<p>&quot;Air dry clay&quot; is such an unspecific word used for so many different products that it's impossible to tell which one you have or what to do with it. The only sure way to make it firmer is to let it dry for a while (like 30 minutes) and then knead it thoroughly to even out the moisture content. Repeat until you have a consistency you can work with.</p>
<p>Instead, I propose buying a product that is designed for sculpting purposes or make your own.</p>
<p>Store-bought products include the two part putties you mentioned, but you could also use polymer clay (the kind that gets hard when cold and has to be warmed in your hands first) or wax designed for sculpting or mold making.</p>
<p>One DIY modeling paste that seems to be very popular is called &quot;cold porcelain&quot;. It has a very smooth texture, which makes it well suited for modelling, but it dries very hard. However, cold porcelain shrinks while drying, so it may not be ideal for your purposes. See recipes and my personal experience in <a href="https://crafts.stackexchange.com/a/10688/6316">this related answer</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-29T12:18:25.450Z
Am I allowed to use brand names on this forum?
Aaargh Zombies
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-29T14:39:10.723Z
@AaarghZombies Yes, you are.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-29T18:26:48.860Z
Das, air dry clay.
Aaargh Zombies
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-29T12:04:44.070Z
2022-08-29T12:04:44.070Z
Elmy
<p>Is there anything that I can do to Das air dry clay to give a firmer consistency. Similar to two part epoxy modelling putty?</p>
<p>For example, is there a plasticizing additive that I can mix in to it.</p>
<p>I want to make some small scale models with a wire armature, the kind that you would normally do with two part epoxy putty. Air dry clay is too soft for what I want to do (at least at my skill level), but I don't want to use putty due to the quantities required.</p>

<material-selection><material-making>
Can I make Das air dry clay firmer, like two part epoxy putty, before sculpting?
Aaargh Zombies
# Can I make Das air dry clay firmer, like two part epoxy putty, before sculpting?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-08-28)

Is there anything that I can do to Das air dry clay to give a firmer consistency. Similar to two part epoxy modelling putty?

For example, is there a plasticizing additive that I can mix in to it.

I want to make some small scale models with a wire armature, the kind that you would normally do with two part epoxy putty. Air dry clay is too soft for what I want to do (at least at my skill level), but I don't want to use putty due to the quantities required.

**Tags:** material-selection, material-making


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-08-29. Score: 2

"Air dry clay" is such an unspecific word used for so many different products that it's impossible to tell which one you have or what to do with it. The only sure way to make it firmer is to let it dry for a while (like 30 minutes) and then knead it thoroughly to even out the moisture content. Repeat until you have a consistency you can work with.

Instead, I propose buying a product that is designed for sculpting purposes or make your own.

Store-bought products include the two part putties you mentioned, but you could also use polymer clay (the kind that gets hard when cold and has to be warmed in your hands first) or wax designed for sculpting or mold making.

One DIY modeling paste that seems to be very popular is called "cold porcelain". It has a very smooth texture, which makes it well suited for modelling, but it dries very hard. However, cold porcelain shrinks while drying, so it may not be ideal for your purposes. See recipes and my personal experience in [this related answer](https://crafts.stackexchange.com/a/10688/6316).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Am I allowed to use brand names on this forum?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 Yes, you are.  
> **username_0**: Das, air dry clay.  

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