How to make your own version of MONSTER CLAY at home - homemade oil based clay

Oil based clays and plastilina like Chavant, Monster Clay and Roma are popular alternatives to natural clays for sculptors, artists and industrial designers. It’s ability to hold fine detail, its resistance to shrinking and the fact it can be worked and reworked for many years without cracking make it a medium of choice for many creators. Unlike natural clays, oil based clays cannot be fired, their wax and oil content would cause them to melt. Instead a mould of a finished oil based clay creation is formed out of plaster or silicone which is then used to cast a bronze or resin art work.

Oil based clays are commonly made from a mix of oils, waxes and natural clays. Depending on the ratio and type of wax and oils, a firmer or more pliable clay can be created. Because of the addition of expensive waxes, oil based clays are commonly more expensive than their natural clay counterparts. Australia doesn’t have a big market for oil based clays, which means they’re expensive and hard to find. After spending hundreds of dollars on importing expensive oil based clays I decided to try making clays myself. This particular recipe resulted from mixing and testing over 60 combinations of clays, oils and waxes, and is my favourite quick and easy recipe when I need inexpensive bulk clay in a hurry.

Note: All prices in Australian Dollars
Make your own homemade version of MONSTER CLAY

Ingredients:
550g of Hard Moulding Wax (I like the red, hard moulding wax from www.barnes.com.au)
1100g of Bees Wax (bulk beeswax can be purchased for around $23 kg, but with so many people taking up home bee keeping I’m finding I can source bees wax quiet easily for less)
550g Vaseline (supermarket Vaseline is easy to find but if you’re serious buying bulk will save you even more money)
275g Baby oil
Powdered Ball Clay 2060g (the cheapest ingredient and easy to find in pottery supply stores)

Method:
Melt the oils and waxes together in a heavy saucepan being careful to not go over 80 degrees centigrade. A digital induction stove works easiest because you can set your stove to 80 degrees. Once melted add in clay and stir until all lumps are removed (approximately 10-15 minutes). Pour melted clay into silicone moulds and leave to set before use. In cool climates the clay can be reheated in a microwave or under lights to improve its malleability or liquified and poured into sculptural moulds.

A 4.5kg batch of oil based clay costs me approximately $50

Note: If you want a firmer clay like MONSTER CLAY HARD increase the ratio of wax in the recipe.

SAFETY POINTS!!
- When melting waxes and oils together, do not heat them above 80 degrees Centigrade or the waxes may burn releasing fumes.
- Wear a dust mask when handling powdered ball clay as the dust can cause damage to your lungs.

Michael Armstrong is an award winning Australian based artist who works in a variety of mediums including oil based clay. For more details about Michael and plenty of pictures of his work please check out the following sites:

http://www.michaelarmstrong.com.au
  / m1kearmstrong  
  / m1kearmstrong  
https://traderspace.io/en/spaces/mike...

Music Credits:

Flight to Tunisia by Causmic:    / @causmic  
Joker by Causmic:    / @causmic