Very clean handling. It is advisable to knead the clay before starting your work. If in the course of the work the clay loses plasticity, it is enough to slightly moisten your hands to recover it. It can also be moulded (we recommend plaster moulds) and thrown in a potter’s wheel. Solid or very thin-walled objects can be made with optimal results.

Discover more tips and useful tools on the Blog: "How to Work with Clay"

ATTENTION: if clay is used to wrap rigid interior supports, it is recommended to first cover the surface with paper or cloth. The water in the clay evaporates during the drying process and causes shrinkage that can lead to cracks. To avoid this negative effect, the solid surface is covered with a flexible and absorbent material to support the drying process of the clay. This will also absorb moisture inside the object and prevent cracks.

Once the object is finished, let it air dry. Maximum hardness and strength are obtained in 1-4 days at room temperature. On small pieces, drying can be speeded up by using a hand dryer, projecting heat evenly across the piece. In this case, the time to obtain maximum hardness and resistance is reduced to minutes (do not use dryers in the case of medium/large sizes or flat shapes). Hardness can be further increased by finishing drying in a domestic oven between 100 and 110ºC.

ATTENTION: during drying, the clay shrinks. The more water the clay contains, the greater its drying shrinkage. Therefore, it is advisable not to add additional water to the modelling clay, otherwise cracks may appear.

TIP: Let the piece dry on an absorbent surface (ideally wood or plaster). In the case of non-absorbent surfaces (such as metal, plastic or glass), it is recommended to place the piece on a sheet of paper to facilitate the contraction of the clay during drying.

Once dry, the object can be polished, carved or drilled. It can be decorated with any type of paint, pencil or marker. As it is not very porous, a single coat of paint is enough to achieve all the vividness of the colour. The use of varnish is recommended when you want to enhance the natural colour of the clay. The use of varnish also guarantees a greater durability of the object and improves the ease of cleaning.

ATTENTION: SIO-2 PLUS® clay is not waterproof. It is not advisable to create objects that come into contact with water (vases, pots, cups, etc.) even if they are protected with a waterproofing agent. In this case, we recommend using an inner container made of plastic or glass, so that the piece of SIO-2 PLUS® is only for exterior decoration. In this context, keep in mind the last point of "Working with clay".

Once the package is opened, wrap the remaining clay in plastic. If the clay has hardened during storage, but is still moist, it can be softened again by kneading it with moist hands.

During work interruptions, cover the object with plastic or a damp cloth.

ATTENTION: keep the product in a cool environment, avoiding high temperatures. Do not store at temperatures below 0ºC. If the clay freezes, it loses its properties.