Lampwork Etc.
 
Send a PM to CorriDawn!

LE Live Chat

Enter Live Chat

No users in chat


Jelveh Designs - Glass Beads Torched One-by-One

Beads of Courage


 

Go Back   Lampwork Etc. > Library > Tips, Techniques, and Questions

Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 2013-04-30, 5:45am
pugmommie's Avatar
pugmommie pugmommie is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 20, 2013
Location: Crestview, Florida
Posts: 122
Default Favorite tools?

What are your favorite tools for bead making?
So far I have the Shaping Marver and Roller, that came in my beginners kit.
Is there any other tools that would be helpful to a beginner?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2013-04-30, 6:24am
Box E Creations's Avatar
Box E Creations Box E Creations is offline
Echo's Mother
 
Join Date: May 26, 2012
Posts: 104
Default

Corina's Magic Wand
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2013-04-30, 6:25am
Cherri Cherri is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 22, 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 591
Default

Tools, isn't that a loaded question. lol
There are so many things (tools) out there that it can be over whelming. I am still a newbie, so I get to say things like that and get away with it. Plus, I buy just about everything that comes my way that I think is cool or will help me out. What I have found is that I use my small handheld marver, the torch marver that came with my hothead most of the time. I do use a bead roller that I got and I am I am going to be looking for another one. The next most used is my marble mold. Other than a few pokers and dental tools that is about it. OH almost forgot I got this tool from Arrow Springs It is called a Shaping tool. I use it alot for pressing the glass and shaping.
As you get used to the glass and zone in on what you like making or want to make different tools will help you. Getting to many at one time will not only make you broke, it will make you crazy trying to learn to use them all at the same time. (ask me how I know).
The best thing you can do as you start is learning to control the glass and get your basic shapes with the tools you already have. Even though I have a bunch of different "tools" I still practice the basic shapes every time I sit down at the torch.
I am still learning and I hope to be learning for a long time. Every time you have a mess up don't feel as if you have failed; look at it in the learning experience and you will be flying along.
Good luck.
__________________
Life without art would be BORING!
ArtbyCherri.com

Last edited by Cherri; 2013-04-30 at 6:29am.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 2013-04-30, 6:58am
EchoTantuli's Avatar
EchoTantuli EchoTantuli is offline
Artistically Absorbed
 
Join Date: Jul 27, 2007
Location: Emerald City
Posts: 546
Default

My most used tools are tweezers, followed by mini shapers, cg bead rollers, and razor.
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Believe in Yourself and Anything is Possible!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
SRA Artist A64

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 2013-04-30, 7:10am
shawnette's Avatar
shawnette shawnette is offline
I fart diamonds
 
Join Date: Jun 14, 2005
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Posts: 3,893
Default

Needle nose pliers, brass butter knife, Kim Cone & Vessel Shaper (even though I don't make cones & vessels...)
__________________
-Shawnette
the original "everybody get a grip" girl

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 2013-04-30, 10:41am
FosterFire's Avatar
FosterFire FosterFire is offline
SCIENCE Teacher!
 
Join Date: Jul 19, 2005
Location: Wylie, TX
Posts: 2,140
Default

I love my small stump shaper, my plier handled mashers, bent tweezers and tungsten pick.
__________________
Yes, I am FosterFire Bead Release.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 2013-04-30, 11:01am
MaryBeth's Avatar
MaryBeth MaryBeth is offline
novembersfyre everywhere
 
Join Date: Jun 11, 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,833
Default

I have tons of tools. Many of these are useful for a very specific purpose and that's OK. But my very favorite general purpose tool is this:



You can get it here - The Osibin Curve Shaper (scroll down):

http://www.arrowsprings.com/html/shaping_tools.html

The back functions as a regular flat marver. The wide curved surface is amazing for helping you shape beads where you want them to be curved - not flat. Even if you have used another tool to initially shape your bead - you can use this one to finish it! I just love it and I use it during every torch session. You can also use it as a frit holder with a handle! And it is a good tool to hold your silver leaf or foil as the curved sides keep them from blowing away.
__________________
Mary Beth


