When I first got started, I only used the thickest setting on the pasta machine to condition my polymer clay. But doing that takes much longer. Instead, I like to use ALL the settings to get the clay thinner…faster! Here’s how:

1. Make ⅛” (3mm) slices from the fresh block of clay. (DON’T jam big chunks into your machine! That will stress your machine!)
2. Start with the thickest setting (usually #0 or #1) then go to the next thinnest setting.
3. You can usually double up and combine the little slices and put them through, adding more little slices one by one, until the sheet gets as big as your palm.
4. Next start going thinner each pass. When you get to about a 5 or 6…did you notice how the clay stopped being stiff? It starts to feel supple? Yay, you’re getting there!
5. Keep going thinner til around a 7 or 8.
6. Now double up and start going back up to the thickest setting one by one. (ie. Fold, pass through, adjust thicker, fold, past through, adjust thicker, etc.)
7. Bring it back up to the thickest setting and do the fold and pass thing until it looks smooth and lovely.

So yes, use all the settings to condition your polymer clay with a pasta machine.

#polymerclay #marcatoatlas