Make your own homemade Monster Clay and start sculpting

Oil based clays and plastilina like Monster Clay, Chavant 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 in a kiln, 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; although the exact recipe of commercial clays is a closely held secret. Depending on the ratio and type of wax and oils, a firmer, waxy clay like Monster Clay or a more pliable clay, like Chavant, 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. It's consistency is softer than Monster Clay, feeling very similar to Chavant Le'Beau Touche. If you would like a waxier clay like Monster Clay, increase the volume of Hard Moulding Wax in the recipe until you achieve the consistency that you need. I've even created a video to show you the process as well as a complete list of instructions below.

Let me know how you go in the comments below.

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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 (AUS), 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 a lot of money)
275g Baby oil (supermarket baby oil is fine and cheap)
2060g Powdered Ball Clay (the cheapest ingredient and easy to find in pottery supply stores)
 
Equipment:

• Heavy based saucepan
• Silicone slotted spoon
• Induction cooktop with temperature control (I purchased a cheap one from KMART for around $50 AUS)
• Silicone cake tins (miniature loaf)
• Electronic scales
• Pyrex jug or bowl

Method:

1. Place the waxes, vaseline and baby oil in a large heavy based saucepan and gently heat the mixture to 80C/176F, stirring until melted and combined (Do not heat the mixture over 80C/176F otherwise the waxes will burn).
2. Place the powdered clay in to the saucepan with the melted waxes and oils being careful of creating dust as you pour in the clay. Leave the temp.
3. Stir the clay into the wax and oil mixture until smooth and free of lumps.
4. Pour the molten clay into the silicone moulds.
5. Once the clay is firm enough to be moved, place the full moulds into a fridge or freezer until completely set. The now set and cold clay will easily and cleanly be turned out of the moulds.
6. The clay bricks will be very firm when first created especially in cold weather. Gently heating the clay in the microwave in a pyrex jug will make the clay easier to work with. Be careful the clay can be very hot when first taken out of the microwave. 
7. Condition the clay by kneading small amounts of it until it is smooth and slightly elastic before use. 

SAFETY POINTS!!

• Work in a well ventilated environment to minimise risk of exposure to fumes and dust.
• When melting the waxes and oils together, do not heat the wax and oil mix 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. 
• Be careful of hot clay when heating it in the microwave. Heat it gradually and test it regularly. 

This article was written by Michael Armstrong and cannot be reproduced in part or full without attributing the work to the author.