The best kind of surface to work on & allow product to cure on is one that has a flex. Silicone mats work great for this, (check out out tools section for our Aves® Clay Mat; XL Multi-purpose Silicone Table Mat) a sheet of plastic (like a gallon size zip lock bag), anything that is easily washable or disposable will work.

Allow the product to rest for about 15 minutes after mixing A+B together (wearing gloves is significantly helpful for both clean up and recommend to ensure thorough mixing). During the first 30 minutes, the product is the most sticky/adhesive, it gradually becomes less sticky as time passes. Putting the product in the refrigerator will also help tame the tackiness. Using cool water or Aves® Safety Solvent to dip your tools in while working with the product will help. Also the type of tools you use is helpful. (see question #3 for tool suggestions)

The best tools we can recommend to use are made of hard silicone (Clayshapers work great!) or stainless steel. Wood and plastic tools are okay too. Aves® also manufactures a product called Aves® Safety Solvent that we  recommend for tooling, smoothing, texturing, and cleaning Apoxie® & Fixit® products from tools, brushes and working surfaces. (Also aids in a very nice seamless feather.) It is fantastic for dipping your tools in to prevent sticking and working over highly detailed areas. Water, Vaseline, vegetable sprays, etc., can also be somewhat effective, you don’t need excessive amounts.

In many cases, any of them can be used with the same great results. Yet, they all have their place and best uses. It generally comes down to a working preference, the Apoxie Sculpt and Fixit have a nice putty like feel to them, Apoxie Clay has a little more of a clay like feel to it. Super White Apoxie Sculpt has a shorter working time but is more firm, and the Fixit Sculpt has the longest working time of the 2-part products and has a nice, firm clay like feel to it. For further details Click here to see comparison chart of these products.

If you have product that is not setting up; Be sure to you have one ‘part A’ jar and one ‘part B’ jar (the part A and part B should respectively be different in color). If that checks out then most likely it is the kneading technique being used, or an insufficient amount of mixing time. We recommend thorough mixing the product for 2 minutes until thoroughly combined and a uniform color is achieved. The best way we can instruct you to mix is to “knead” the product; “kneading” is best described as motion between your index finger and thumb with the product in-between (example; knead almost as if you would be rubbing a ‘worry stone’, or snapping your fingers). – note that there are many other ways one can successfully mix the product.
Do a test; set a timer for 2 minutes and mix the two parts together until you timer goes off, make a ball and let it sit over night to cure…in the morning the product should be hard. If not please contact us – we want to hear from you if you are having troubles with our products. Notes: Water nor our Aves® Safety Solvent does not affect the set-up of our 2- part products. It will harden under water.

I have a tendency to sculpt fragile fingers and such. I’ve heard that the Aves products are super strong and almost unbreakable. True?
TRUE! Apoxie® and FIXIT® products are very strong. For example, people into radio controlled subs, ships, and planes will roll a very small rod shape out, then let it harden, and then turn it on a lathe to make an “antenna” for their model. When done, it is thinner than a paper clip! Another artist sculpted an 18 mm skull, and after curing had a very hard time crushing it with a pliers! (he was also a body builder!) When needed, putting Apoxie® or FIXIT® over an armature (wire mesh or rod, wood, or other substructure) works great. It also gives the model support while setting up and curing. As an added bonus you can use our products to repair themselves at anytime.

FIXIT® is UV resistant, waterproof, weather proof, and incredibly durable. FIXIT® is also very resistant to fuels. We soaked fully cured cubes of FIXIT® in nitro-methane (radio control car fuel), and after several days the FIXIT® appeared unaffected, and was still impossible to scratch with a fingernail. We have used these products out doors, and they still look beautiful after years of sun exposure. It has been used it in aquariums, both in homes and large, public settings.

