Covering Pens with Polymer Clay: Bic Round Stic

[PhsycedelicPhish]

What kind of pens should I use? Can I use any?

[craftygoat]

@PhsycedelicPhish Bic Round Stic is the brand I used in this video. See my response to @EastAsiandictator's comment below for more oven-safe pen options.

[KuteKidKreations]

that was an awesome vid. iv'e been looking EVERYWHERE for a video like this that tells you exactly what to do!! THX

[xCuteCharmz]

Great video(: ! WHat should I do with the extra clay ? x;

[craftygoat]

@xCuteCharmz Make more pens! :-)

[EastAsiandictator]

Where can I get the White bic pen like in the video.

[craftygoat]

@EastAsiandictator Couldn't tell ya. This video is several years old, and pen availability has changed. The grayish/translucent Bic Round Stics also work for covering, without any real modifications from what's shown in this video. Also, if you look at the "Show More" info notes about this video (or search Google for "Covering Pens with Polymer Clay: New Oven-Safe Pens"), I've got a link to an updated list of oven-safe pens.

[CommentsSurvey]

I've seen people here in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala use an epoxy clay that doesn't require baking. They leave it in the sun for four hours or so and it hardens on it's own. Don't know the brand... they said they get it from Mexico. They make beautiful pens and bottles and all kinds of things with the clay.

[human596]

I want to do this with a mechanical pencil, is it okay if i do?

[craftygoat]

@human596 It all depends on whether the pencil melts in the oven. I'd be surprised if any off-the-shelf brands work. Very few retractable pens are oven-safe, and I'd imagine the inner workings of a mechanical pencil would mean the same for them. Haven't tried it myself, though. You might look at using one of the Mechanical Pencil Kits available from Boston Craftworks (Google it)... though assembly is a little work since it requires a mallet, vise or pen press. Good luck!

[human596]

@craftygoat Thanks for the info! I assumed id have to remove a couple of things, but it seems like the kit would be the best possible idea. I have a mechanical pencil with the outerlining being a metal, that would be okay if i deassemble the mechanical pen, right? :)

[craftygoat]

@human596 If you're able to remove all the inner mechanical parts, then cover & bake the outer metal part before reassembling... then yes, it should work. Good luck!

[magdalena2113]

Can you series bake the pens?

[craftygoat]

@magdalena2113 I would be cautious about series baking pens. I haven't personally done it much (if at all) with pens, but I've had some melting occur with other plastics that seemed oven-safe on the first bake. You might try it on a practice piece first -- something you haven't put a *lot* of work into. (For those who may not be familiar with the term "series baking," it just means baking a completed portion, adding more details, and baking again.)

[magdalena2113]

@craftygoat Alright. Thank you!

[Selina4061]

could you bake plastic? i've tried putting polymer clay on plastic than left it for a few day unbaked and ended up having all the clay stuck to the pen making it gooing and all... ><

[craftygoat]

@Selina4061 Plastics vary widely. The pen I covered in the video is plastic & does fine. However, many other plastic pens will melt in the oven. You can search online to find lists of pens polymer clay folks have found to be oven-safe. Or you can do your own tests - put the pen in a well-ventilated oven without clay first to see if it melts (that way you haven't invested a lot of clay time if it does melt). Also, some plastics react with unbaked clay, which is probably what you experienced.

[ceallaig1]

I am using an Amaco clay oven, and I did use an oven thermometer to check the temp (it showed a steady 275, which should have been right), so I reduced the temp to 250 (again checking with the thermometer) and that seems to be working for me. The last couple pieces I tried, plus a batch of beads, came out perfectly. So I'm going to give it another shot ... as soon as I can find the pens, most of the stores around here are out of the Bics since the back to school crowd has been through!

[ceallaig1]

Thanks, crafty! I'm working with Sculpey that was given to me (the previous owner has had it for at least two years, but it's all been correctly stored and sealed), and though my oven themometer shows the correct temperature, if I bake it at that, my items burn (I have beads and a covered box to prove it), so I've been reducing it a few degrees. I'll try one at full heat and see what happens -- it'll only cost me a pen and a bit of clay. Thanks for the advice!

