How to Cook Fimo Clay

Fimo clay is a polymer compound that can be reshaped indefinitely with minute detail. Cooking it permanently sets its shape so you can create jewelry, doll faces and appendages, beads and other decorative objects. Correct temperature is an important factor in the success of your Fimo clay project. If the oven temperature is too low, the Fimo might crumble before it hardens. Too high of an oven temperature will burn the exterior of the polymer before it is baked through. After baking, you can finish Fimo clay with acrylic paints or varnish if desired, but baking will not fade its characteristically vivid colors. For best baking results, follow manufacturer's instructions.

Step 1.

Check the accuracy of your oven with a freestanding oven thermometer. Move the thermometer to different areas of the oven to locate any hot spots that might affect your baking time.

Step 2.

Preheat your oven to 225 to 265 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending upon the thickness of your sculpture and the oven temperature, you should allow between 30 and 60 minutes for your sculpture to harden.

Step 3.

Place a piece of parchment paper on top of the ceramic tile. Lay your sculpture onto the paper-lined tile and place the tile on the middle shelf of your preheated oven.

Step 4.

Check your sculpture frequently for signs of scorching or burning.

Step 5.

Bake the Fimo according to the manufacturer's directions. Carefully remove the tile from the oven and place in a ventilated area to allow your sculpture to cool and fully harden.

Things You Will Need

• Fimo clay

• Movable oven thermometer

• Smooth ceramic tile

• Parchment paper

• Two hot pads or two oven mitts

Tip

Chill your Fimo clay in the refrigerator if it becomes too soft to work with.

Warning

Although considered safe when used as directed, polymer clay gives off harmful fumes containing hydrogen chloride when baked at temperatures exceeding 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do not use polymer clay to make items for uses that will exceed a temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit.