Quite a while ago (and back when I was claying regularly) I wrote a love letter to the Makin’s Clay Extruder. I had been trying to use the Sculpey push-extruder and it was KILLING my hands. I switched over to the screw type and never looked back. But for those of you who have the push-extruder type (Sculpey or otherwise) here’s a great hack from Cindy Lietz on her YouTube Channel.
So while I still love and endorse my Makin’s Clay Extruder, if you have this other style this could be a BIG help to you! And I’ll have to try that baby wipe trick. 🙂
Now, if you are encouraged to go the “make-your-own-adaptor” route, there is a tutorial on Poly Clay Play on how to do just that, using supplies from the hardware store.
Photo from PolyClayPlay.com. Click to open in a new tab.
They are using a plastic pipe fitting, a big metal waster and a caster cup. Very clever.
Lastly, if you have $2, you can just BUY one from Poly Tools!
Photo taken as a screen shot from the website. Click to open in a new tab.
I’ve never ordered from this company so I can’t vouch for them, but if you have a bit of time for it to be shipped to you, two bucks can’t be beat!
So there you have it, friends- three different hacks for using a push-style extruder with a caulking gun. Happy Claying!
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Uh…I looked at the PolyClay Play site. The caulk gun adapter is actually $24.95, not $2.oo. Just so no one else gets too excited! I actually have an extruder, but haven’t used it yet, so this is great information. Thanks.
Bev- the link for the $2 adaptor is at Poly Tools. Click the image and you’ll go right there!
Hi Jenny, thanks for the shutout! I hadn’t seen those ideas for the adapters… they look very interesting. (Though if you were going to order something online, you might as well get the Makin’s extruder since it is a way easier machine to use.) I wish Sculpey would just put out a better designed machine to sit right there next to their clay, instead of this one. It’s a pain that it needs a hack to use in the first place!
My bad!! Nothing happened the first time I looked at the picture, so I didn’t quite ‘get it!!’ But I DID have fun at my local hardware store yesterday playing with pipe parts and hardware! Haven’t put it together yet, but I LOVE creative problem solving. I couldn’t find the pieces I saw in the picture, but I have a few larger washers, a short length of pipe (to stabilize the barrel), and if I need it, I plan to add a piece of pipe insulating foam around that. Couldn’t find a caster cup small enough to fit inside my caulk gun. PS: Lindsay (aka the Frugal Crafter) posted a really cool idea for one of those really expensive stamp positioner tools!
I’ve always used my feet to extrude the clay by turning the extruder upside down and putting it on the floor while I press down with my feet (in shoes, of course). There’s just no way anyone can be expected to use their hands only with these things!
What a great hack! I will definitely be upgrading my technique! 🙂