What is the best primer (if any) to use when painting Apoxie® Sculpt with water-based paints?
The best surface prep is to wash the cured Apoxie® Sculpt surface with a light detergent or other cleansing agent. This will remove any oils form your hands or other residues that may have com in contact while working and helps the paint to adhere evenly, avoiding spidering, etc. Primers are helpful to make the final show color more uniform and for best paint adhesion. However, other users find that using a whiter base (e.g., Apoxie® Sculpt White color), when cleaned and top coated, is easier than using a primer, and shows the top coat color the best. If you choose to not use a primer, we recommend using a sealer to protect your paint work. (Note: Painting is optional, you do not need to paint over Apoxie® Sculpt or any of our products unless desired. * We also suggest that you follow the paint manufacturers directions, if it says to prime, then you should follow that suggestion to get the best results)

How high of a temperature can Apoxie® Sculpt take? I am looking at an oven baked glaze product to get ceramic like results using Aves® products. It has to bake at 300 degrees F for 35 minutes.
We found a glaze that is oven baked, called ‘Pebeo Porcelaine’ 150 (comes in 47 different colors and it’s dishwasher safe, too) It worked on both Apoxie® Sculpt and on FIXIT® Of course, you can paint or otherwise finish Aves® products with nearly any coatings.

When drilling or sanding anything that may produce excessive dust, it is ALWAYS a good idea to wear a protective mask of some sort. Use common sense.

Yes! Apoxie® Sculpt is designed to withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees F. for best results we recommend allowing our product to cure before baking.

Its a non-critical mix – just get it close – no need to weigh it out) the product will set up as long as it is thoroughly mixed. Wearing gloves; mix and knead for at least 2 minutes until a uniform color is achieved.

In a closed container on your work bench is just fine. If you won’t be using then for while like a few months and your worries about it – All of our 2-part Apoxie® and Fixit products have a 3 year shelf life. The best way to keep it fresh in-between months of use is to freeze or refrigerate it, All of Aves products are “freeze-thaw-stable”.

for our 2 part products; Apoxie & Fixit modeling compounds: Always mix A+B first wearing disposable gloves and then add the pigment of your choice. Different pigments will give different results examples of commonly used pigments; We find that Acrylic paints give the product a gum like consistency – which some prefer, but others dislike….it does take quite a bit of acrylic paint to create a rich tone. Oil paints work exceptionally well and are the preferred colorant method – it take a VERY tiny amount to color a whole lot of product (toothpicks are helpful in swiping color onto the clay)…a little oil paint goes a LONG ways, if you mix too much paint it product will become very gooey. Powder Pigments work well – but they are messy. They give our product a bit more firm feel to it. note that glitters are best for surface pressing only with these products.

Apoxie Paste and FIXIT Paste take powder pigments very well (again please mix A+B first then add your pigment) and you can use super fine glitter mixed in them and get nice results.

Our Mache products color well with acrylic paints mixing them in the wet mache, or powder pigments. (again glitter doesn't work with these mixed in.

Yes! Aves® products work wonderful in flexible molds, and also for impressions with rubber stamps etc ”Knead-A-mold” or “Smooth-on” products work fabulous! The general
principles of mold casting apply here “one part Must be flexible” or its not coming out of there!

Its not mandatory when using flexible molds or stamps (like silicone or rubber) but it would certainly help especially if the mold has groves, or you want to press and pull the clay right away. You can use a general mold release agent such as Vaseline, pure talc powder, silicone spray, olive oil etc. Water or Aves Safety Solvent, or coconut oil spray work well for texture stamps.

Can I use Apoxie® Sculpt safely in a fish tank to make a custom castle?
Yes – once it is cured, wash/treat the Apoxie® as you would any other object you would put in your tank.

I want to use Apoxie® Sculpt to lay over a bowl just for the shape of it, how do I keep Apoxie® Sculpt from sticking to the bowl, Is there is a product or technique to prevent the Apoxie sculpt from permanently bonding?
YES with great success I would recommend a Universal Mold Release to keep your Apoxie® Sculpt from sticking to itself, and anything else. This technique is excellent for making parts that mate perfectly. If you don’t want to purchase additional products you might also try using either a plastic bag as a barrier, Vaseline, talc powder or silicone spray.

