Cleaning up Sculpey

[mickelsen]

I've been using Sculpey to make some small molds for casting Alumilite parts. It works fine but is sometimes difficult to clean off of the parts completely. Is there something that I can use to dissolve the Sculpey without damaging the Alumilite part?
Thanks,
Mark

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Lacquer thinner.

David

[Kazzer]

If it's the same material as Alumilite sells



then I use dish washing liquid and warm water.

[mickelsen]

I have no idea if it is the same (or similar) stuff. Maybe the master knows. I know that Dave uses Sculpey. I don't know if he ever uses the Alumilite clay.

[mickelsen]

I was amazed! The soap and water cleaned up the parts beautifully.

[Kazzer]

I was amazed! The soap and water cleaned up the parts beautifully.

I know! I'm brilliant!

It comes after years of making terrible messes in the house with 'experiments' on epoxy, paint and all sorts of other messy goops. I leave a trail of debris like that wherever I am.

My poor wife is often heard saying, "Michael! You've got that all over the -------!) Which is my command to come up with something quick to clean it up!

But lets make it clear here. It's not 'soap' you need, it's detergent. Detergent molecules attach themselves to the 'oil' molecules and change it into a sort or soap which will dissolve in water. All 'Skulpey' products are, is basically clay with the water dried out and replaced with oil, which is why it won't dry out.

Here's another trick. Got paint on your best shirt? (Yep - I work in my best clothes, and on the assumption, I'll only take a minute, and I won't get messy)

Take a spay can of Paint Stripper

Lay the clothes out flat and spray a liberal amount of Stripper onto the offending area, and work it in with a small nail brush

Lay some polyethylene sheet over the top and let it sit there for an hour. ( The sheet will stop the Stripper from evaporating.)
Finally, pour some detergent dish washing liquid over the entire area and use the nail brush to scrub it in to dissolve the Stripper and the soggy paint. Rinse off with warm water.

Repeat if necessary.