[craftygoat]

@ceallaig1 Aha. Oven's internal thermostats are notorious for being wrong, so the number on the dial is probably not the temperature it's actually getting to. In that case, I'd advise getting an oven thermometer from a kitchen store (or Amazon). Watch it carefully while baking to get a better indication of the actual temperature in your oven.

[ceallaig1]

I tried a pen for the first time today -- unfortunately I used a different brand (retractable type -- I'd love to find a way to make the stick type and be able to actually use the cap again), and even on a lower heat setting I managed to melt the pen. Sigh ... off to the store again and this time I will get Bic.

[craftygoat]

@ceallaig1 If you want a retractable pen, try Bic's SoftFeel Retractable. It's oven safe. You can also check the most recent post on my blog for a list of a few other oven-safe pens. Just a note: a lower heating setting isn't a good idea when you're baking polymer clay. If it doesn't get to the required temp, it won't fully cure. You'll end up with a pen covering that's brittle and likely to crack.

[AnnaShawkey]

can you actually BAKE the paper in the oven???

[craftygoat]

@AnnaShawkey Yes, paper is fine in the oven at polymer clay temperatures (as long as you don't do something like touch it to the heating element!). Many people bake their polymer creations on index cards since they're easily moveable. Also, index cards, unlike ceramic tiles, won't leave the polymer clay with a shiny spot on bottom after baking.

[AnnaShawkey]

@craftygoat thank you very much! Have a nice day!

[hotgoblet]

that's it? I never knew it was that easy.

[craftygoat]

@Diamandarina I don't know what the material is. I just know some pen materials (including whatever this brand is made of) do fine in the oven. I just added a link to the video description that has a list of some other oven-safe pens. (I'd put it here, but YouTube doesn't allow links in comments.) Hope that helps.

[MoonlightandMidnight]

okay thank you very much, it is modelling clay is that safe? it has no directions on the back it was from a dollar store, its for a project tomorrow i decided to do.

[craftygoat]

Many modeling clays are intended to stay soft, never hardening or drying. Since the stuff you bought doesn't have any directions for baking, it's probably not a polymer clay and therefore probably not oven-safe. I'd recommend looking for the brands I mentioned below.

[MoonlightandMidnight]

What heat seating should you put the oven on, and can you use regular dollar store clay?

[craftygoat]

Maybe your dollar store's different, but I've never seen polymer clay at mine. Perhaps you're thinking of modeling clay? Major polymer clay brands include Premo, Sculpey, Fimo, & Kato, so look for those at a craft store or online.

As for the heat setting, it varies by brand, so read the instructions on your clay package. Most brands are somewhere between 265 - 300 degrees F.

[MicrowavedTofu]

do these sell well? i want to sell them but i dont think anyone would buy them since theyre so easy to make!

[craftygoat]

This video just shows the basic mechanics for pen-covering. The real value comes in making the pen beautiful/whimsical by adding your own little touches. Some people cover them in canes, which take practice to do well. Some turn the pens into creatures (see Linda Peterson's PolyPens book for ideas).

Course, my philosophy is that there are 2 types of people. Crafters will likely try it themselves regardless of how complicated it is. Buyers don't want to make it - they just want the product.

[lsokovich]

I agree with laurettedanielle comment. It is always better to see something. I teach. My students would like this for maybe a reward?? I'm thinking. Put their name or school mascot. You are good.

[NancyToday]

Very interesting.  I was puzzled as to why you'd want to cover a pen, but then I'm a writer. Perhaps other people like fat pens! Grin. That was interesting. I just bought a book on making polymer clay figures, so I was interested when I saw the name of your video! Neat. Thanks.

[emfbohn]

neat idea!

[ndonogh]

what a neat idea!

[laurettedanielle]

Thank you for the cool videos. I am new to polymer and take lessons with a super teacher. In our last class we did pens and it is very helpful to revisualise something that I did already as it helps it stick!!

[iamunconscious]

Neato! Thanks a lot!

[xsilencexmournsx]

Great video :D ! xx