whats a good mandrel size for pendant loops?

[parvatia]

hey, i make boro pendants and pull the loop but sometimes that distorts the image and ive made a bump and cut it in half but that looks like sht sometimes. i wanted to make some mandrel loops but didnt know what sizes would be best? thanks

[MUPH]

I dont use mandrels for mine so I wouldnt know what size but for most of my loops i'll attach the rod to the pendant then make my loop from there, usually the backing color or something. It took me a long time to get my loops down and I thought about going to mandrels a while ago but I'm glad I didnt.

[the0ther0ne]

^^^ what he said... I've never done mandrels either
attach yer rod to the pendant, heat up about and inch or so of the rod and do the loop and tag it to yer pendant. Then just work yer loop nice n smooth, useing some poking device to keep yer hole alive. hope this helps!
keep practicing yer loops, you'll get em' before you know it.
peace,
Dave-RNSGA

[Eric S]

^^^what they said. dont waste time/$$ with mandrels they can beokay at first but if you get good at freehand loops they will look much more natural and you wont have to have a kiln full of metal and wont have to go back and clean the bead release shit from each one.

[kbinkster]

Another thing you can do if you want to get fancy with your loops is to make a cool bead like from a twisted cane out of colors used in your pendant and then weld that on. But the nice thing with making your loops freehand is that you can make one side of it flatter like the back of the pendant so that it lays nice.

[Mike_Aurelius]

I loop with a 5 mm clear rod (although sometimes I use a matching color rod), then use my brass reamer to shape it as I fuse it to the pendant.

Alternately, depending on the style of the pendant and how you made it, it is also possible to pull enough glass out of the pendant for your loop.

I do make my holes larger so that a fastener on an already made chain or cord can be passed through the hole.

[Skye Perry]

I like to use the tungsten to peirce my loops theses days .I found it to be faster and cleaner looking in the end .

[Big Jay]

anyone just pre making loops? I use 5mm too but once it deforms a little its hard to get it back to a uniform loop without heating the whole thing and re-opening the hole with the tungsten. At least for me anyway. So i have been thinking I am gonna start premaking them as my prep for the day. I wouldn't do it on a mandrel though cause I don't wanna have to clean release off them.

[Swampy]

6mm graphite gouging rod to keep the loop in shape.

flame>shape>flame>shape, &c.

File down the point so it's a square section but tapered over 20mm length.

[FredLight]

I add a loop of color or stretch the disc and tag it well on the back.

[Greymatter Glass]

+1 for tungsten

[lucidvisions]

-1 for tungsten. It's all practice and my two cents is I do it like Swampy sez. Before you know it it will click and you'll be able to do them in your sleep.

Josh

[EarthTones]

Don't know if this helps you,everyone has their own way,but I make the loop freehand either by stretching & folding the top of the pendant over it'sself or attaching a clear/color rod or cane & weld it good,keep it from closing & open it up with a tungsten pick & then shape the hole nice & round with a 4mm mandrel ( I sometimes just use the tungsten if the pendant is real small).

[Greymatter Glass]

Well, I'll actually admit doing them many ways. I've made loops on mandrels even.. what a time waster.

For a cheap pendant, I'd to a pulled loop and melt it in nice... maybe even open it back up with a reamer.

for a nicer pendant I'll always use tungsten. Andy's tool is awesome if you've ever tried one you'd be hooked.

-Doug

[Big Jay]

Too bad you can't use cobalt or blacks for all the loops. I did a few pieces tonight with cobalt damn is it easy.

[Galaxie Glass]

I use tweezers that have a > shape to em so i can flare / ream it open and then use the = section for making sure its straight....