thank you immensely. I've subscribed to your UA-cam to say the least!
A good tutorial! I use DAS for crafting and find Titebond quick & thick glue sticks it well, dusting silicone moulds with corn starch enables flipping out immediately when making multiples, scrape a knife over mould to remove (and reuse) excess before flipping out shapes and repair small cracks with some DAS in a little water to make liquid and brush gently into cracks to fill them. Happy modelling!
Hey!!! Just what I was wondering. I’ve only seen one person mention that and was asking about it. Also, do I need those actual tools? I thought I’d use plastic knife and utensils. I’ve got a couple of tools but I’ve seen others use many things for adding texture and the like. If you have any input, I’d appreciate it. 😊
@@1ronmad1n Hi, I just use anything I have to hand for shaping etc. I only do modelling now and then and some specialist tools can be pricy - so 'use what you have' is my motto! In case it is of interest I often roll out air-dry clay and use cheap silicone moulds to stamp onto it - that works well. Also, if making flat items, make them on a flat ceramic tile (from kitchen/bathroom etc) and leave them on it to dry (dusted with cornflower) - keeps them flatter. The slower things dry the less likely to crack - can lightly cover with plastic if needed. Experimenting is part of the fun - and if it goes wrong, just add water, soften, and try again - practice makes perfect as they say...
@@suebrown7882thank you so much for your assistance! Yes, I am looking forward to playing around with it now that I know you can just wet and start over. It will be a fun journey, I’m sure. I’ve also considered, as I’ve seen, to try hot glue or the like. This is something I’m determined to do, so I’m going to! Thanks again, be blessed and have a great day!😊
I learned more in this video than 3 weeks of university classes. You just saved my semester thank you
Oh dear this is so relieving to watch someone who works as I do! Until now I have only seen "beige" aesthetically correct videos (no critic, they are very agreeable to the eye) where everything is perfect, no mess .. which is very hard to understand for a crazy artist like me ha ha.. Just starting with air drying clay, so I really enjoy your videos, thanks and greetings from Denmark :-)
hope they help you on your journey
This is great. I recently bought some air dry clay and have started experimenting with using it for terrain and other wargaming applications. While I have experience with polymer clay, it was a long time ago and I have very little with airdry clay. This was really informative and I have already used some of these techniques when I stopped halfway through the video to go try stuff out before continuing. I feel like I have a bit better understanding of the material now. Thank you.
Legend. Your timing is perfect!
I nearly bought some today but was worried about how much i could do to it after it dried.... excellent i just add a bit of water back into it!
Thanks brother
Hope it helps you mate
That’s very similar to what happened to me!lol
Yes I found out myself today that water reconstitutes it. I was just making rocks for a campfire but water helped with the texturing and adding the support thingies for hanging pots on to.
I like this guy. He's fun, honest and straight to the point.
I thought when its dry it will harden like forever. So air dry clay can reactive if you put in the water when it's already dry? Ohhh i learn something
I'm a ceramic artist and there are times I'd really like to use air dry DAS for pieces because I want something not as heavy as ceramic. I can't tell you how much air dry I've thrown away bcz it dried in the package! I wish I had seen this tutorial. So many things are similar to how you deal with ceramic clay. I had no idea. I'm excited to try our dry again! THANK YOU!
Love this! My hobby is doing stuff with, or sewing for, dolls. Currently turning a Barbie into a valkyrie and wanted something lightweight to make feathers for her headpiece. I was hesitant to use DAS, but after watching this I think it will be perfect.
Best DAS video out there! Well done! One correction though. Scratching the surface will actually prevent cracking. In the old times, farmers in my area used to put a clay mix as plaster on barns and houses walls. They used to scratch the clay after sticking it to the wall surface to prevent the clay from cracking and falling off.
Hi! I see you worked with DAS before. I'd like to put a thin layer of DAS around a styrofoam ball. How would you recommend me to do it, please?
@@lidia1407 really late but with any clay I would recommend to wrap the styrofoam ball with saran wrap then add the clay
@@stevekujo8716 Thank you very much :-)
I just bought two lbs of DAS to add some embellishments to frames so I'll be using moulds - love the little tips about that!
Hi! I enjoyed your video. I'm a crafter and I work with Das clay a lot. I do 3D effects on glass mason jars. It works great for that. I love this clay. I have had some trouble with cracking though, so your video gave me some solutions for that. I actually demold immediately, form the clay to the jar and let it dry there, so it captures the shape of the jar. I've found that if you brush some corn starch in the mold, it comes out easily while wet. Thanks for all the helpful information! Happy holidays to you and your family.
