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| Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2008-02-02, 3:13am
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My gang!!
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Talladega, AL
Posts: 3,259
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What brand of bead release do you use for soft glass?
O.K., I've been out of torching since 2005, I've never gotten off the boards, but because of health issues had to stop torching.
So, now I'm thinking I want to torch again, and I've got a few old sample bottles of Foster Fire. I diluted one down till I thought it had the right consistancy, and bam!!! I can't get the dang beads to come off. I don't know if it is just old, or if there is something better. Can you please help me in finding a new release that works well?
Hugs!
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2008-02-02, 4:16am
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one day at a time
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Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: We are MOVING!!!
Posts: 8,319
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I've tried almost all of them, and I LOVE Fosterfire Smooth n' Tuff! It's a little tricky to get it the right consistency, but I take mine out of the original container and put it in a baby food jar. I add a bit more water, a few wonky beads to aid in mixing, and it comes out the perfect consistency for my 1/16" mandrels. Not too thick, not too thin. I even use it to mix with some of my old release (I have several kinds) to make them work better.
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You live in a world of money. Money means choices. No money, no choices. Welcome to reality.
Melody (Marlee Matlin) from Switched at Birth
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2008-02-02, 4:26am
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My gang!!
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Talladega, AL
Posts: 3,259
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Thanks Lisi. I'll have to check into that.
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2008-02-02, 5:23am
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Certified Yoga Teacher
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Join Date: Oct 24, 2005
Location: Georgetown, KY
Posts: 3,583
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I like Fusion flame dry bead separator. You don't have to pre-dip mandrels, and it cleans off easily. The only time I've had stuck beads is when I thinned it too much, but I let it evaporate a bit and it was fine.
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Liz
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2008-02-02, 9:11am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 16, 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,107
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I have to agree with Liz.. Fusion is awesome!
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Melissa~
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2008-02-02, 9:22am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: Yarmouth, Maine...home of the Clamfest
Posts: 7,693
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I love fusion too.
Though, if Ed & Virginia ever start selling their very own "Rockland Harbor Mud" (or whatever it's really called  ) I just might have to switch--the release they use @ Playing With Fire in the studio is pretty darn sweet!
~luna
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new purple cricket @ home! minicc @ playing with fire in rockland! Sue & Nikki fighting over who gets to anneal the wonkies
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2008-02-02, 9:25am
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Is it May yet?
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Join Date: Jul 05, 2005
Location: Blue Springs, MO
Posts: 4,716
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I love the Smooth n Tuff. It cleans SO easy! And I make bigger stuff-vessels and hollows.
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For some, confusion is not a state of mind, but a way of life
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2008-02-02, 9:48am
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Flame Dames Rule!
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Join Date: Jul 12, 2005
Location: Alameda, CA
Posts: 2,749
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Lewis Wilson has a new bead release called Dirty Looie's. I've been testing it, and it works as well as Fusion and the beads come off the mandrel easier. And the holes clean out really easy....
He says it's also great for Boro work and you can really jerk around the glass and apply pressure to the stuff. I haven't gotten that far in the testing yet (Tucson got in the way), but keeping in mind the kind of big boro sculptural beads Looie makes, I'm betting the release hangs on like crazy!
*sharon*
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Sharon Peters
New Bead Display Stands Available - pm me!
Specializing in Critters and Puns and other Cool Stuff...
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2008-02-02, 9:55am
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Ad astra per aspera
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Join Date: Jun 15, 2005
Location: Apache Junction AZ
Posts: 7,324
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I love Smooth & Tuff. I use it for everything.
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Karen Sherwood
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2008-02-02, 10:00am
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"Sinners have soul too"
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Join Date: Jun 26, 2005
Location: The beachy part of So Cal
Posts: 4,258
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I mix Fusion and Alice's 50/50... looking forward to seeing (and trying) what Lewis Wilson is coming out with... any time line Sharon??
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Donna
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2008-02-02, 10:01am
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Booger #7
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Blue Springs, MO
Posts: 5,402
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I'm a S & T fan myself!
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Sue H-K
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2008-02-02, 1:01pm
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My gang!!
