In order to best advise my readers on good tools, materials, and supplies (and how to use them), I explore a lot of different products. Most I buy myself, some are provided by manufacturers, and I try out other people’s tools as much as I can when I visit claying events and retreats. Because of this, I have exposure to a lot of different products. So what do I choose to use in my own personal studio? Here is a summary of the various tools and materials I am currently using in my own polymer clay work.

These aren’t the ONLY things I use in my studio, of course. I use all brands of clay (depending on the project), all liquid clays, many glues, even more paints, and whatever varnish trips my trigger at the moment. But if I had to choose, these products would be the ones I’d take to live on a desert island. Keep in mind that we are all different, so you might find that your preferences are different. Your mileage may vary. But I can say that I’ve had good results with all of these products and I do recommend them with a smile.

If you’re brand new to polymer clay and are looking for the tools you need to get started, you’ll find a comprehensive article here that explains how to get started without buying more than you need.

Tools I Use in my Studio

• Atlas 180 (read the review here) – mine has been modified by Ed Street and Mona Kissel
• Lucy Clay Tools LC Mammoth (review here) — no longer available.
• X-acto Knife
• Ejiubas Tools
• Sculpey Tool Organizer (review here)
• Czextruder (review here)
• Makins discs
• Coin book to hold discs
• Makins core adapter (makes hollow tubing)
• Homemade needle tools
• Variable speed heat gun
• Glass work surface
• Kemper Kutters
• Premo graduated cutters
• Sculpey silicone mat (for travel)
• Hand micro drill (review here)
• Dremel with flex shaft
• Sculpey Hollow Bead Maker
• Baking trays

Supplies I Use in my Studio

• These cheap brushes
• Premo polymer clay
• Cernit polymer clay (read review)
• Pardo Translucent polymer clay (read review)
• Pearl Ex mica powder (see color chart and online comparison tool)
• Ranger Alcohol Inks (read about them here)
• Ceramcoat acrylic paint
• Varathane (gloss) or DuraClear Ultramatte (see sealer test results here)
• Pan Pastels including these trays
• Swellegant sealer
• Kato Liquid Polyclay (read about liquid clay here)
• Sculpey Clay Softener
• Loctite Gel control (read about glues here)
• Deli sheets (what are deli sheets?)
• Huggies baby wipes, unscented “simply clean”

A note about the links. Because I have readers all over the world, I can’t link to one good source for everyone. So I’ve linked to sites that will allow you to get enough information about the product to source it from a supplier that has good prices in your location. The Amazon links are affiliate links, and I do get a tiny percentage if you buy through them. But please buy from the source that makes the most sense for you!