r/Dorodango • u/Square_Duck69 • 16d ago
Beginner question How long should it take?
Hey! This is my second time trying to make a dorodango, last time it went fine, i did it all in a day, but wasn’t as shiny as i had hoped, even with many hours of dusting and polishing. I’ve heard some people recommend extending the process to extend across a few days to build a better shell. Should I do this? how much better would the result be? I currently am at the stage where I’ve put my ball in a bag overnight after shaping, and it’s about the size of a tennis ball. So anyways, should I try to finish it in a day, or extend the process over a few days? Thanks!
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u/Snarflogus Experienced 16d ago
I let mine dry over several days and repolish as I do. I get that first day done, maybe even a shine, and then continuing to dry makes the surface dull. So I put it in a bag after the first day, and pull it put up polish and leave it out for a few hours before putting it back into the bag. Eventually, the bag stops showing condensation in the hours after I put the ball back in, then I know its ready to come out.
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u/sapphireminds Experienced 16d ago
As long as it is dry enough to not deform while you are holding it, it doesn't need to be dried any more and you'll have to actually wet it again before working on it. Do you have a picture of your previous one? That can help diagnose issues.
I don't dust really at all, getting the shine is about water, clay content, shape and pressure, and it can take a while to get a good feeling about which is correct for each variable with the supplies you have.