Clay Rollers, Cutters, Extruders and Shaping Tools

Posted by

Haanz Team

2026-10-19

On 2026-10-19

Haanz Art GuideFree, practical advice from the team at Haanz Art & Craft Materials

Good tools make clay work neater and faster. A roller gives even sheets, cutters make matching shapes, a clay extruder pushes out perfect ropes, and rubber-tip tools smooth and blend. This Haanz Art Guide explains the shaping tools we stock and which ones to start with.

Rolling: the wooden roller

The Wooden Roller is an 8.5cm brayer made of beech and stainless steel. Use it to roll polymer or air-dry clay into flat, even sheets for earrings, tiles and cut-out shapes. It is also used for lino printing, so one tool serves two crafts.

Tip: place two strips of card of the same thickness on either side of the clay and roll over them. The clay ends up exactly as thick as the card, which keeps earrings and charms even.

Cutting: clay shape cutters

The Clay Shape Cutter YT12, YT09 and YT04 cut neat, identical shapes from rolled polymer clay. Check each product’s photos for the exact shapes. Cutters make matching earring pairs easy.

Tip: dust the cutter lightly with cornflour, or chill the clay sheet for a few minutes, so shapes release cleanly.

Extruding: the metal clay extruder

The Clay Extruder, Metal pushes clay through interchangeable shaped discs to make even strings, ropes and borders. Use it for:

Borders around earrings and coasters.
Hair and fur on miniature figures.
Twisted ropes in two colours.
Canes for patterned clay.

Condition the clay well first. Soft clay extrudes smoothly; hard clay is difficult to push.

Shaping and smoothing tools

Large Rubber Tip Painting and Clay Tool Set, 5 pcs: silicone-tipped tools for shaping clay, blending pastels and moving paint. They smooth fingerprints and soften edges without scratching.
Plastic Clay Tool Set, 5 pcs: simple tools for cutting, shaping and smoothing. Good for kids and beginners.

Carving and texture

5 pcs Light Wood Carving Tools Set: a starter set for whittling and carving, also used for lino. Use only on cured or hard materials, and always carve away from your body.
Art Rangers Tool Art Set, 4 pcs: palette and painting knives for texture with acrylic and oil. They also work for spreading and scraping soft clay.

See more in [[C:clay_tools|Clay Tools]]. Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price.

A simple earring project with these tools

Condition a block of polymer clay and roll it to an even sheet with the roller and card guides.
Press a cutter firmly into the sheet and lift the shape out.
Smooth the edges with a rubber-tip tool.
Add an extruded rope border in a contrasting colour.
Make a hole for the jump ring with a needle tool, then bake as the clay pack says.

Which tools to start with?

Polymer clay earrings: roller, shape cutters and a rubber-tip tool.
Miniatures and figures: rubber-tip tools and the extruder.
Air-dry clay projects: roller and the plastic tool set.
Kids: the plastic tool set with soft clay.

New to clay? Start with Oven-Bake Polymer Clay for Beginners or Air Dry Clay for Beginners, then see Polymer Clay Colour Mixing.

Caring for clay tools

Wipe tools clean while the clay is soft. Dried air-dry clay is harder to remove.
Clean polymer clay residue with a baby wipe or a little rubbing alcohol on a cloth.
Keep cutters in a box so their edges don’t bend.
Don’t use tools that touched clay for food.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use these tools with air-dry clay?

Yes. Rollers, cutters and shaping tools work with both polymer and air-dry clay.

Why does clay stick to my roller?

The clay is too warm or soft. Rest it for a few minutes, or roll it between two sheets of baking paper.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you choose clay tools.

More Haanz Art Guides