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 2013-04-30, 4:58pm
Box E Creations's Avatar
Box E Creations Box E Creations is offline
Echo's Mother
 
Join Date: May 26, 2012
Posts: 104
Default

I love everything I have purchased from Graceful Customs. They are well made quality tools. And yes, cg bead rollers and Zoozii's presses and on and on and on ......
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 2013-04-30, 6:22pm
pugmommie's Avatar
pugmommie pugmommie is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 20, 2013
Location: Crestview, Florida
Posts: 122
Default

Guys, thanks for all the advice. All the tools look so cool and I'm gonna try and control myself from buying stuff I don't need, but it sure is hard and it adds up fast! I'm gonna practice more this weekend and hopefully my beads won't look like used chewing gum again!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 2013-04-30, 7:14pm
Emily's Avatar
Emily Emily is offline
Missing presumed fed
 
Join Date: Nov 15, 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 3,158
Default

4x3 graphite paddle, small brass stump shaper, non-serrated needle nose pliers, tweezers, tungsten pick (I use the one with the hooked end more than the one with the straight end), barbecue mashers, rod nippers, razor blade tool
__________________
To those who question the real value of the Web: Sea slugs. Now, please fall into a respectful silence, and don't speak again until you understand why you were wrong.
Scorpion and one Intensity 10 lpm 20 psi concentrator
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 2013-05-01, 4:29am
losthelm losthelm is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 27, 2008
Location: Albion NY
Posts: 517
Default

It can help to set a budget then simply watch the garage sale.
Then you have to decide, glass, tools, findings, classes, trips, shows, or upgrade to your workspace.
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 2013-05-01, 6:22am
Elizabeth Beads's Avatar
Elizabeth Beads Elizabeth Beads is offline
Lampworkaholic!
 
Join Date: Apr 22, 2008
Location: Cornelius, NC - because weather
Posts: 5,158
Default

Tungsten bent tweezer.

Arrow Springs Greedy Grabber.

Guarino graphite paddle.

Catwalk grooved brass marver.

Catwalk wide crunch.

Corina stainless steel pokers and Magic Wand.

Small teaspoon for frit.

CG Beads giant 4x6 paddle and Egg roller.

Bellflower press!
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

"And all will turn to silver glass, a light on the water, grey ships pass into the west." Annie Lennox
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 2013-05-01, 6:27am
bob's Avatar
bob bob is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 02, 2007
Location: Nahant Ma
Posts: 1,901
Default

My favorite tool in my national m-8 torch, with out it we would not need any of the other tools. All kidding aside, I would have to say my magic wand is an often used tool.
Bob
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

e-mail:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 2013-05-01, 8:17am
MelanieG's Avatar
MelanieG MelanieG is offline
I like to melt things
 
Join Date: Jul 22, 2008
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2,163
Default

I have quite a few tools now, but this is the set I want with me every time I torch. Everything else gets used (or not *sigh*) much more infrequently. I could go for months using nothing but these tools if I didn't need to drag my lentil press off the shelf periodically to make test beads for my blog.

- Graphite Pad
- Small Graphite Marver
- Jumbo Rollabout Mashers (from Graceful Customs)
- Tweezer Mashers
- Large Spoon
- Beading Awl
- Brass Poking Tool
- Dental Tool w/ Curved Spatula Ends
- Nail Set
- Lake w/ flat blade and sharp poking end (from Artco Inc)
- Tweezers

My favourite press is my Zoozii's Medium+ Duo, and my favourite CG Beadroller is the Small Ovals.
__________________
Melanie

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
-
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
-
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 2013-05-01, 11:49am
julieann1674's Avatar
julieann1674 julieann1674 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 22, 2012
Location: Eastern Shore Maryland
Posts: 958
Default

I am still quite the newbie, but the tools I use the most are my Corina stainless steel pokers, Magic Wand, small bead shaper, my tungsten tweezers I got from Germany and last and most important to me is Graceful customs Hold me Tight. I have one of these now and I think I might order another in case I am working with an additional shorty and need to have it ready to use. I can't believe I didn't purchase that holder when I first started. Now I can use each rod up until the very, very end; especially my Zephyr clear...don't want to waste any of it!