Coolest art teacher ever....period!
as we’re in lockdown now i’ve had a super hard time with sculpting (i don’t have a kiln as i rely on my school for sculpture) so this saved my life! thank you!
I know this is an older video but this was so fun to watch. You have such a great energy. I think for me and my love of air dry clay, if I was to use a mold of some sort, I might only put it in for a couple of hours and then would take it out to finish drying in a regular temp room. Additionally, in case others new to air dry clay are curious, I just tested out drying in my oven at a low temp and it worked beautifully! Keep in mind, these were for flat about 1/8 to 1/4 inch pieces that I am using for earrings. I still let them sit overnight before sanding, painting, and priming. Air dry clay is hands down my favorite. Polymer clay is nice but having to knead and prepare it to even use, is not for me. I'm pretty impatient and when I want to create, I want to do it right then. LOL!
This was great, I'm from Nicaragua and there is not that many sculping materials here, I was not sure how to use it but now it's clear, thank you so much
Great tutorial. Thank you. What is the spelling of the material you call (I think) crystokal? I googled it with some different spellings but couldn't find. Thank you again.
Haha, it's fun to look where the union jack mug moves to throughout your video
Hahahah yeh. Ive the same mug 😁
Here I am at 12 min in, reading the comments and my butterfly focus is fluttering to the Mug.
🌲🌝☘️
The detail on the pro terrain tips is amazing Mel.
I put Saran Wrap over my air dry clay. It takes longer to dry but it works great for me.
I don’t know if you will see this but thanks to you my creative juices begin to flow and motivates me to get into building dioramas and eventually my HO scale model railroad layout. Right now it’s in my head and I’m ready to get it on paper and then getting all of the materials. Wish me luck.
If you want to stick DAS onto plastic card or other smooth surfaces, scratch it up with the back of your Xacto blade and put a coat of PVA on it. Then apply the DAS. It will warp as it dries, but thats ok, just let it. When all dry, you can bend it back straight again and the DAS will develop "micro cracks" to relieve the stress. I put it under a magnifying glass and still couldnt see them well. A coat of paint covered them all up just fine. Thats the way I made my first thatched roof, worked great.
Yep, keying plastic works well for bonding bud
Hi! I see you worked with DAS before. I'd like to put a thin layer of DAS around a styrofoam ball. How would you recommend me to do it, please?
@@lidia1407 You might try rolling it out into a thin sheet and then wrapping that around the ball. Lay down a piece of waxed paper first. That might help you lift it up in one piece.
@@billd.iniowa2263 Thanks very much 👌
Never subbed to someone so fast, you remind me of a good friend I made that owned a bar outside of Leeds
I usually rub some lotion on my hands before dealing with this clay, works to keep off any cake.
It puts the lotion on its skin :D
@@fenthedog haha! Every time I hear the word ‘lotion’, man!
Me too and so do my grown up sons , silence of the lambs has a lot to answer to haha 😂
I wasn't sure if it could be used and today when I found my pack almost dried out, I was making a campfire so I used wet hands and broke up the block, textured the lumps to look like rocks and it looks pretty good even unpainted. I am non too bothered if it changes shape but it's always good to know these things Mel. Keep safe everyone!
Those silicone shaper brushes are great for epoxy clay and this!
I’m expecting my first delivery of Das clay today, I’m so glad I found your videos, so many fantastic tips! Thank you so much ❤️
thank you for the video...about to start a project as a newbie. the water on the fiberboard is what i needed as well as the damp towel to allow proper drying.
Thank you. I am new to clay use and was having great difficulty. I feel I have learned a lot from you today.
Making a small base using this clay, first time doing anything like this and have found this video very helpful as regards using it and slow drying. Thank you very much 👍
I made a mask once with air dry clay and its sides cracked and warped, then i just filled in the cracks with pva glue and it worked. Thanks for tips also :)
bless you steven!!
I've been dancing around working with das for decades!! yes, decades, over 30 years!
your vid is so useful, and professional, and covers so many basic and important points from where to buy the stuff (and how much of it), through how clean up, all the way to how to make it stick to other materials.
I'm not creating exclusively with das, is just a material that would give me easy custom elements for my main work, so all these tips you've given me, moreover explaining why the bad stuff happens, is more than enough to make me confident in using das for the elements I need.