Apoxie® Sculpt, Super White, FIXIT, FIXIT Sculpt and Apoxie Clay have a shelf life of 2 - 3 years, additionally all of Aves products are freeze-thaw-stable so you can store them in your refrigerator or freezer for extended shelve life. The date on the jar is no indication of the shelf life – it is just the copyright date that label was printed. Our Mache products when stored properly (dry location) and sealed will last more then 5 years. Critter Clay has a shelf life of about 12 months - please follow package recommendation for storing this this product.

Yes, the longer and more vigorously you mix A+B together will reduce the set-up time, additionally you can gently heat part A before mixing. You can add more part B up to 20% for a 60/40 mix. This will reduce your set-up time. You can also set your finished project in direct sunlight or under a heat lamp (be careful not to get it to close).

I used the Apoxie® Sculpt and now there is hard crust on the top of the product, did it go bad?
Sounds like you have what we call – cross contamination; you have to use separate tools/fingers to retrieve parts A and B (very important) or you will cross contaminate the product (cause it to set up a little bit in the container or the part A will become crumbly and hard over time) 3 ways to go about this depending on your specific situation…
1. If the majority of the product is still soft/pliable, Simply scrape off and discard the hard part, and go about using the product (avoid crossing A and B unless you want it to set up).
2. If the product appears to be hard throughout – you can try to rejuvenate it by placing the container in hot water for 20 minutes (allowing the product to cool before handling or mixing it with part B). You can also microwave the product in 10 second increments for no longer then 40 seconds total depending on package size and amount left in the package (use your judgment and follow guide below) PLEASE USE CAUTION! The product will become VERY hot and sticky so please be careful and use common sense when microwaving our products – consider yourself warned. Allow product to completely cool before handling or mixing:
¼ pound size (1/8th pound polycon): heat in 10 second increments no more then 20 seconds total time.
1 pound size (8 oz container): heat in 10 second increments no more then 30 seconds total time.
4 pound size (2 lb container): heat in 15 second increments no more then 45 seconds total time.
3. If options 1 and 2 do not rejuvenate the product then its best to discard the hard product and order more.
We do sell just the part A or part B in every size upon request directly from our factory.

I mixed up to much product, how can I keep it from getting hard?
Once you mix A+B the product will set up and get hard. It is inevitable. The best thing we can tell you to do with it is look around your house and see if there is anything broken that needs to be repaired and use any left over to do with it such as cracks in the wall, cement, chips in tiles, broken chair legs, a coffee mug handle etc. – OR, another idea is to build onto a hard journal/book cover with all of the left over Apoxie® you have from each of your projects. – the result will be a unique story in itself. Some other suggestions would be to make props that you will use with your art work such as acorns, mushrooms…custom dice sets ; )

How Much product will I need for my project?
Approximate Product Coverage at a ¼” inch thickness, when in doubt Always Calculate High.:
1 pound kit = 0.5 sq ft (1/2 sq. foot)
4 pound Kit = 2 sq ft
20 pound kit = 10 sq ft

If I am building a large piece and am unable to finish it and or have to put is away for awhile (days or longer) when I get back to it will it accept fresh product on to cure/dry product? I have been using paper clay because I can leave my work for weeks and come back and wet it down and start working on it but… I am looking for something more durable and after snooping around on the web I found your site?
You can build onto our Apoxie® or Fixit® in any stage of set up, even years after it has been cured. Some artists work in stages, adding small amounts of product as they go. Our Apoxie® and Fixit® products are very hard & durable once cured and will be an excellent replacement for the current product you are using.

