Why Air Dry Clay Cracks? (Prevent Clays From Cracking)

The answer is pretty straight. Uneven thickness and evaporation are the main reasons for clay to crack.

Don’t worry. I am here to help you prevent cracking. Continue reading to learn how to prevent clay from cracking while drying and many more.

Does Air Dry Clay Crack Easily?

You enjoy making sculptures but are always worried about them cracking, breaking, or ruining. Working with air-dried clay will reduce your difficulty a lot. Because it’s as easy to work with as it is fun. It dries very easily at room temperature and does not require any fancy kiln. Also, you have to learn how to make air dry clay not stick to get the best experience. But the question is, does air-dried clay crack easily? And how to fix cracks in air dry clay?

So the answer, of course, depends. It’s not something that can’t be broken by any means or that you can’t pull it and break it. Make sure to take note and check the symbol of air dry clay is dry to make sure it’s dried off. 

It will certainly give many advantages over ordinary clay. But you have to be careful. Much will depend on your handiwork and dexterity. If you are impatient and in a hurry, that could be another reason. There are other methods that you need to follow if you want to avoid any broken or damaged art.

Why does air dry clay crack? When raw, the inside is soft and wobbly, like a water balloon, and when it dries, the balloon shrinks, but when it dries too quickly or unevenly, the clay cannot hold it, causing cracks to appear.

If you are having trouble with the stickiness of the clay, then click “Make air dry clay, not stick.”

Why Air Dry Clay Cracks? A Few Common Reasons

You sculpt a favorite thing with your soul. But what you finally got was a cracked sculpture. And all your hard work is wasted. Now you are very unhappy.

Fresh Air Dry Clay Is Prone To Crack 

When fresh clay is raw, its internal conditions are very soft and liquid. Over time, the air absorbs all the moisture, due to which the land shrinks, and if it is done unevenly, it causes cracks.

Weak Joints May Cause Cracking 

When pieces of clay are connected, cracks may appear in all those places if the joint is not connected strongly. Weak joints dry at different rates. After applying clay glue, mix the joints well so that cracks can be avoided. Learn to cure air dry clay to finish off strong. 

Low-Quality Clay Can Crack Easily 

Clay’s flaws are another one of the reasons. Not all clays are the same; some shrink faster than others, making larger clay projects especially prone to breakage. For example: Mixing fresh clay with bone-dry clays can lead to dehydrated veteran irregularities in the clay shelf, which cause cracks. So, while mixing, keep an eye on the properties of clay.

How To Prevent Air Dry Clay from Cracking? Follow These Tips

Air-dry clay is one type of clay that is known as water-based clay. People use it to make a variety of things, like jewelry, showpieces, plant pots, etc. especially, artists are so familiar with this air-dry clay. Most of them paint on clay to look nice. If you use air-dry clay, you might have faced an air-dry cracking issue. Also, if it falls on carpet, it’s troublesome to get air dry clay out of carpet.

• First of all, you have to be very careful while using water. If you use too much water on clay, it may crack. Try to use enough water to make the clay flexible without it sticking to your fingers. Add water in small drops when you mix it. 
• Secondly, making thin pieces dry can increase the risk of cracks. So you need to ensure that the pieces are thicker. You can even use several layers to reduce the number of cracks. Consistent thickness is a must in this case. 
• Thirdly, the fastest method, like direct sunlight or a hairdryer, etc., can be harmful. It may cause cracks. You better find a space with indirect sunlight and good air circulation. Though this process is slower, it will save you from cracking issues. You can even wrap your pieces in damp paper towels or plastic wrap.
• Moreover, you can easily cover your small cracks with acrylic paint, glitter, etc. I hope following these steps will help you get rid of cracking.

Fixing Air Dry Clay Cracks: A Guide For Restoration

It is a very common issue that is known as cracking during the drying process. But there is no need to worry about that. I am going to tell you how to fix cracked clay. Giving up is not a solution; you have to face obstacles in every sphere of your life. So follow my tips instead of giving up. 

Take the same type of clay that you used in your original creation for seamless blending. Then mix the clay with a few drops of water. You can use toothpicks or craft sticks for smoothing. If you want, you can use painting as a finishing touch. It will give you a beautiful look. Don’t be afraid of cracking. But try to avoid cracking. It is better to be careful when using dry clays so that they might not get cracked.

Store Your Air Dry Clay Projects Right: The Best Method

Till now, I have told you how to air dry clay, how to fix cracks in dry air, and many other things. Now let’s look at some tips you can use to store your clay projects perfectly. (You can also check here for places to dry air dry clays.) These tips will help you not cause cracks in the clay. You can even use these tips to store up leftover clay.

• We all store clay so that it doesn’t dry out and lose its moisture. And as we know, clay creations get hardened by losing moisture to the air. So, the first step to storing clay is to keep it in airtight containers. Make sure the lid of the container is tight enough so it stays totally away from the air.
• There is another simple hack you can use to prevent the unwanted drying process of clays. Wrap the dry clay cracks in plastic wrap. After that, place them in the airtight containers. This will even make the clay projects safer from the air.
• If you have a lot of pieces of clay, first store them separately in a zip-top bag. Then place them in the containers.
• Always preserve your air-dry clay at room temperature. Keep it away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Even a too-cold temperature can crack it. So, keep your container of clay at room temperature.
• Even after all that, your natural clay can still dry out. It can lead to dry clay structures, which can cause cracking. To prevent that, spritz water on clay structures. And again, put it back in the container and close the lid properly. You can also place a wet towel or paper towel on it if it hasn’t quite dried yet.
• Don’t mix different types of air-dry clays together. They all have different drying times and properties. It can lead to cracking. Also, do not place any objects on top of the container.

FAQs

Conclusion 

Are you still wondering why air dry clay cracks? It happens as the water evaporates from the clay, and because of that, it shrinks. So the cracking happens. There are a few ways to prevent that, as I explained earlier. You can follow those tips to get rid of cracking.