I'd love a vid about different producers of air dry clay - if you have more than one in UK.
we also have crayola and kraft in Israel, and the prices are different enough to matter which one you use.
thanks for sharing!
This is what happens when I don't Read the instructions on the package lmao, great video
I only got into this only recently. I made a nice little tool using wood and copper taken out of old electrical wire. I shape the copper into various gouging shapes I want and then I made a special handle to accept the wire with a locking nut to clamp the wire in tight. Its cool because I just change shaping heads rather than tools and the copper wire is sturdy and can be bent into any configuration needed. I use wire intended for mains sockets as lighting wire is too thin
I bought some of this a while back but have never used it yet. So glad you made this video before I use it, especially with the adhering tip. I would have never thought about that
I've made a sandpeople for my Starwar RPG in the past. But I could only pore in 2x and the break.
Hope it helps bud
haha same situation. Can’t wait to crack mine open!
this was the most comprehensive tutorial on air dry clay! thank you!
Thank you so much for explaining the relationship between water and the DAS clay. I have a love-hate relationship with DAS, but I’m starting to get the hang of it a little with your help! :)
This video is what i was looking for: i had exactly those problems with das and i wanted a clear and simple solution (such “adding water”) thank you!
If you want a dry river bed put down das put loads of water on it with a sponge so its a bit slushy, then put it somewhere warm like an airing cupboard. Dry river bed or desert pools instantly. Different thickness and more or less sludge changes the pattern. You can use over wet plaster and pva instead.
Top tip mate
Thanks!
This dudes vibes are amazin
OMG he is the art version of LindyBeige! Haha love it. Excellent tutorial. Even though I want to go into sculpture all the info was extremely helpful. You got a new subscriber!
Love Lindy, I'm one of his patrons!
@@TheTerrainTutor excellent!
Is there a way to make air dry clay water resistant once it is dried and painted? Thank You for the video and all the information extremely helpful.
Give it a coat of gloss/resin?
@@TheTerrainTutor what type do you recommend?
No really as it's not something I use terrain for, boat makers varnish I'm guessing mate
Sealing spray works well
I love your passion. I am going to go grab my Das clay now and experiment with some creations. Thank you
For molds, I use a dental plaster. It is extremely strong and cures quite quick compared to plaster.
I've just started using DAS. Thank you so much for these tips. I really appreciated it!
Glad I found this video. I watch a lot of sculpture work videos on UA-cam and have decided to try my hand at it, was alright at clay work 16 years ago in high school. Any good household products I could use as tools?
You're a hoot! Thank you for taking the time to make this video with oodles of information to share with everyone! I've started playing with air dry clay (Jovi brand, made in Spain) after feeling lost craft-wise. I was making brooches (1/4" thick) for my son's kindergarten teachers. After 2 days of curing in non-humid cool weather then dry heat under the shade the next day for a few hours outside, it felt all solid and dry... but without much effort, the broke in half so easily!! Feeling a bit disheartened but I shall give it a try and make it a bit thicker and see how we go from there!
i'm definitely one of the crafters, not the terrain makers but ive just bought some das clay with the intention of experimenting with making some simple shapes and sculptures to marble (so far i've only marbled paper and MDF shapes, so going full 3D with my marbling is a big jump haha) but honestly know nothing about air dry clay - i haven't used the stuff since i was 10! i'm glad i found this video in my search cos there was a lot of really cool advice in this video and your presentation style was a joy to watch. thank you for sharing this!
We watched this prior to art project. Excellent tutorial, delivered brilliantly. Thank you.
Glad it helped mate
This is my first time using clay, and I bought DAS clay
At first I was a little confused, especially when looking for tutorials on UA-cam
Most of them only use polymer clay or something else
And this video is very helpful, thank you
Brilliant Mel, thanks for this video, I have learnt so much from it. Fan-DAS-tic.
Win!
I just started on clay today, but after this video I think I already have the confidence that I'll be good at it.
Perfect timing Mel! just started building some terrain for a Felucia styled board for SW Legion and I'm using Das for some of those giant flowers :D This will definitely help!
I'll take that as a win mate!
you are my new favourite person to watch on here
"let's start dealing with issues" that lowkey hit a bullet in me
loved the tips about water and talcum and the moist cloth.
You sound like the guy from art attack lol great video thanks helped me a lot with cracking. How would you recommend I go about this? I have a alien statue 14 inches tall standing on walnut base how do I go about sticking the clay to the wood to make a base? The statues finished.