It is generally best to work in stages, all of our 2 part products are designed to work with each other in ANY stage of set up – therefore, you can mix as you go, or leave something for days and then come back to it at anytime to add on. If you need a little more working time you can give our Fixit Sculpt a try; this product offers 4 hours to play before it sets up…AND it works with Apoxie® Sculpt in any stage of set up so transitioning form one product to the next is easy.

Sure, you can do anything you want at your own risk. Here are some tips we find to be very helpful if you choose to utilize this method:
After you mix A+B together, allow the product to rest and or chill for 20 minutes. (some of the tackiness will wear off if you allow it to rest) We advise the pasta machine be stored at a cold temperature to ensure an easier release. (store in a cool location such as a cold basement or garage or pop it in the refrigerator about 1 hour before you use it.) Don’t expose it to room temperatures until you are ready to work. The use of a release agent or pure talc powder is found to be very helpful. Scrape any chunks of clay that are left on the pasta machine right away, & or use Aves® Safety Solvent with a paper towel to remove product quickly. Wash your pasta machine with warm soapy water & a bristled brush (if necessary) as soon as possible. (*Note Apoxie Sculpt will cure under water)

I have a large project that I plan to use Apoxie® Sculpt on – what is the best way tot mix large batches?
When mixing large batches it is important to know that the product will set up a bit quicker then the normal 2 hour working time, so you need to be ready to work to be able to make full use of a large batch. We suggest you find some high school students to help you mix in manageable size batches. We have heard you can use a kitchen aid mixer with a bread hook, but we do not endorse this method. We would recommend a release agent be used in both the bowl and hook, thorough cleaning immediately after mixing (warm soap & water), make sure you remove the bread hook before the product begins to harden. (*Note that Apoxie® Sculpt does set up under water)

How do I remove cured Apoxie® from my tools and table!? I use rolling pins, cake decor. equipment and many other items for my work.
Prevention is key…Try to use talc powder as a release, or extra virgin olive oil, Vaseline or other release agents … Smooth-On brand Universal Mold Release may also work to create a barrier between the tools and the Apoxie®. When you are done using your tools put them in hot soapy water and use a heavy duty scrub brush to clean the tools up. Aves® Safety Solvent is also a great way to keep your tools and equipment clean! As for the table it is best to cover it with plastic or use an old table cloth that way if you get Apoxie® on it and it cures you will not have to pry it off. (*Note that Apoxie® Sculpt is permanent and will cure under water).

Apoxie® and Fixit® products are designed to be permanent, self-hardening and water proof. That said – its a lot like concrete if you have to remove it you will literally have to break though it by sanding, grinding, lifting with a pry and or chipping it away. We have been unsuccessful in finding anything that will dissolve it. Our Aves® Safety Solvent works to only a degree it might soften it up a tad – but that is it. Aves® Safety Solvent is specifically for use with uncured Apoxie® and Fixit®.

As thick or thin as desired. There are no restrictions. Some material suggestions to bulk out your sculptures with would be tinfoil, foam or wood – all make a good solid core to build over top of but are not necessary unless desired. (same goes for all of our 2-part products).

All Aves products are free from Animal ingredients and free from animal by products and can be listed as VEGAN. I do mention to people though that 30+ years ago our products were tested for skin sensitivity using lab rats & rabbits. - no animals were harmed. I do like to disclose that because it is on our Safety Data sheets that this testing was done showing results of the test as this was the only method of testing at that time, they didn't use humans or other ways. We do not do testing like this anymore, and do not have future plan to repeat this as its not necessary.Hope this helps.

Yes, all of our 2-part products (Apoxie® Clay, Apoxie® Sculpt, Apoxie® Paste, Fixit®, Fixit® Sculpt and Fixit® Paste) are sold with both components; you will receive one
part A and one part B.
EX: 4 pound kit = 2 lb part A & 2 lb. part B

It can be disposed as nonhazardous waste. The SDS States: DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS: Product is not a U.S. EPA RCRA hazardous waste based on components. Dispose of in accordance with local, state, federal regulations. Not a hazardous waste unless combined with hazardous materials.

