Are you new to crafting with polymer clay and want to start out doing it right, or are an experienced clay worker that is tired of sore arms from rolling with a pin. In either case, a pasta machine is an ideal addition to your clay arsenal.
Got no time to read? Here are our best picks and why we picked them.
| Product Name | Why We Chose It |
| Sculpey Clay Conditioning Machine | Widely considered the best on the market |
| Mercato Atlas 15o Pasta Machine | Rugged, durable, and precise |
| Imperia Pasta Maker Machine | Offers and electric motor attachment |
| GOURMEX Stainless Steel Manual Pasta Maker Machine | Highly ergonomic design |
| Nuvantee Manual Pasta Maker Machine | Has a sleek design and comes with multiple cutting tools |
| Makin’s Professional Ultimate Clay Machine | Great for people who like working on larger clay creations |
| Imperia Electric Pasta Maker | 85-watt motor that generates 15 pounds of roller pressure |
Best Pasta Machines for Polymer Clay
Here we present our top X choices in pasta and clay rolling machines to use to blend, cut, and condition polymer clay.
1. Sculpey Clay Conditioning Machine
Ok, this article is supposed to be about pasta machines for polymer clay. But the honest truth is that a machine specifically created for any purpose is likely to be better than a repurposed piece of equipment. The Sculpey Clay Conditioning Machine is such a machine.
Sculpey is often the name that first comes to mind when discussing Polymer clay. It is little surprise that they would create a machine that is widely considered the best on the market.
For rolling, blending, conditioning, and slicing polymer clay with ease and precision, it is at the top of the heap. Even better, it is less expensive and more durable than many of the other models available.
2. Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine
Among craft professionals, the Atlas 150 has long been the machine of choice for working with polymer clay. Originally designed to be used in commercial kitchens, the Atlas 150 is rugged, durable, and precise enough to meet the standards of professional pasta chefs. We have found it to be just as effective for polymer clay as it is for dough.
Many Atlas 150s have been in use for decades. They rarely fail. Marcato equipment is not cheap, but in this case, you definitely get what you pay for.
3. Imperia Pasta Maker Machine
If you want the quality that only an Italian pasta machine can deliver for less than an Atlas cost, the Imperia Pasta Maker Machine is for you. It is almost equal in terms of quality and durability. One difference is that the Imperia machine doesn’t have as many thickness settings. However, Imperia offers an electric motor attachment. This makes working clay about as easy as it can be.
Turn on the Imperia Pasta Maker Machine. Run your clay through, Flip and fold and repeat. You don’t even have to turn the crank.
4. GOURMEX Stainless Steel Manual Pasta Maker Machine
The Gourmex Stainless Steel Manual Pasta Maker Machine has a highly ergonomic design that makes it comfortable to use even during marathon crafting sessions. Designed to be portable, it comes with a clamp for quick mounting and removal. Some complain that its thickness adjustment is a bit clumsy.
As one of the lower-priced models to make our list, the Gourmex Pasta Maker’s shortcomings are easily overlooked. The ability to set up, use and then demount and store is ideal for those lacking a dedicated crafting area.
5. Nuvantee Manual Pasta Maker Machine
If you like bells and whistles but enjoy a great bargain, check out the Nuvantee Pasta Maker Machine. It has a sleek design and comes with multiple cutting tools. The thickness adjustment is very precise and offers seven different settings.
Best of all. this is one o the lower-priced models featured here but punches way above its weight class.
6. Makin’s Professional Ultimate Clay Machine
Another purpose-built machine specifically designed for clay work is Makin’s Professional Ultimate Clay Machine. With nine thickness settings and an extra-wide clay path, this machine is great for people who like working on larger clay creations. It is made of stainless steel and designed for quick disassembly for easy clean-up.
A bit more pricey than the Sculpey machine, the Makin’s Clay machine is nonetheless an excellent investment if you are into polymer clay art for the long haul.
7. Imperia Electric Pasta Maker
For those for whom price is no object or professional studios, the Imperia Electric Pasta Maker makes blending, conditioning, and cutting clay about as effortless as possible. Designed to prepare restaurant-quality pasta, it has an 85-watt motor that generates 15 pounds of roller pressure.
The Imperia Electric Pasta Maker has six thickness settings and comes with two built-in cutting heads for slicing tagliatelle and fettuccine-sized strips. If you have large amounts of polymer clay to process or issues with strength, this machine is pricey but worth the investment.
Why Use a Pasta Machine For Polymer Clay
There are many reasons to use a pasta machine for working with polymer clay. Here we look at what we consider the primary advantages a pasta machine brings to the table.
Less Work
Pasta or clay rolling machines take much of the work out of conditioning and cutting clay. They give you a mechanical advantage that makes moving the clay much easier. With an easy crank of the handle, you can save the stress and effort that hand-rolling clay requires.
Faster
Thre is no doubt that using a pasta machine to work your polymer clay is a time saver. You just run it through, fold and flip, then run it through again. By our estimations, it takes a third of the time to condition and blend polymer clay with a pasta machine instead of hand kneading it.
More Precise
As much as we all like to think we can roll and cut perfectly even sheets of clay, few of us will ever be that good. Working your clay with a pasta machine allows you to roll out perfectly level sheets of clay with little if any variance in thickness. As a bonus, if you need to slice strips of clay, a pasta machine makes getting even strips easy.
Makes Developing Your Skills Easier
Practice makes perfect. The more time you spend actually crafting, the faster your skills will progress and the more satisfaction you will get from your work. By saving you time, reducing the drudge work, and making working with clay more fun, you can have more fun. This makes it more likely you will spend more time creating artworks.
The question is, with all the options on the market, which is the best machine for you. In this article, we will look at what we feel are the best pasta machines to use for polymer clay, why you should use a pasta machine, and answer a few frequently asked questions.
FAQ
Is a pasta machine good for polymer clay?
Pasta machines are excellent for conditioning, blending, and slicing polymer clay. They deliver more uniform thicknesses that most people can achieve by hand rolling. Best of all, they greatly reduce the effort and time needed to hand knead clay.
How do you keep the clay from sticking to the pasta maker?
If your pasta machine doesn’t have stick-proof rollers, you can feed your clay through the rollers between two sheets of wax paper, parchment paper, or Teflon sheets.
How do you remove polymer clay from rollers?
The easiest way to clean polymer clay from your pasta machine’s rollers is to soak them in rubbing alcohol. If there is just a light build-up, you can pour rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth and gently rub your rollers to remove the film. Be careful not to use abrasive cloths as they can scar the rollers.