User instructions
Getting the best results from your Kaly and Klay cutters
We all hate it when the clay sticks in the cutter, here are some tips to help minimize this happening :
Cleaning
Make sure your cutters are clean and free of clay before and in between each use.
Conditioning
If your clay is over-conditioned or it's hot and too sticky, pop it into the fridge for 10 minutes to slightly harden it up, this will make it easier to cut and will help stop the clay from sticking.
Burnishing
Use a clean shiny gloss tile (I picked mine up from B&Q) and make sure your clay is thoroughly burnished onto the tile, the clay should then stick to the tile and not the cutter. I gently rub the clay down onto the tile using a plain sheet of paper to prevent finger marks.
Release
Especially important for small or embossed cutters; Use a release agent - cornflour is my preferred choice, but you can also use a fine spritz of water, or clingfilm. Cornflower; pop a little in a bowl and dip your cutter in, then cut your clay as normal. Any cornflour left on your piece can be easily dusted or washed off after baking. Clingfilm; pop some film over your rolled-out clay and cut, a great choice if you want your pieces to have a slightly domed edge.
Cutting
Use gentle pressure over your cutter, I always use an acrylic stamp press on top of my cutter to give an even cut (bonus: it also feels much easier on your fingers!). Give the acrylic press a little wiggle to allow the cutter to fully cut down and slightly release from the sides.
Small and detailed cutters
It is unfortunately inevitable that clay will stick in the smaller cutters and even more so with the finely detailed cutters, but there are still some tips you can use to minimise this*. Make sure the clay is not too thick, mini cutters always work best in thinner rolled-out clay. I use setting 4 or 5 on my Atlas 150 when using my mini cutters. *You may still need to do a cleaning up of your pieces post-bake.
Getting the best results from your Silkscreens
NOTE: Blue Silkscreens are food-grade safe, orange silkscreens are not!
Both can be used for craft and clay.
Orange Silkscreen - Place silkscreen shiny side down
Blue Silkscreen - Best used matt side down (shiny side up) On your intended material and burnish it lightly so it makes full contact.
Put a line of paint along one edge (a heavy-bodied paint in a tube is recommended, too thin a paint will bleed under the screen distorting the image)
Pull the paint across the screen with a squeegee or something thin like a credit card. Scrape off excess paint from your silkscreen for the best result.
Remove the screen by slowly lifting up from one corner
When using with paint, ensure you clean your silkscreen IMMEDIATELY after each use in cool water.
Do not allow the paint to dry on your screen as it may become unusable.
Getting the best results from your Acrylic texture stamps
PLEASE NOTE:
Acrylic material warms up a lot during laser engraving. So the acrylic stamp may get a little domed specifically dense engraved designs and this is normal.
Make sure to press the stamp on your clay and press and roll the roller in every direction.
Using your stamp:
To make sure the clay does not get stuck in the texture mat, you can spray it with water, wipe it with a baby wipe or you can lightly dust the stamp with cornflour before using.
Roll out your clay, we recommend thicker than you usually would to achieve the best detail, plus your clay will slightly flatten under pressure. I roll my clay to at least 3mm thick.
Place your clay onto your stamp - make sure your stamp is engraved side up
Press and roll clay gently over the stamp in every direction.
Carefully peel the clay away from the stamp
Place back down on your glossy tile and cut your shapes.