Yes, with the exception of orders shipped to Wisconsin (5.5% sale tax is automatically applied to WI orders)

We have many ways you can place your order;
Order online, via our shopping cart.
Call your order into our factory with a visa, master or discover credit card (715) 386-9097.
Print off our ‘Printable Order Form’ and send that into us by fax (715) 381-2121 (please call and confirm your faxed order with us to make sure that we recieved it!)
Print off our ‘Printable Order Form’ & mail it to us with your personal check or money order; Aves; PO BOX 344; River Falls WI 54022
If you wish to purcahse locally, please see our ‘Store Locator’ or call and ask us if we have a vendor in your area; we are happy to re-direct you.

Purchases must be returned within 30 days and must be new (unused). You need you original receipt (invoice or packing slip) in order to return all items, (you can request a new receipt if you have misplaced yours). Please note that Aves® Studio, LLC. merchandise purchased from other retailers, or specialty stores must be returned to the store from which it was originally purchased and is subject to the return policy of the originating retailer. Returns and exchanges will only be accepted from orders placed directly through Aves® Studio, LLC by phone or our official website, www.avesstudio.com
If your item meets the above return/exchange policy requirements, you may proceed to acquiring Return Authorization, contact us at 715-386-9097 or aves@avesstudio.com; if you send us your order back without return authorization we will not accept the package.

To cancel an order you recently completed, please contact customer service (aves@avesstudio.com or 715-386-9097) as soon as possible. If you order has not yet shipped we will make every effort to accommodate your request; however, keep in mind that our system is designed to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. We cannot cancel or change an order once it has been shipped and you the customer are liable for all shipping expenses.

Yes. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption is used for every transaction to ensure that your order is secure.

We require that you have a retail store and or Studio location, a tax id number and then contact us to request a vendor packet and or for more information. We do have some great ‘bulk’ pricing for those who make products using Aves® clays and resell them (this does not count as reselling our products).

Yes! We do ship to P.O. boxes and APO/FPO addresses.

All orders are processed and shipped the following business day from when your order is placed. Example: if you place your order on Monday, it will be processed and shipped on Tuesday. (Note that Orders placed on Friday, Saturday & Sunday will be processed on the following business day… Monday.) We DO NOT ship nor deliver on weekends or holidays. Shipping transit time varies based on where you are located in relation to us (we are located in Wisconsin, USA)
UPS Ground takes 2-6 business days.
US Priority mail takes 2-3 business days. (but not guaranteed)
Internationally: US Postal service priority service takes 4-10 business days
Internationally: US Postal service letter post service takes 7-14 business days

What’s the status of my order? How do I track my order?
You will receive a UPS or USPS confirmation via e-mail regarding your tracking information the same day your order is shipped. From there you can visit www.ups.com or www.USPS.com to check the updates regarding your order and when it is estimated to arrive. Please note orders that ship internationally via letter post are not able to be tracked.

Currently we ship to all countries via United States Postal Service; International shipping is more costly than shipping in the United States due to the import duties and taxes required of international shipping (Aves® does not calculate or include import duties & tax fees with our shipping costs, these costs are separate on your end, you should contact your local postal service or customs office if you have concerns about these fees). To place an international order (outside the United States) Please contact us via e-mail or phone (715)386-9097 to place your international order.

Aves® Studio, LLC ships via UPS and USPS Priority mail (United States Postal Service) rates are determined by product weight, and your postal zip code. The shipping cost is calculated on the shipping page in the shopping cart. Additionally we offer UPS Ground, 2nd Day, 3 day express and Next Day Air or USPS Priority. Shipping fees are not included in the product cost, it is an additional fee on every order.

No, none of our products include shipping cost.

Shipping costs are determined by your address (state, zip code, & country) and the total weight of items you wish to order. (size and quantity). The best way to determine shipping of your order is to ask – call or email us.