I’m continuing to explore the Studio by Sculpey clay and tool lines, and today I’m giving you the poop on the new Super Slicer blades.The retail price of the package was $14.99 (available at JoAnn’s ETC stores, and online) and includes 4 blades: a stiff, shorter blade, a long, flexible tissue blade, a scallop blade, and a crinkle blade. There are also 2 handles that can used with any blade.
Initially, I was very excited about the handle concept. I’ve nicked myself a few times grabbing the wrong side of the blade, so handles seem to make good sense: you’d know where the top is, and have a safe way to handle the blade.
Unfortunately, it didn’t really work out that way. The instructions on how to attach the blades were unclear- and no diagram or photo to help us visual learners out. You have to take off the “saddle” – the green part- put the 2 halves together through the holes, and then snap the saddle back on. Except to snap the saddle down and into place, you have to put your fingers somewhere for leverage… and your first instinct is to put your fingers under the saddle to brace them. Right where the most dangerous, pointy part of the blade is!
I nicked myself 3 times before I got those suckers on my new tissue blade. I made a swell Mokume Gane cane, and went to slicing…. but the handles made the tissue blade so long, I couldn’t control it! Really, the length of the handles plus the blade topped out at just under 10 inches… much too unwieldy for my taste.
I removed the handles and put them on the shorter crinkle blade, this time laying the whole thing on it’s side so I could see the blade laying flat. (SBS recommends putting the blade in a chunk of clay, and working from the top.) Seeing the blade on it’s side worked better for me, and I got through the process unscathed.
Now, just on the merit of the blades themselves, I loved them. Nice and sharp, liked the scallop for more decorative work, big thumbs up. BUT. I’m going to use the handles on one set, and leave them on. For the others, I plan to take a lump of clay, press on the corners where the sets of holes are, and bake me my own set of handle. Less risky.
Bottom line: Dear mom and I both thought the blades were good, but the handle design annoying.
To see my review of Studio by Sculpey 5-in-1 Tool, click here.
To see my review of Studio by Sculpey Clay, click here.
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29. January 2008 at 4:58 pm
I’d been seriously thinking about buying a set of these because the interchangeable handles seemed like such a good idea… Sounds like it still needs a little work.
Thanks for the review!
31. March 2010 at 3:08 pm
Just got the Sculpy Super slicer with the interchangeable handles. I too was stumped at first but only for about a minute
as I jumped on line and found your review. The key here is for the instructions to say “remove the green saddle first before attaching blade. Open the black grippers and insert the blade onto the pegs. Snap the black grippers in place and reattach the green saddle keeping the blade edge away from your fingers.” I figured this out right away and did not have any trouble with this product…..all thanks to your review.
9. May 2010 at 3:24 pm
Where can I find the rigid blades by themselves? I don’t want to buy the scalloped or wavy edges blades, and I don’t want a flexible one either….
16. May 2010 at 6:23 am
There are available at most big-box stores in the craft aisle- look for the Amaco brand. Craft on!-Jenny