(Part 3) Best ceramic & pottery supplies according to redditors

Depending on the cap, the level of detail and complexity involved, anywhere between 2 and 5 caps a day.

A basic set of tools for polymer clay can be found on Amazon

Meuxan 31PCS Ceramic Pottery Tools Polymer Clay Sculpting Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXSCL8T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_femUBbDPJ264S

or a spare microwave

I bought a few things off amazon including an acrylic roller (helped me get even layers), a long cutting blade (to cut long straight lines as oppose to the exacto knife I was using), a needle tool for the cake texture (before I was using a pin which is harder to hold and a much finer point), and some dotting tools and soft silicone tipped tools (much easier for applying the frosting, fixing mistakes, and blending the clay). Here’sa link to the set of tools I bought, only $13.

If you're interested in mixing your own colors of polymer clay too (from other colors of polymer clay especially), check out my previous answer at YA (as Diane B.) and/or the Color page at my site:
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20141118190349AA9fkO1
http://glassattic.com/polymer/color.htm

And if you want to make simple "canes" to get shapes like your dots and hearts surrounded by black, white, or any color to put on your items, also check out these pages:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/canes--instructions.htm (for the dot ones, look under the category called "Wrapped, Bullseye")
http://glassattic.com/polymer/Canes--general.htm
...and if you want to make those canes smaller and smaller:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/canes--reducing.htm

Or you could use round/circle or heart mini-cutters and "onlay" those onto the base clay shapes instead:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DTEFUL2/ref=asc_df_B01DTEFUL25012276 (or buy only the ones you need)
http://glassattic.com/polymer/onlay.htm (click on Dimensional Onlays)

They're dotting tools for nail art, sculpting clay etc.

You can build a naturally aspirated propane burner like this for pretty cheap. "Naturally aspirated" means the burner pulls in all the air it needs by itself, so you don't need a blower or anything. You won't be able to melt iron with one of these, but it's all you need for aluminum and copper alloys

Next you'll need a body for the furnace. A lot of guys use old rusted-out 20lb propane cylinders. If you do this, you need to take the valve off the top and fill the cylinder with water before you start cutting it up, otherwise you risk having the little bit of residual gas inside blow up and kill you dead. Don't fuck around with this

Now you'll need something to insulate your furnace. You'll see a lot of recipes for homebrew refractories which you should ignore. None of them work as well as kaowool. Line your furnace with 2" of this stuff, and then coat the interior with some ITC-100 or similar. Don't skip that step. You need to have the kaowool coated because it's similar to asbestos and it's extremely bad to breathe the little particles that break off during operation

It depends on what you're doing with it exactly. The tools I most often use are: • Quil Pens, I found that this particular nib works well because it is designed for a more viscous ink. • Silicone Shapers. These are made for sculpting but they are perfect for masking fluid. • The back of a plastic handled brush. These Polar-Flo Brushes have a wedge shaped end that works fairly well.

What about a pack of sculpy clay? Make some little figures or charms? I'll try to find a link.

CiaraQ Polymer Clay Starter Kit, 24 Colors Safe and Nontoxic Soft DIY Modelling Moulding Clay, Baking Clay Blocks, 5 Sculpting Tools and Accessories https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MFXDWWS/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_4flWDb1X4ZZKB

Clay Charms (Klutz) by Chorba, April 1st (first) Edition (2013) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IBT608I/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_JglWDbDRR4NYM

Klutz Mini Grocery Store https://www.amazon.com/dp/1338355201/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_2glWDbMY2R6HQ

I like to use tools with silicone tips as it seems to get less of the crumbly bits. It you’re going for more realism, and less of a “drawn on” look, I would make the jaw piece and teeth separate, then cut holes to attach them into.

here is a link for you

Oh no, it’s a very good question. I use a dotting tool. They are specifically for making dots on your nails. Here’s an example of some.

So I went on a research spree of air dry clays, here is what most people tout as the best clay:
https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Hearty-Weight-Modeling-Padico/dp/B0019R537S
However I haven't seen it in colors so I don't think this is what was used.

I googled "Super Light Clay" and came up with the following:

https://www.amazon.com/Aipleril-Colors-Modeling-Crafts-Children/dp/B01MDLUB2E
https://www.amazon.com/Super-Light-Clay-24-PCS/dp/B074L86TH4
It could be either of these, it could be neither of these, but this is probably similar to what was used.

Also air dry clay is different from polymer clay, polymer clay is usually oven or microwave dried, air dry clay will dry by...well, air. Air dry clays especially Hearty are also very silky soft and super pliable compared to polymer and real clay so a lot of figurine artists like to use it!

Idk how curious you were so if this is TMI sorry but I personally have been learning how to sculpt recently so I'm trying out many different materials.

I used these. They worked fine for blending, but I think you will be really unhappy trying to get pastels on paper with them. If you don't want to use your fingers, I would use Q-tips or cotton balls, depending on the size of the area.

Awwdorable

I don't have a lot of cute stuff on my list, but I found this and oh man it's so cute. I love these little planters!

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MSXA8P9/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_img?_encoding=UTF8&colid=BFLGWOZQ4PLL&coliid=I1F708WMLMP1X8&psc=1

Not sure what it looked like but you could get a wax warmer like this ready to paint and customize it yourself.

I want to use them to check the temperature of my propane forge, the steel and use them to test the temperature of steel when I am trying to air harden it correctly for D2 steel. Blacksmithing Pyrometer stuff

​

https://www.amazon.com/Temperature-Thermocouple-Ceramic-Connector-CR-07-x/dp/B0711BKPJG

or

https://www.amazon.com/pyrometer-Annealing-Thermometer-Thermocouple-Fahrenheit/dp/B01DMQOWD4

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2193IV/ref=asc_df_B01M2193IV5398479/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B01M2193IV&linkCode=df0&hvadid=219682717104&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3357954712764866003&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021508&hvtargid=pla-396482345252

Something like this would be perfect for you. And then just throw together a sand casting box.

There are also ones that are even cheaper that are meant for melting lead to cast muzzle loading shot or fishing sinkers. Those might work too for bronze if you're patient.

This is a good cheap set you can get from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/SE-DD312-12-Piece-Stainless-Double-Sided/dp/B000SVRSRY/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1483070428&sr=8-6&keywords=sculpting+tools

Also, the small sphere in this set helps.

https://www.amazon.com/COMI-Pottery-Ceramics-Sculpting-Modeling/dp/B01JED95XG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483070440&sr=8-1&keywords=sculpting+tools+round

This is the ceramic blanket I purchased a few of. It doesn't mention naked flame though. Any idea if it is probably still okay?

For the screws, would something like this work okay in the soil? Would you recommend anything as a lining outside of the fiber blanket?

Thank you so much. Super duper helpful.

There are cheap alternatives. I'll give you a starting point which will help you make rosin/hash.
Here is a clay press, if you replace the mold tip with a dime it will seal it. Put some kief as usual, if you want a rosin feel don't use heat. If you want a hash type concentrate add mild heat very lightly and evenly at the tip and compress a bit more. Rosin will darken and oil up a bit. Hope this was useful.
[Amazon clay press tool]
(https://www.amazon.ca/COMIART-Extruder-Professional-Sculpture-Modeling/dp/B072L5BWDD/ref=asc_df_B072L5BWDD/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=335055417995&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6598222884706089296&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000826&hvtargid=pla-350353560163&psc=1)