Have fun! My tool collection is growing into brass presses and rollers now. lol
__________________
Happy Torching! Julie


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
~
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
~
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
~
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
~
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 2013-05-01, 1:36pm
silverlilly1 silverlilly1 is offline
42
 
Join Date: Mar 07, 2012
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 773
Default

The cylinder graphite speed shaper from Arrow Springs, my graphite shaper with open channels, tungsten pick, needlenose pliers, stainless steel chopsticks, and a little brass stylus.
__________________
Melissa

Facebook:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Website:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Free Lampwork and Jewelry Tutorials, with easy searching, prominent linkage to your shop or site, and rotating featured tutorials:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 2013-05-02, 8:33am
missp_32 missp_32 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 05, 2005
Location: Northern Colorado foothills
Posts: 883
Default

Anything Carlo Dona
Magic Wand
Corina's Pokers
__________________
Patti G.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Scorpion with 2 Regalia's on NG
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 2013-05-02, 4:29pm
Lisi's Avatar
Lisi Lisi is offline
one day at a time
 
Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: We are MOVING!!!
Posts: 8,319
Default

A must have if you are a newbie is a parallel masher. Here's one like mine:

http://www.artcoinc.com/beadpress.php

The brass mashers with the pins are much easier to use than the paddle type. I've tried them all and this the best one in my opinion as far as a basic masher to make tabular beads. Raise it on a large can and you can bend down just a little to see at eye level, and it's even better. I use the tall Campbell's condensed soup can, or any can in that size for the height and weight.
__________________
You live in a world of money. Money means choices. No money, no choices. Welcome to reality.
Melody (Marlee Matlin) from Switched at Birth
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 2013-05-02, 4:37pm
BeadedChic BeadedChic is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 05, 2012
Posts: 79
Default

I have a set if dental tools that are always within reach...I tend to do a lot of fine raking though and if used right, you can move just the top layers of the glass.
__________________
Donna

Beaded Chic

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 2013-05-02, 6:01pm
Nolly Nolly is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 12, 2005
Posts: 131
Default

I am a tool junkie, but my favorite and most useful tool is the Osibin Lentil Shaper. It serves as a frit tray, lentil mold, the sides are great for flat marvering, and you can roll beautiful olives with it. I can always even out a bead that's going wonky with it, too. Just a very versatile tool.

Nolly
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 2013-05-03, 6:04pm
MrsD's Avatar
MrsD MrsD is offline
Nerwbie Glass Junkie
 
Join Date: Oct 24, 2010
Location: Brisbane, Sunshine State, Australia
Posts: 2,133
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Emily View Post
4x3 graphite paddle, small brass stump shaper, non-serrated needle nose pliers, tweezers, tungsten pick, barbecue mashers, rod nippers, razor blade tool
Apart from my presses & bead rollers, these tools that Emily listed are what I use & couldn't live without. My brass stump shaper has a brass knife blade at the other end which is a great bonus.
__________________
Toowoomba here I come ...


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 2013-05-07, 8:46am
CreativeSpirit's Avatar
CreativeSpirit CreativeSpirit is offline
Creative Spirit
 
Join Date: Oct 21, 2005
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
Posts: 358
Default

Hands down my smircich tail stock holder! couldn't live without it!


Peace Wendy
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 2013-05-07, 9:08am
mtnglass's Avatar
mtnglass mtnglass is offline
T.J. made me do it
 
Join Date: May 09, 2007
Location: Tahoe-Douglas, NV
Posts: 1,120
Default

Stump Shaper, Greedy Grabber, brass micrometer, needle nose pliers, set of spoons for frit and small mashers are the tools that I use everyday.
__________________
Julie
-Outwest Art Glass

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 2013-05-08, 2:41pm
Lisi's Avatar
Lisi Lisi is offline
one day at a time
 
Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: We are MOVING!!!
Posts: 8,319
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CreativeSpirit View Post
Hands down my smircich tail stock holder! couldn't live without it!


