bead release

astrologysflame · #1 2014-10-29, 10:39am

I am using fusion bead release and 1/8 mandrels. I am not able to get the beads off them. I air dried the release and then warmed the mandrel before wrapping the glass onto it. The next day, after the beads were cooled, I knocked the excess bead release from the mandrel and soaked them for two days. I'm using pliers to hold the mandrel while I try to twist off the beads. No luck!. I regularly use 1/16 mandrels and seldom have trouble getting the beads off the mandrels. This client wanted larger beads so this is my first time using the larger mandrels.
I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Eileen · #2 2014-10-29, 10:44am

I have had good luck in the past with dragging the mandrels (bead end down) over some rough concrete so the vibrations loosen the beads. (I have changed to Foster Fire & rarely have any difficulty anymore).
Also, I sometimes would use a bench vise to grip the mandrel while I grabbed the bead with a nonslip pad and twisted them off when the pliers weren't working.

astrologysflame · #3 2014-10-29, 10:53am

Eileen, I'll try your suggestions.

Eileen · #4 2014-10-29, 12:15pm

Good luck! I've also read that some people put them in the freezer for a while & get them off, although I've not personally had much luck with that.

You can also use a rivet gun to ease them off if they aren't welded to the rod. If they are they just shatter, but I guess if they aren't coming off it's either that or turn them into a plant poke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbZmRuoKO8k

CheriB · #5 2014-10-29, 12:49pm

Grab the mandrel with a vise grip, then gently bang the end of the mandrel against a rock or concrete a few times -- not enough to distort the tip. Then grab the bead with a cloth or big rubber band and twist it. It will generally come off easily after that. If not then, then try the rivet gun. If not then, put it in the freezer and forget it for a month or more. Then it might come off. There are lots of techniques, and all will work unless the release came loose while you were making the bead, and molten glass will stick to the mandrel, with no chance of it then coming off whole. The bead will crack and break once you finally get part of it off.

The tips & techniques section of the Library on here has other options. Experiment, and see what works. Here are a few threads that come up with a search of "bead release":
http://lampworketc.com/forums/showth...t=bead+release
http://lampworketc.com/forums/showth...t=bead+release
http://lampworketc.com/forums/showth...t=bead+release

astrologysflame · #6 2014-10-29, 1:11pm

Thanks, Cheri. I will try those things.

astrologysflame · #7 2014-10-29, 1:31pm

I saw some posts about a riveting gun. Has anyone used it and it didn't work?

allicat · #8 2014-10-29, 5:54pm

I've had beads stuck on mandrels for a couple years, finally popped them into the freezer for a couple of days and they actually came off! I've also had success with the "drag the end of the mandrel on concrete" system as well

Never used a riveting gun; the other methods were successful and I never had a need to.

Alli

artwhim · #9 2014-10-30, 7:23am

Since this was the first time you used the mandrels, did you run sand paper over them first to give them light tooth? With new mandrels, if you aren't used to working that large, it would be really easy to break the bead release inside the bead where you wouldn't be able to see it. Hopefully that isn't the case, but certainly possible if they won't come off.

I also like to add a little Shaklee Basic H to the soaking water.

28676bhe · #10 2014-10-30, 5:53pm

Rivet gun works well unless the release inside the bead is cracked, and then it won't come off anyway. I really like Mama G's bead release the best, but I don't do boro so I can only speak for soft glass.

PaulaD · #11 2014-11-01, 7:41am

Soak in white vinegar. It dissolves the bead release.

astrologysflame · #12 2014-11-01, 11:42am

Had some success with freezing the rods, but had 100% success with the rivet gun!!! Thanks for the suggestions.

mandyjw · #13 2014-11-02, 7:49am

I can't get my beads off the mandrels, especially when using a large diameter mandrel when I use pure fusion either. What I do is mix it at least half and half with foster fire bead release, or generally I use more foster fire in ratio to the fusion. In the meantime you can also trying thickening the bead release.