Getting Started with Polymer Clay: Drilling Holes in Polymer Clay

When I first started working with polymer clay I only made holes in my beads when they were raw. It was easy, but it tended to distort the shapes of my beads. But I didn't want to drill when they were baked because that meant I had to use a power drill and I found that intimidating. So you can imagine my relief when I found out about a hand held drill. In this tutorial I'll be comparing a hand drill and a piercing pin and explaining why I now use a hand drill.
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See you in the next video.
Sincerely Samantha Burroughs.

[@deanablythe9394]

I was coming to the conclusion that drilling after baking was the best method, so it is nice that you think the same way and have shown why, thank you Samantha.

[@Patmouchon]

Could you make a tutorial on the baked bead? Btw, I'm a big fan of your tutorials, please continue!

[@JessamaTutorials]

Yes. I do plan to do a tutorial on the red bead.

[@hopehunt9991]

I like your tutorials a lot! I’m intrigued with the okay cane. I’d like to do a ginkgo leaf cane that shows the intricate satiation in the leaf. Winter has arrived here in Nebraska and I can’t impress a leaf into the clay. I wonder if you might know how to achieve that somehow with an Inkat cane. Thanks. Hope H

[@JessamaTutorials]

Okay. I'll add it to my list. It might take a while though. :D

[@severinamarsh]

Is this a bubble cane? Can you do a tutorial on how to do the pattern in this video? It is gorgeous with the blues. Thank you, Samantha.

[@JessamaTutorials]

No. That blue bead was actually mokume gane. I do plan to do a tutorial on it in the future.

[@tressinar]

Where did you get that drill at please?

[@JessamaTutorials]

The drill I show in the tutorial is from South Africa. Lol. There are a whole bunch on eBay though. www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Micro-Spiral-Hand-Manual-Push-Drill-Chuck-Twist-Pin-Vise-Bit-Jewelry-Tool/222040235452?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3Db2de95267dfd45009786d65cd4d06e60%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D222040235452&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%253Af8d57c6e-a95e-11e7-b251-74dbd1805930%257Cparentrq%253Ae9cd585c15e0a888e471988efffe587f%257Ciid%253A1 www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Aluminum-Hand-Drill-with-Keyless-Chuck-and-10-Twist-Drills-Rotary-Tool/282242349887?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3Db2de95267dfd45009786d65cd4d06e60%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D222040235452&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%253Af8d57c6e-a95e-11e7-b251-74dbd1805930%257Cparentrq%253Ae9cd585c15e0a888e471988efffe587f%257Ciid%253A1

[@kimhuff]

I've always drilled my holes after my item is baked and resin.

[@citrusbutter7718]

What's the brand of that drill and it's bits? I'm struggling to find a half decent drill and especially bits if I'm to go off of Amazon's reviewer's opinions. Most people no matter what i look up complain about a set of micro drill bits I've found to be easily broken, dull, or the wrong sizes from what is advertised.... I've never drilled anything before so i don't have the slightest clue what i'm specifically looking for other than needing it to be a micro drill bit set and needing the smallest drill bit to be smaller than 0.31 x 0.31 x 0.09 inches screw eyes, specifically the brand NUTJAM 600 PCS Small Screw Eye Pins,5 X 10 MM Mini Screw Peg Hooks. I'm bad at super small measurements and on top of it, most drill bits I've checked reviews complain about them for multiple reasons. I've tried looking up what polymer clayers are using but many don't put links to what they're using or writing why they like theirs. I'm not looking for the diamond standard, just something that's reliable, the smallest drill bits isn't known for breaking, and is perfectly useful for polymer clay drilling.

[@JessamaTutorials]

I use these two types. www.etsy.com/au/listing/722966201 www.etsy.com/au/listing/660751360

[@citrusbutter7718]

@@JessamaTutorials Ty

[@srednaart]

Very helpful thanks! I forgot to make holes in my clay before they baked, and thought I had ruined them! After watching your vid, I too think it's best to drill it after baking

[@ginahaigh5622]

Can anyone tell me why my baked pieces crumble when I drill them? I am baking wrong?

[@JessamaTutorials]

You might not be baking them hot enough, for long enough or might have a weaker brand. What brand are you using and for how long and what temperature are you baking the clay? :D

[@marionmathews9852]

My order for a hand drill just arrived today! Your tutorial is perfect timing. Thank you so much.

[@elizabethphillips7838]

Samantha, I am new to Polymer Clay and I don't have a lot of money to spend on Tools, so can you let me know where I can purchase a reliable reasonable priced Push Drill? That is to say, can you give me the name of the Push Drill, and the Sellers name please? Thank You Elizabeth

[@JessamaTutorials]

I don't have a specific brand of push drill. I included a link in the description below the tutorial to some drills on amazon for a pretty good price.

[@judittoth4527]

Love those beads, the blue is very nice, the black one is unique and pretty ☺️

[@polymerclayinspired7248]

Haha your dog barking set mine off lol

[@polymerclayinspired7248]

Good tutorial Samantha 👍🏻

[@berniceseigel6482]

What is the product name for that drill, please.Thanks

[@JessamaTutorials]

It’s a pin drill. If you look in the description below the tutorial you will find links to drills.

[@johannalao5355]

Hi just wanted to know if where did you buy your drill thank you

[@JessamaTutorials]

You can buy it from my Etsy shop here. I only have one left at this time. www.etsy.com/au/listing/660751360/polymer-clay-hand-drill?ref=shop_home_active_3&frs=1

[@elanagerson878]

Beautiful beads, thank you! Question: when drilling holes for earrings in particular, do you have a method for assuring that the holes for each of the 2 earrings are in exactly the same place so as to assure that the earrings will hang the same on each ear?

[@JessamaTutorials]

I tend to drill the earrings alongside each other and\or use a ruler to make sure. :D

[@magalielameloise383]

Thanks for all your fantastic tutorials, I love them! One question, when I drill, it pills a bit the resin around my hole, which makes it not perfect... it’s not all the time though. What can I do to avoid this? Thank you

[@JessamaTutorials]

Do you drill from the resin side first or the clay side first. I always drill resin side first as that tends to prevent this issue.

[@Bexb10]

Do you find that the resin lifts from the polymer clay when you drill? How do you work around that?

[@JessamaTutorials]

I typically drill from the front of the pendant if I have a resin coat on the front. This way the drill pushes the resin down onto the clay rather than pushing it up.

[@Bexb10]

@@JessamaTutorials that makes sense. I tried with my dremel and it is a lot better, though using a hand held drill lifts the resin no matter which way... Thank you for your reply!! Love your channel and creations!