I like that so lots of my readers share my polymer clay articles on social media. Thanks! A lot of my readers have really useful my articles on cleansing an Atlas Pasta Machine or clay machine. The one factor is…I don’t even have an article like that! However I wished to collect the knowledge in order that in the event you discovered your means right here on the lookout for methods to wash the mucky polymer clay out of your pasta machine or clay machine, you’ll nonetheless discover your strategy to the proper data.
What’s an Atlas?
Pasta rollers just like the Atlas 150 and Atlas 180 machines from Marcato are designed for rolling out sheets of pasta dough. Polymer clay artists and hobbyists have been utilizing these pasta machines for conditioning, mixing, and rolling our polymer clay for a lot of, a few years. Atlas just isn’t the one model of pasta machine. There are others resembling Imperia. There are additionally many cheap knock-offs from China made in the same design.
Bear in mind that NEWER Atlas pasta machines have detachable blades and the directions I’ve compiled right here is not going to be essential or related. For those who purchased your Atlas machine after January 2023, examine my article right here for extra data. You might need the detachable blades in your machine! Unsure? Flip the machine over. For those who see black plastic blades, you have got the brand new, detachable blades. You’ll be able to learn to take away them in this video from Hobbyrian.
Why Clear a Pasta Machine?
Pasta machines are designed for pasta, which is a fairly particular texture. Polymer clay is way stickier and tends to mash into the “guts” of a pasta machine as you utilize it. That is, frustratingly, regular. However it causes issues, a number of of that are spelled out right here in my article on pasta machine issues. You would possibly discover that the clay goes spherical and around the curler. Otherwise you would possibly discover that previous clay comes out, making marks in your clay as you roll it.
Pasta Machine Fast Clear
To completely clear a pasta machine (of any model that doesn’t have detachable blades) will contain taking the machine aside. You might not wish to do that each time you turn colours, so right here’s tips on how to do a fast clear.
Simply use a rag (or microfiber washcloth) or a child wipe to achieve below the rollers and wipe it, a lot in the identical means as you’ll wipe a child’s backside. (Yeah, polymer clay has that very same stickiness situation.) That’s most likely why child wipes work so properly for this. Wipe repeatedly till no extra coloration comes off on the fabric. Be sure that to show the crank a number of occasions, each ahead and backward, and wipe once more. Additionally, be sure to alter the knob to make the rollers farther aside so you will get your fingers between the rollers higher. This received’t get the entire clay, however it can assist!
Reader Claire Wyness suggests utilizing a mirror below the rollers so you possibly can see below the machine simply with out having to unclamp and switch the machine over. You could possibly additionally use your cellphone’s entrance digital camera.
Concerning the Fenders
“Fenders” are the covers on all sides of the pasta machine that cowl the supporting cross-rod. They aren’t essential and you may take away them. As soon as the fenders are gone, you possibly can extra simply look inside your machine and see the place the clay collects. Whereas it’s nonetheless not simple to get in there are clear that clay out, you possibly can dig a few of it out. By the best way, the clay that collects right here is usually attractive!
Deep Cleansing a Pasta Machine
As I stated, in the event you don’t have a machine with detachable blades, you’ll need to take your machine aside (a minimum of partly) to entry the deeper areas and clear all of the clay out. Whereas I’ve not written a selected tutorial for this, many different folks have. No sense reinventing the wheel! Listed here are some sources for this.
Maria Jesus Lorca Torrealba (Ketu Artwork) posted this video on Instagram that provides a fast overview of tips on how to simply loosen the machine sufficient to slide out the blades. Observe that the “fenders” have already been eliminated. This technique is straightforward however received’t work for all machines.
For a extremely in-depth and clearly visualized video exhibiting the main points of cleansing an Atlas and making it simpler to wash for the longer term, be certain that to take pleasure in this lovely video from Ana Belchí. (This video was really useful by Chris Helstrom, Diane Shoemaker, and plenty of extra of my readers!)
Janell Sparks jogged my memory of those two fairly previous articles written by Desiree McCrorey. The information-packed articles give numerous good data, however a lot of it’s now inaccurate (although some remains to be very spot-on)! I’m together with them since you would possibly get some nuggets of information that make it easier to, particularly when you’ve got a really previous Atlas pasta machine. This text covers fundamental care and fundamental suggestions. This second article is especially good if you should take the OTHER aspect of the pasta machine aside for superior care!
And at last, in the event you can learn Italian (or use Google Translate), this text from Leila Bidler additionally exhibits tips on how to take away the blades and clear them.
What About Imperia Machines?
In case you have an Imperia Pasta Machine, this video from Miriam Bosch will present how one can take away the blades of that machine. (I reviewed this similar machine right here, btw.)