Bead Release Question

[Debi Razz]

I am a newbie and my jaw of Foster Fire is about half gone. It suddenly does not want to stick to the mandrel. I tried leaving the lid off thinking it may be too runny, but that didn't help. So then I added a few drops of water and that didn't seem to matter either. It seems to dip extremely thin on the ends and glob up about 2 inches back. So, I have been shaking the mandrel in a little circle while pointing it down and that seems to even it out. Anyone know what the problem is?

Like I said, this is my first jar and so I'm not real sure if it's too thin or not thin enough or what. Any help that anyone can offer would be very much appreciated! Thank you so much in advance!

I loves this site. It is my absolute favorite!

Debi Razz

[bousky]

Are you cleaning your mandrels after each use? I can't help with Foster Fire because I don't use it. Although I have much better luck with bead release when I lightly sand my mandrels between each use.

Good luck!

[Debi Razz]

I do use a scrubbie on them after each time and with new mandrels, I try to scrubbie them a little harder to roughen them up a bit.

[bousky]

Since I started using sandpaper I have had almost no release breakage!

[RSimmons]

Wipe them down with a paper towel and isopropyl alcohol after you buff with sandpaper. Running new mandrels through the flame before buffing also helps.

Robert

[Lisa]

I expect Robin may chime in -- but are you thoroughly shaking WITH THE LID ON the jar before you use it? Have you chucked in a couple of wonky beads? And if you have soft water you need to only use distilled water when adding to the release -- some chemical in the soft water screws it up. L

[beadworkstudio]

Do you shake your release really well to mix it up? Sounds like it might be separated. You should shake it well (with the lid tightly close, of course) every time you use it.

Lisa must have been typing at the same time I was.

[Debi Razz]

I do shake it up quite vigorously and it seems really thick and gunky on the the lid. I usually try to scraped that gunky stuff back in the jar and then use a large mandrel to stir it a bit. I'll try the sand paper on the mandrels and the isopropyl alcohol and see if that makes a difference. Thanks for all the help!

Debi

[Toni Lutman]

Originally Posted by Debi Razz

I do shake it up quite vigorously and it seems really thick and gunky on the the lid. I usually try to scraped that gunky stuff back in the jar and then use a large mandrel to stir it a bit. I'll try the sand paper on the mandrels and the isopropyl alcohol and see if that makes a difference. Thanks for all the help!

Debi

I use Fosterfire. It likes to be fairly thin. If it's too thick, it doesn't stick to the mandrel, and it cracks easily when you are working a bead.

[Lottie-Dah]

Originally Posted by Toni Lutman

I use Fosterfire. It likes to be fairly thin. If it's too thick, it doesn't stick to the mandrel, and it cracks easily when you are working a bead.

Yes, it sounds like yours has gotten too thick. This is great bead release and I use mine fairly thin and have no problems. Even the guys here that make big focal tubes use the same stuff and have no problems but they do double dip in the thin release when working the long tubes.

[Dasi]

Are you trying to coat new mandrels?

I usually put new mandrels in the kiln for 15 minutes. It burns off any oils that may keep the bead release from sticking.

I also mix my foster with fusion bead release. I like fusions holding power but fosters ability to get the beads off the mandrels. The combo is perfect for me.

[kirksglassart]

I have the Foster Fire too. It was nice and creamy in the beginning but now the bottle is 1/2 full and my guess is the extra air in the bottle is drying it out. I have added a little water, stirred, shaken, and so forth but it is not as creamy as it was originally. I am able to get it on my mandrels but not as easily. Pretty much as you have described in your original post. I'm thinking that I might put a layer of saran wrap on top of the mix before I put the top back on to try and keep the moisture in there.

[sarsigirl]

I once read a thread that says your bead release won;t dry out as fast if it is stored on it's lid. Also, you really need to shake it up every time you go to use it. I have some old round bead I put in the bottom of the jar so when I shake it helps mix it all up again. Sharon Peters told me that one! She's great!!

[Paco]

Debi,
The same thing happened with mine and I finally realized that it was too cold. I hadn't turned my heat in the house on yet and it was getting into the 40s at night. I just added a little bit of hot water and stirred it in all the way and oila! it stuck again Good luck
Dinah

[Dasi]

I always add reverse osmosis water. It is very much like distilled water. All the junk is removed from the water. Maybe this is causing you the problems.

Do you have soft water? I think Robyn posted that if you use soft water it will cause problems with your bead release.