What is it?
It is a modelling material, easy to handle and available in several colours, that consists of PVC and plastisizer.
Fimo conforms to ASTM D-4236; Creall-therm meets the European safety standard for toys, EN 71-5 and the American standard ASTM (AP-NON TOXIC). For a history on polymer clay click here. For more information on polymer clay, go to the Links-page.

This material, especially Fimo Classic, requires kneading to make it pliable.

Advantages:
* the clay is available in several colours and textures.
* it can be hardened in a kitchen oven, max. 130 degrees C or 265 degrees F (approx. 30 minutes).
* it can be hardened several times, allowing you to add things. The same hardening time and temperature.
* you can work at your creation several days, if necessary, everytime adding a new part. Cover it against dust.
* it is not necessary, but you can varnish or paint your creation.
* you can use it on many materials, like wood, iron, glass.

Disadvantages:
* polymer clay could pick up dust and other stuff from your work place so keep it clean.
* when hardening it smells a bit (this is the genuine polymer clay aroma and is absolutely harmless). Ventilate the room the oven is in. However, when polymer clay is exposed to temperatures of more than 392 degrees F (200 degrees C) a gas can be developed. Please read this...
* some colours, especially the darker ones, come off. So you have to wash your hands during kneading.
* it is not cheap, best to shop before you buy.

Important:
* be sure to have warm hands, it helps modelling the clay.
* let the workpiece cool off by itself (in the oven).
* do not harden your workpiece at more than 130 degrees C / 265 degrees F, otherwise your workpiece may burn a bit.
* it is better to use a low temperature and longer baking time (up to 50 minutes is possible; sometimes necessary with fragile things).

Tips:
* you could keep your hands clean and help generating some warmth from your hands to the clay if you would put some Vaseline on your hands.