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Talladega, AL
Posts: 3,259
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Thanks guys!! I'm taking notes.
Sharon what you are describing sounds great.
I may wind up with smooth and tuff if that is what the majority uses.
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2008-02-02, 2:58pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 12, 2007
Location: Placerville, CA
Posts: 110
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We have only used Dip n go Sludge from Arrow Springs, seems to work just fine however has anyone else used it who can give a comparison to the other brands? Curious how it works compared to the other brands.
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Spring & Jeff
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2008-02-02, 4:34pm
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ManBearPig
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Join Date: Jun 28, 2005
Location: Roanoke, VA
Posts: 8,540
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I use Sludge Plus for all types of glass. Works better than anything I've ever tried.
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2008-02-02, 6:12pm
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Virginia.
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Join Date: Jun 14, 2005
Location: Beautiful Palouse, Washington
Posts: 1,874
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I use the same old Foster fire I have used for the last three years - I mess with my beads a ton - and anything else I tried, I had a horrid time with - would love to try the "Dirty Looi's" is it available somewhere -
by the way - I mix my foster fire very thin - seems like the thinner the better, just so that it is just thick enough to stay on the mandrel, and I tap as much of it off as I can. Just seem to do better then - V
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If you have a chance, choose to dance!! If you are sick - stay home - you too can personally start a Pandemic!!! - Virginia
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2008-02-02, 6:28pm
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koregon
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Join Date: Jun 09, 2005
Location: Reedsport, Oregon
Posts: 21,570
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fusion, I love fusion bead release, its good for everything, boro to.
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2008-02-02, 9:08pm
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My gang!!
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Talladega, AL
Posts: 3,259
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Thanks all. I'm sort of leaning towards the dip and go sludge, but seem to want a bit more input. I don't want to have to order $100 worth of stuff just to get bead release.
Thanks for your input.
M
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2008-02-02, 11:18pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 21, 2005
Posts: 354
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Fifteen or so years ago I used Fusion products International.Then about six or seven years ago I started using a mixture of Foster Fire and FPI. This worked well for soft glass and also the very large boro beads that I did. Many of the beads were over five inches tall and weight over a pound.
Ross at ABR sent me a sample to try of something new he had worked out.. It is as good as what I was mixing for the past many years. For my big and small boro beads. It also turned out to be as good for soft.
But then I found out that both hard and soft cleaned very well and left none to very little bead release in the hole.
I had talked with Ross many times about getting a bead release, just to use the name Dirty Looie's Bead Release. To my sick mind it just sounds right.
So I lent my name and use it myself. I get no royalty or kickback.
I just think that it is cool to have a product with your name on it
Ross will have it for sale next week at my show.
I believe he may be giving out samples also.
Lewis C Wilson
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2008-02-03, 6:18am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 15, 2005
Location: Eastern West Virginia
Posts: 2,936
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KRAG Mud - beads just twist off and clean with a pipe cleaner. I've done big beads and even some small boro stuff with it - if they ever stop making the stuff I'll be in big trouble!
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"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start" John Bingham
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2008-02-03, 7:07am
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Everybody Needs Beads!
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Join Date: Nov 09, 2005
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Posts: 1,524
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For minute there I thought there was going to be no KRAG love!
I'm a "KRAG hag" haha
I havne't ever tried the Fusion though. I plan to sometime soon.
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Tera Belinsky-Yoder
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Beadygirlt. on
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2008-02-03, 7:15am
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Ready to hit the road
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Join Date: May 06, 2006
Location: Zimmerman, MN
Posts: 2,418
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I started out with Sludge, then tried Foster Fire, then a combination of both. Still had problems with the release breaking when pulling and pushing on the glass. So I mixed up 50% alumina hydrate, 50% kiln wash and added that to my dipping jar when it started running low. I'm probably up to 1/4 of the Sludge/Foster Fire, 3/4 alumina hydrate/kiln wash now, and I really like it. I very seldom have a problem of it breaking while playing with the glass. The only negative I've seen is that you can't stick it right away into the hottest part of the flame; it's best to gently heat it to get the glass on, then it's OK.
Betsy
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