A roller is basically a hollow plastic tube shaped device that you roll over clay as if you were rolling out dough for a pizza or pie. The are normally about 5 inches long and about 3/4 inches in diameter. The plastic is normally white, but some manufacturers often them as clear plastic, which is nice since you can see through to the material you are rolling out. You can also subtitle simple PVC pipe for a clay roller, but it is best to try to get the diameter down to the 3/4 inches that a pre-purchased roller come in since the larger diameter rollers can be a little awkward to work with.
How Is a Clay Roller Used?
To use a clay roller, place your clay (be it metal, polymer, or paper) on a clean, non-stick surface. For metal clay, you will also want to dab a tiny amount of olive oil onto the roller to keep it from sticking to the clay. Press the middle part of the roller down into the clay, and then roll it back and forth over the clay to flatten it.
What Should You Look for in a Clay Roller?
Consider these important points when purchasing a clay roller:
- Make sure the roller is not too long or too wide; otherwise, it can be awkward to work with when rolling out small piece of clay when creating jewelry components.
- Most rollers are just a few dollars, so if you work with more than one type of clay medium, you may want to purchase a few so that you can dedicate one roller for each type of clay you work with.
