Remove Polymer Clay Bubbles

acupuncture needles and polymer clay

If you’ve been working with polymer clay for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed those pesky bubbles that get trapped in between sheets or layers of clay. But how do you remove polymer clay bubbles?

First, always try to “walk out” the bubbles before you press the sheets together firmly. But sometimes you can’t get them and you’ll need to release the air. Here’s how.

One way to remove polymer clay bubbles is to use your blade to slice into the bubble, remove the air, then flatten it back down. But that can be tricky to do neatly or when you have surface treatments (Interested in learning more about surface treatments? Try my Surface Patterns Tutorial.) Another way is to use an acupuncture needle.⁠

You can get them from an acupuncture practitioner. Or you can order them online. Amazon lists them as “3D printer nozzle cleaning tools”. Here’s an example. (Otherwise, you end up buying a whole box, which you will not need.)⁠

Just slide the needle in, walk out the air, then seal the hole. Easy peasy, simple, and NEAT.⁠

With their low cost, acupuncture needles are a great tool to add to any polymer clay starter kit, beginner or advanced.

Beautful patterned sheet of polymer clay made with the Surface Patterns Tutorial.

Make Endless Variations

Create gorgeous patterned sheets of polymer clay

Surface Patterns POlymer Clay

Learn to make an endless array of patterned sheets of polymer clay that you can use to make polymer clay earrings, jewelry, home decor, or other crafts. This fun tutorial is aimed at all levels and is suitable for beginners. The technique is illustrated with earrings, but you can make anything you’d like with your patterned sheets.

Cover of the Surface Patterns Tutorial for polymer clay

Make endless variations

Make beautiful patterned sheets

Surface Patterns On polymer clay

Learn to make an endless array of patterned sheets of polymer clay that you can use to make polymer clay earrings, jewelry, home decor, or other crafts. This fun tutorial is aimed at all levels and is suitable for beginners. The technique is illustrated with earrings, but you can make anything you’d like with your patterned sheets.

Scroll to Top

Sign Up Here

There's more by Email.

Keep in the loop about new articles and tutorials. Get tips and info. Bi-weekly emails, or thereabouts. This is the newsletter that everyone talks about.

Almost There

1

Check your email/spam

2

Click to confirm

3

Watch for welcome

Check your spam folder. Email programs are very aggressive and you’ll likely find lots of missing emails in there!