Peace Wendy
Oh, yes...that is a MUST. I don't make a single bead without it! But I wore mine out and had to make my own with a thick rod of boro. lol
__________________
You live in a world of money. Money means choices. No money, no choices. Welcome to reality.
Melody (Marlee Matlin) from Switched at Birth
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 2013-05-08, 6:17pm
pugmommie's Avatar
pugmommie pugmommie is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 20, 2013
Location: Crestview, Florida
Posts: 122
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lisi View Post
Oh, yes...that is a MUST. I don't make a single bead without it! But I wore mine out and had to make my own with a thick rod of boro. lol
Is this a stabilizer for the bead?
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 2013-05-09, 9:19am
alb6094's Avatar
alb6094 alb6094 is offline
I'm kinda biz-EE
 
Join Date: Aug 08, 2007
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 3,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CreativeSpirit View Post
Hands down my smircich tail stock holder! couldn't live without it!


Peace Wendy
I was looking for this one before I wrote it down. It changed my life as a newbie beadmaker. I don't pick it up all that much anymore but will still use it occasionally for larger beads. My first and second year in lampworking I was never without it.
__________________
Astrid


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
*
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
*
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 2013-05-09, 9:20am
alb6094's Avatar
alb6094 alb6094 is offline
I'm kinda biz-EE
 
Join Date: Aug 08, 2007
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 3,610
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by pugmommie View Post
Is this a stabilizer for the bead?
It is. It's a rod of brass with a dimple carved into it where you can place the tip of the mandrel. In essence, it's like being able to hold onto both sides of the mandrel. Arrow Springs carries them I believe.
__________________
Astrid


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
*
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
*
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 2013-05-10, 9:12am
J. Savina's Avatar
J. Savina J. Savina is offline
Puddy Cat Lover
 
Join Date: Nov 04, 2005
Location: DeMotte, IN
Posts: 1,592
Default

Along with most lampworkers, there are tools you use all the time. Tweezers, brass marvers, pokers, etc. But one of my all time favorite tools that I picked up recently at Howaco glass is the frit spoon. LOVE IT!!! I wish I had 10 of them now. Easy to use. Love the bent handle which makes it so easy to pick up and bring close to the flame so your bead doesn't cool too much before adding the frit. Here's a picture of it.

J.
Attached Images
 
__________________
Jeanette Savina Cobb

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
*
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
*

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 2013-05-10, 9:18am
Lisi's Avatar
Lisi Lisi is offline
one day at a time
 
Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: We are MOVING!!!
Posts: 8,319
Default

I'm going to make some squeezed (aka crunched) beads this weekend so you can see what those look like.
__________________
You live in a world of money. Money means choices. No money, no choices. Welcome to reality.
Melody (Marlee Matlin) from Switched at Birth
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 2013-05-10, 10:26pm
Ravenesque Ravenesque is offline
Naysayer
 
Join Date: Sep 22, 2009
Posts: 1,203
Default

Look at thrift stores also, a tool I use nightly is a stainless canape knife for shaping, flattening murrini, so on. Sometimes you can find frit holders (aka old spoons, aluminum tins, etc)

Tools I use every torch session, the above mentioned, a smasher/shaper I made from bending a strip of stainless sheet in half, tungsten pick, flat marver.

I've torched since 2005 and I really do not have many tools, I improvise a lot. Like using the bottom of soda cans as frit trays.
...oh! somewhere around here is a thread of thrifty tools, that's a fun thread that saves the pocketbook!
Err I cannot find the thread :/

Last edited by Ravenesque; 2013-05-10 at 10:30pm.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:12pm.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Your IP: 3.84.7.255