Beads

[lodidodi89]

Haven’t got the chance to make any beads yet but I just received my mandrel’s in the mail, is there anyone who knows if once the bead cools if it slides right off the mandrel or what or is there any pre prep .....Thanks


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[lost nebula]

You apply bead release to the mandrel before making the bead to help it come off. It should pull off after making and then you use an abrasive bead reamer to clean any bead release out of the bead. You can get bead release that is better formulated for boro, but any type of bead release should work fine for soft glass.

[black]

Stringers are for beads... they come in really handy when your making a really really large bead with striking colors. Also, I have some beads I made out of cobalt, you'll want to have some cobalt for sure to make beads.

[Sparko]

I was in one of those random stuff stores by the shore and the old ladys were going ape shit over these little beads. One thing i noticed was some of them had a metal ring on the inside where the mandral made contact. Does anyone know anything about these. Surly it would add to Lodi's product value.

[Zero]

They have these bead inserts on mountain glass.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180501/e530cbfd75ba9426bf628c5e270ac5e9.jpg

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[Cerberus]

I have NOT found that the beads "slide right off". I have always had to soak the bead end in water for an hour to get them off the mandrel. The bigger the bead the more work to get it off the mandrel. This has been my experience with boro but obviously others will likely have different results

[Shaper]

I have had the same experience as Cerberus when taking beads off a mandrel, sometimes it's not easy.
You may want to check out this forum http://lampworketc.com/forums/ there's a lot of info on bead making there.
Have fun

[Sparko]

Nice find Zero! The ones that they were selling didn't appear to have the "lip" pictured above if you get what i mean. There must be a variety of "bead inserts" available. Now that i know what they're called searching will be much easier.

[lost nebula]

I have NOT found that the beads "slide right off".

I have not made tons of beads but maybe i'm using a way thicker layer of bead release than I need to. But I don't really make super wide beads though, maybe 3/4" max. It takes some muscle but I have not had any stuck on so far. I tend to hold the bead and tap/hit the mandrel on it's end on my desk until it loosens up. Thank you though for the tip, I had not heard that one before.

[3musesglass]

Mostly those metal inserts are sterling silver tubing that's cut and dapped. For European charm bracelets like Pandora, Troll, and the like. There are tools that will bend the metal over for you mostly, but they're expensive. Lots of info on it on LE.

OP- like they said, you need bead release. I use Fusion (personal preference). MGA sells it. You need to soak the beads in water for a bit, and I use a pair of pliers to hold the mandrel while twisting the bead with my other hand to get the bead off. It's pretty easy- most of the time. Then you have to clean them. My least favorite thing to do. ever.

[Zero]

Thanks for that refresher, I'll add that the "Pandora" inserts are all the rage for those bead ladies. They will absolutely drool over them.

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[black]

oh, and orange, its my favorite color. I'd actually practice with orange all day but its hard to come by. You can make a great big orange bead that looks like a mudding tire once you get good at it, but its a really hard bead. And also, your supposed to make beads using gravity. Gravity is one of those newtons law forces that exist in the real world that really complies to hot glass. Your technically supposed to only use gravity to make your bead.

[black]

And don't forget to have a number 2 phillips, it comes in handy. . .

[dustyg]

And don't forget to have a number 2 phillips, it comes in handy. . .

Who is this new Funksizzle? The same old one?

[snoopdog6502]

I use a couple types of bead release and as long as you get the core of the bead on without damaging the release they about fall off the mandrel when cold. A little twist and slide and they come right off as the brittle cooked release just crumbles. Its the dirty part of the job.

I don't skimp on the bead release, lay it on thick. On bigger longer beads I make them hollow.I don't make a lot of beads but when I do people buy them right up, I don't think I could ever make enough beads. They are fun too, kind of adictive.

[black]

There are a million reasons to have a #2 phillips. Your starter could fail and you have to get the contact off of the lead because of numerous things like corosion, lead-acid from a battery and you have to remove a screw, copper wiring could have a nut, but not a wing nut. Not everyone has wingnuts handy and on-hand. In fact, I know very few people who actually use wingnuts in the first place. You could have a leaky water main go out, and have to adjust the screw. I mean if you have like water spraying all over it could flood the shop and who wants to light up the kiln while standing in a puddle of water. You could die. You could face getting electrocuted to death. You could even have a friend come by and be all liek HAY WHATS UP and they could stand in the puddle of the leaky water main and get fried all because you didn't adjust the pipe with the screw that caused it to leak everywhere. You wouldnt want your friend to die would you? Plus, on top of that, your lathe could use an adjustment, or you might have to get under the panel of it. Your parts washer's tube could fall off, and I mean, not having a wingnut and all on the parts washer in the first place, your obv goona need a screwdriver. And most of the time these screws aint a standard flat edge straight screwdriver thats flat. Most of the time you will have to adjust things in a glass shop dude. Its just how it is...