How to Waterproof Air Dry Clay 

I don't know if anyone else has commented about this but I learned today that putting two coats of Modge Podge on first, before the varnish will keep your piece from discoloration. Sounds like a great idea.

when using oil based paint or varnish just put some cold water in a container and put the brush into it...or use a clothes peg to keep the brush bristles from bending. it will last for years as long as the water is topped up when low. I've been painting for 45 years and this is how I have always done it...hope that helps you out

Thank you so much for showing this experiment. My sweet 17 y old kitty passed on June 1 after a year+ battle with advanced stage kidney disease; I was always so focused on making him comfy, healthy, and happy that I never thought about making high durability paw prints to remember him by later -- so I just have the cheap air-dry clay print that the undertaker made. I was devastated when I realized it's not very strong or waterproof, so I'm so relieved to see it's possible to seal it. Now I'll be able to touch the paw print without worrying I'm damaging it. Thank you again, you seem like a lovely person!

I made some little pots for planting from air dry clay (Jovi, brand, which is similar to DAS) last year and discovered a product called Bondall Pot and Ornament sealer (see below for more info on the label). It's an Australian brand but you should be able to find an equivalent in your country. It is used to seal terracotta pots/ornaments to prevent water from being absorbed into the terracotta pots/ornaments. Brush 2-3 thin layers, dried in between then you're good to go as long as the pot/ornament/craft pieces are not used submerged in water. Then seal with polyurethane varnish or whatever varnish you wish. I haven't fully experimented with the pot I treated with the Bondall... but I did try dropping some water droplets on the pot, I could see that the water beaded and either stayed put/slid off, instead of being absorbed into the cured air dry clay. The Bondall has a bit of odour but doesn't bother me and it dries odourless. From the label on the back of the spray bottle (I pour some out and used a brush instead): Bondall Pot & Ornament Sealer is the ideal choice for sealing plant pots and garden ornaments. It will seal, bind, protect and waterproof most pot surfaces while still retaining a clear natural look. Bondall Pot & Ornament Sealer increases surface hardness (got me sold on this point!), reduces staining and soiling, resists algal and fungal growth, and offers outstanding exterior durability. This product is not designed to be used as a waterproofer for a water holding vessel, eg. a pot to be used as a pond for fish etc and not suitable for glazed surfaces. (I brush a 2-3 layers of the Bondall before glazing/sealing the air dry clay. You will know when the product starts working... sometimes by the 3rd layer of brushing, the Bondall beads up and doesn't absorb into the cured air dry clay) Sorry for the essay but I just wanted to share what worked for me! :)

Wow! I’m so grateful I found your channel! You’ve got my creative inspiration flowing again. Thank you for this great information!❤️

You’re awesome 👏🏻 thank you for making the waterproof test .

I quite like the yellow varnish ontop of the white. It makes your project look like antique clay creation. 🥰

Thank you so much for all your tutorials, I have learned so much from you

Very enjoyable and helpful video.. Thanks! I love creative stuff too!

Thank you, excellent video, I love them all, keep them coming

Thank you so much. Ive been trying to figure something out for days!

I personally love the antiquey looking the yellowness gives, and when used on clay badges/pins that are like baked goods, eg: biscuits, etc, it really adds to it.

Great tips here, a god send for those who don’t want or have access to kilns or want to fire ceramic in the backyard. I would say to experiment making little 2-3 inch pots or whatever it is you’re making. Do water tests and other durability tests until you have what you want. Don’t want to spend multiple hours on a project that will not perform.

Really informative video! Thanks for the info & love those Angel wings

Thanks so much! I have been trying to find a simple way to seal air dry clay for a while now ❤

Great video! Thank you so much!

Off topic, but how beautiful is the rain in Britain - so gentle and refreshing looking?!! The rain here in Texas is more like a deluge that will commandeer away any delicate planting and most of your patio furniture, LOL!

I love the chemistry lesson 😉 So sweet, you can even make a perfect heart in your cup 🤍☕️ .. 😇🙏

Great demo/experiment

I was wondering if varnish would waterproof clay. Thank you 💜

Thanks for this! I really want to start making plant pots for my indoor plants, but of course they'd still need to be waterproofed!

Great - lots of top tips here!

Really helpful video! Got my mind whiring with ideas! 🥳

Thankyou for the lesson

That’s beautiful ❤

Brilliant!! And thank u for making this .. for me ..i use a clear coat spray to seal it.. and that mini figurine withstand being underwater ..

Really useful video 👍🏼

Love your videos!

I love the wings

Really good video, thanks for the great info. Q: Is the DAS clay the one you recommend or are there other good quality ones out there.

Thanks so much! I have been looking into pal Tiya, but it is not available for shipping to Canada. So this works perfectly! Love your videos

Informative video. I also have huge variety of molds for airdry clay which have different designs .

Hi Sara! I love your videos!!

This is lovely! I have subscribed to your channel. I wonder if you have a link to make the wings as well. I'd love to make some in memory of Mum and my cat. Thanks.

Very cool tip ! 🌸 Is it then possible to make plant pots with this technique?

Amazing

can you make small pots for plants with this method??? lovely video btw 😍

Amazing video. Thanks. Do you think this varnish is safe on skin (asking for pendant making) ?

