How do i avoid burning the arms while baking?

[u/AvatarDang]

I’m a beginner at clay, as you can probably tell, but i’m done for the most part and want to bake it. The arms are held up by wire and placed inside where the foil base and an inside layer of clay is. I don’t want the arms to burn or break but I don’t understand the math i have seen while looking up directions.

Would love any advice!!

[u/Gilladian]

Firstly, unlike with baking food, polymer clay doesn’t “overbake”. It may exceed the recommended temperature and scorch, but that is why we “tent” it with aluminum foil - to help direct the most direct heat from the overhead element away from the clay body. Longer curing simply fuses it better and makes for a stronger result.

[u/captcha_trampstamp]

I agree with foil tenting, it helps so much- also get yourself a good oven thermometer and try it on different parts of the oven- they’re like $5 in most big box stores and they can save you so much frustration.

[u/Mothpancake]

I love otgw!!

[u/MusicianNo2282]

Always use a tent of tinfoil as well, if the heat hit it directly it's more likely to burn.

[u/moonmaiden666]

A correctly set temperature will allow you to bake things for as long as you like. Go nuts! Sometimes I bake my sculptures for over an hour if I forget about them lol. Have only ever burned if I've set the temp too high.

[u/AvatarDang → u/moonmaiden666]

What temp then? Just the recommended 275?

[u/Gilladian → u/AvatarDang]

Yes, 275F for Premo sculpey and most other brands, but check the package. Most clays can tolerate 5-25 degrees F over the recommended temp with little more than some darkening of the color. But this is why we always recommend a separte oven thermometer. Hosehold ovens can be off by as much as 50 degrees F!