I saw another thread about presses and was going to comment there but thought it better over here.
I had made the post on the ISGB that when it comes to lentils I think the word press is misleading.
I use zooziis ..in my opinion the best...
and I do not PRESS lentils.
I get best results using the parts of the press to SHAPE the bead.
When the press doesn't have straight outer edges it is harder to PRESS the shape.
The tab press is a good example. You can't go wrong with a tab press...the glass spreads out to the straight sides, is contained and evenly distributed. If you dont' have enough it is very easy to reheat add more glass and press again. With the right amount of glass it will always come out perfect.
I mentioned this to Zoozii last year and that the problem with lentils is that the area around the bead hole needs to have straight sides...and I see she has one now.
OK I digressed... (who would'a thunk it?!)
When making lentils I do 1 of two things...I used to press to a tab first...because I knew the glass would fill out and end up in a perfectly shaped bead ...with all the glass properly distributed I would then re-heat and press the lentil... (tab needs to be one smaller that the lentil size of the finish bead...the point is that you have all the glass evenly distributed before you press)
Now I no longer do that... I don't press lentils wth my lentil press...
I pick up the top when my gather is the right length on the mandrel and it is hot enough to move (not soupy...but soft) Holding the top upside down,
I lay the gather in the appropriate indentation and let it SETTLE then turn it over. If i need more glass one place or another etc...I can add it or even take it away. All you need to do is gently reheat until you have the shape you want in the top of the press.
by letting your lentils (because of the narrow edges...) settle into the top you can see the shape develop and make sure all the glass is where you need it.
I only press lentils at the very end when all is distributed evenly and just right...then the last thing I do is heat lightly and then PRESS for a finishing touch and to make sure everything is evenly distributed.
If you make perfect lentil you don't need this.
ONE MORE THING...
when making normal beads I never marver a round bead on a flat marver...
I pick u the top to my lentil press and I roll it in the indentation in the top.
It makes infinite sense to marver with a concave surface...
I like the control of picking up the top and turning it over and rolling where I can see more... (I wear a leather apron
If you are lentil impaired... I suggest you use this method...
If you haven't gotten a lentil press yet... I suggest trying Zoosii's new lentil press with straight sides at the bead hole... that should make a huge difference.