In order to prop the project up I recommend either painters pyramids or some kind of cooling stand/meah rack

Thanks for this video, do you think you could make paint palettes for watercolour paints using this method? I am thinking of making some personalised ones for myself xx

Hi Your videos are amazing 🤩 Do you find any polyurethane varnish that is not getting yellow ? Thank you for sharing your skills

Great video. Do you know if it is essential to paint the clay with acrylic paint, would the varnish soak into the clay otherwise?

I was just thinking "you'll need to revarnish it every year", and then you said exactly that!

Thank you what ajout clearer nail enamel or polish. Long lasting air dry project is à goal to poly urithane. Nice.

Great!! Is this good for finishing coasters? And can we add this to acrylic paint

hi! i was thinking of making an ashtray, a candle holder or a censer out of air dry clay but i don't know if it can be heated or not. does heat melt or harm the clay?

great video, full of tips, it that Water or Oil based Polyurethane?, thanks so much

Do you think this technique would work for soap trays made of air dry clay? I would love to create my own!

I would like to make a plan yet for baby aloe vera leaf, since they get watered similar to cacti It would not be watered often, would this clay work or should I try sheep dog air clay? I also use poly crylic let me know what is the best water proof coating thanks

Hello a great video could I just ask which varnish you use because when I look for the varnish you mentioned it says for wood ?

Do you have a tutorial for the Angel wings please? I'd love to do a Dad one for myself.

Can you use clay slip to attach broken piece to angel wing?

Is it recommended to use this technique to waterproof useable plates made out of air-dry clay?

Would a spray-on like Krylon Triple Thick Crystal Clear Gloss Glaze work for this?

Could you string it through the hole and dip the whole piece in the can or container?

Do you think the spray on varnish would work as well??

Should we put another layers after some time ? Or it is just once ? I mean if we have a project amd we sell pieces to customers , then we have to provide something guarantted.

Hello a question what about a watercolor palette. I made one but I want to use it too. Your thoughts?

Can I use water based acrylic varnish to polish air clay?

I’m about to do my very first air dry clay project. I’m wondering if I can use clear nail polish as a sealant.

Hello. I thank you so much for all your ideas. I sometimes use das to create my jewels, or other paperclay and I paint it with vegan watercolors. Then I apply a varnish to make them waterproof but I am never sure it is really so. Can you please give me some idea? Thanks and have a wonderful day.

What do you think about applying some beeswax (what I already have on hand) and buffing it into the surface? 😊

So with that treatment I can use as a pot for plants?

Can you make a candle holder out of crayola air dry clay? I do t know it the flame will hurt the acrylic paint, modpodge or the clay. Please help! 🙏

Can I make a vase and waterproof it to be able to use for fresh flowers in water?

I so want to make a reusable watercolor mixing palette. I’m still not convinced that I’ll get it waterproof enough🤔

Could you use this method for a cup? Or would that be dangerous?

My air dry clay stuff always disintegrates somehow... It gets all powdery and just makes a mess; how do you make things keep for longer so well?

Hello! Is is okay to use lacquer spray instead of varnish?

Can i use spray varnish from a can or that's not a good idea?

I made frogs for my birdbath can the with hold sitting in water all the time if they have polyurethane on them?

Could this be used for jewelry or is it toxic when in contact with the skin? I’m searching for a skin-safe waterproof sealant for my air dry clay necklaces :)

Can we use oil varnish for sealing air dry clay ?

Is it also possible to use this to make waterproof mugs? Or what would you then advice?

Is there something that can be done to use the piace for eating porpoises? I wanted to make a water bowl for my cat, but I'm concerned that they varnish may be poisonous for her

How do I get the varnish to dry with out fibers sticking to it ?

Is poly varnish flammable?

You think we can use resin to seal?

do you think with enought coats, i could waterproof with modge podge?

How long will this waterproof your clay for is it for ever or do you have to go back and do it every so often let me know please many thanks

Wrapping your brush or paintroller in some plastic is a trick one can use with pretty much any paint, latex wallpaint as well, upto 3,4 days easily.

Can we use this for vase for real flowers? I want to make a vase for flowers, but i do not know how to make it to keep water also

Does the varnish have a strong smell? Im planning of coating my air dry rings with it, but with the clear one.

Can I use any kind of vanish?

Can we make varnish at home?

Is it safe for eating plates or smth?

The only thing I hate about varnish is that it can dissolve in alcohol and also make the clay melt and become playable again

Could you also just submerge the clay in the varnish?

I wonder how the polyurethaned piece would stand up to a winter freeze.

I used 2 coats of poly ans 3 coats of yacht varnish on my air dry clY and it still turned to mush

I just popped into my garage to see what I may have and I found Jo Sonja's Polyurethane Water Based Matte Varnish. Can that be used?

Why is no one using clear or opalescent spray acrylic?

have you ever painted the Air dried clay with nail polish? not to waterproof but to give it a gloss?

Looks like grandpa lost the bath soap.

Quick answer: Put Varnish On It.

Can i make cups of air dry clay and drink hot drinks with it ? 🥲

It will probably last a year unless it's in the sun. The sun will eat that polyurethane.

chemically speaking any air dry clay is not water proof. Ask your Chemestry teacher, your former Art Teacher where you miss classes, ask the air dry clay manufacturers.