Just use hot glue mate
E6000 glue
Me as german don't get the thing about "crystical ar", google doesn't show me anything what goes with this description. Can somebody explain, please? I am in glass molding right now and I am looking for new things to expose more creativity. Yes I did learn something...and got a lot of new idears...
It's a plaster called Crystal R. I don't know anything about it. I just found some clues to the spelling in the comments. There's a website for it at
www.saintgobainformula.com/product/crystacal-r
I hope this helps.
Hi Mel, Great video!
Can you suggest a varnish or other way to make the Terracotta DAS seems as wet (but not glossy) after it dries?
Are there any differences between the Scola clay and DAS?
Thanks!
Your channel is an institution for the hobby, thank you!
I wish I knew this before I started my project
This is the video I've been looking for. This has all my questions answered. I can't thank you enough for making this video. I have no idea how it appeared on my feed, but I'm subscribed now and very grateful ☺️💖
What a masterclass! This is extremely useful, thank you so much good sir!
I've been using Das in molds for a long time. Don't let it dry in the mold! Take it out of the mold, place in a cool place, covered with a damp cloth. Perfect!
How to take it out from mold bf it dried? I flatten it with oil and it stick at my table. I put on mold, and when I try to remove it it stick to mold even though I put baby powder/oil/corn starch. Can you help me with this? im new in air dry clay for doll miniature. thank you
Small note on keeping the clay soft: based on your language accent, I assume - you live in Britain - in climate with high moisture air; I live in Western Canada and we have here very dry air and in my aria the same type of clay hardens very quickly - so I prefer keeping it tight cover or in plastic film.
That would be area honey they way you spelled it is what they sing in opera's. Lol! It sounds lovely where you live. The humidity here plays havoc with my joints too!
Good to know. I asked you about Das before. But now I can make so.e great looking Terrain for my Tables.
Well done sir, very informative.
Say Mel, what IS this Das made of anyway? It looks like paper pulp with some kind thinned down clay added. It has some kind of fiberous texture if you break it in two.
Oh BTW, there is an advantage in using Das in your silicone molds: It will be a heck of a lot lighter than Crysta-cal would be. Better for transporting around.
I have no idea what it's made of mate but it's a lot heavier than crystacal both in it's uncured and cured forms mate
You're kiddin'. Really? I'll take your word for it Mel, you make your living doing this stuff. But thats a surprise to me.
You really need to play with Crystacal R matey .....
Prestia Casting Plaster - 1691PSI, 14-32s, easily carved
Prestia Classic Plaster - 2131PSI, 8-19s, carvable dental plaster
Herculite2 - approx 5000PSI, 6-20s, similar to Modell and Stonepowder
Basic Alpha Plaster - 7054PSI, 12-25s, ALPHA (for polymer resins that require the use of alpha plasters)
Modell Plaster - 9000PSI, 12-16s, good starter plaster, hard and durable but can be carved or modified, very similar to Stonepowder and Herculite2
Crystacast - approx 10-12000PSI, 14-25s very durable
Crystacal R - approx 12-14000PSI, 10-25s, extremely hard wearing
Thanx for the info Mel. I got 3/4 of a bucket of Hydro-cal to use up. But Crystacal-r is my next plaster purchase. If I ever get thru with this stuff, lol. I'm a very small fish in a very big ocean. I can only work as fast as my health (mental as well as physical) may permit. ;-)
You are absolutely brilliant, sir!
Just found you! Impressive! Great teaching style! I’m interested in trying air dry clay to create some projects and wanted to learn more about it…..thank you for all the helpful tips!
I found that cloth or gas work great together with this clay, to strengthen it when making thin walls. Or when i use it to build up and around metal cake tins. To prevent it from breaking off. I guess it would be the same on bottles. i just soak them in slip like you would do with gypsum cast. Then further build it up as i like it to be. Wires/sticks aso, can also be added to this first lair, then dried for support of the part of the structure that sticks out more.
I'm guessing (haven't tried) that one place you might want to add PVA to the Das is when you are using it in moulds.
TamsinP Wargaming Girl surely you would need a release agent as the glue would try to stick to the mold?
Found this video today it was really useful and I enjoy your teaching techniques thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Reminds me of Art Attack lol. Very helpful!
i sculpt models of people and this was super useful, thank you so much!!
This was a great tutorial and I learned a lot about how to work with Das. Thanks for sharing this.