Fimo Plugs?
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Friday February 1st, 2008 @ 12:39 PM
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wow… I really do ask a lot of questions on here.
I’m browsing around on a few sites and I came by Etsy (Perishables entry in modblog sparked my interest)… Under a different sellers name, I came upon some plugs that looked like they were made from Fimo (clay that you can buy in craft stores, model and then bake in the oven so it hardens).
My question is, is this kind of clay safe to wear as jewelery in stretched ears?
It seems kind of questionable to me, because it’s craft clay… the dyes to get the colour, etc… but I wasn’t completely sure.
Thanks 
I’m very curious as to what the answer would be.
Many people have made plugs and other types of jewelry over the years out of FIMO and have reported no obvious problems. A number of years someone came to me who was making some very cool shapes out of it. I did some research into it and came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t be willing to wear it in my own body and therefore it wasn’t something I’d be willing to sell to my customers. I don’t remember the specifics of what I came across, but I recall that it had to do with potential hazardous chemicals being released from polymer clay.
I do recall most of the concern was from handling the clay in it’s “wet” form, and maybe wouldn’t translate to the stuff that has been baked. But, it’s not something I was/am willing to take the risk with.
I’m sure if you do a Google search for “dangers of fimo” or “dangers of polymer clay” or similar phrases, you’ll find lots of information with which to make your own decision.
Good luck!
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7 Responses to “Fimo Plugs?”
Just a suggestion, maybe you could wrap PTFE (Teflon) tape around them if you have sensitive skin? I don’t have any experience of stretched piercings personally but it just came to mind from what I’ve read about them.
Xenobiologista on February 2nd, 2008 at 5:15 pmWearing the Fimo jewelry inside an earskin or a tunnel seems like a good option to me as it doesn’t get into direct contact wuth the skin.
Mangaartist on February 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pmThe teflon tape would probably create a mild barrier between the fimo material and the skin in your fistula. But for the same reason that fimo is not meant to be eaten off of or out of, the chemicals that make up the “polymer” can leach out and into your system, it probably wouldn’t be wise to wear it for long. And if the body breaks down acrylic jewlery, I’m sure it’d do the same with fimo.
Yay for mixed media arts education!
scenester gates on February 2nd, 2008 at 8:14 pmI’ve heard some nasty rumors about the dangers of polymer clay. To put my own mind at ease, I did extensive research and am
happy to share my findings with you.
Look at your packet of clay for a seal with “AP” (Approved Product) in the center. This indicates that the clay has undergone toxicological evaluation by medical experts at the Arts & Crafts Materials Institute (ACMI) in Boston. Further, a toxicological review board has reviewed the findings of the medical experts.
Only after passing these tests can a material bear the label that it conforms to the standard. In the ACMI’s words, the product has been “certified by an authority on toxicology associated with a leading university to contain no materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans, including children, or to cause acute or chronic health problems, even if ingested.”
maRie and siNo on August 15th, 2008 at 2:10 ammaRie and siNo>> well, ACMI can hardly make an objective decision, considering who its members are.
sarkalina on January 23rd, 2009 at 1:01 pmI asked directly FIMO company in Germany and received their recommendation NOT TO USE FIMO FOR EARLOBES, PIERCINGS nor STRETCHERS.
moreover, i have a study in my hands, conducted by a laboratory in Ontario, confirming that FIMO contains phtalates, which can be a real danger to us.
I have been professionally piercing and tattooing for over 5 years. Polymer clay products are bad for unhealed piercings. The material should never be used to stretch ear lobes or any other body part and should only be worn as fashion jewelry (less than 6 hours). The problem with polymer clay is that even when it has been cured it is still a porous material and it BONDS (ie: sticks to) to open skin. Your skin will literally grow into the pores on the piercing. Image the discomfort and blood of ripping that out! 80% of my piercing clients who chose to use polymer clay had adverse reactions to the material. I personally tested it out and can say, honestly, polymer clay is bad for this purpose. AND if you really look into it, as the poster above me stated, phtalates ARE released into the skin. If polymer clay is not safe to use as an eating utensil, why on earth would you want it coming in contact with your bodily fluids? Make the better decision and stick to natural and safe products like surgical steel, titanium, bone, etc.
Samantha on January 29th, 2009 at 1:15 amThis is an interesting article: http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/cyclopedia/pc_safety_th.html
Not that I agree or disagree either way, but worth reading for another view point.
Shaina on February 25th, 2009 at 1:37 amLeave a Comment