Dough Recipes

How to Make Play Dough - Conductive and Insulating

Both conductive and insulating dough can be made at home or school with basic ingredients found at your grocery store. Follow the recipes and view how-to videos below to start your next Squishy Circuits project! Or, get creating right away with the Dough Kit which includes both conductive and insulating dough.

Conductive Dough

View Step-by-Step Instructions

Conductors allow electricity to pass through them. In this recipe, the salt and water allow electricity to flow.

  • 1½ Cup (355 mL) Flour
  • 1 Cup (237 mL) Water
  • ¼ Cup (59 mL) Salt
  • 3 Tbsp. (44 mL) Cream of Tartar*
  • 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) Vegetable Oil
  • Optional: food coloring
  • * 9 Tbsp. (133 mL) of Lemon Juice may be substituted

Many purchased doughs are salt based so they can be used (results may vary).

Click here to read more on how salt and water conducts electricity!

In our projects and guides, all colors play doughs are conductive. White dough is insulating dough.

Insulating Dough

Download Printable Instructions

Insulators do not allow electricity to easily pass through them. They are used to prevent short circuits.

 

  • 1½ Cup (355 mL) Flour
  • ½ Cup (118 mL) Sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. (44mL) Vegetable Oil
  • ½ Cup (118 mL) Deionized Water

Insulating dough can be colored, but we only use white insulating dough in our projects and tutorials. 

This insulating dough is made with common ingredients and not a perfect insulator. We suggest our pre-made Insulating Dough or artist sculpting clays for best results.

This recipe includes sugar which can mold so storage is not recommended.