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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2010-11-16, 7:25pm
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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I'm telling you, the graphite rollers make ALL the difference. I can make rounds without them, but I really like how quickly I get "round" done now and then have more time to decorate... and with difficult glass it makes the difference! They are expensive, but so is your time and your frustration level!
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2010-11-16, 7:56pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 07, 2007
Location: High Point, NC
Posts: 1,402
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The graphite rollers are great! I only have 2 but they are both great tools and I would recommend them to anyone. One of the best thing that I like about them is that the glass can be quickly made into a perfect shape. The quick part is important for some of the more temperamental colors that burn the color out.
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♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·: Bethany :·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥
When a child is born... so is a grandmother
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2010-11-16, 8:54pm
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Glass Savant
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Join Date: Nov 02, 2010
Location: Island in the Bay
Posts: 95
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Well if I get serious about making beads I will have to invest in some shaping tools. I did manage to get a nicely rounded bead thanks to this thread that someone here linked to. http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=286186
But I burned the hell out of the yellow doing it. (still looks pretty cool anyways)
More pokers and my first twisty...
And then I experimented with various new shapes and techniques (with varying degrees of success..)
The big lumpy one's bead release broke as soon as I started to encase the dicro, I tried to keep going but had to give up (defiantly one for the wonky pile).
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2010-11-17, 5:39am
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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That's a neat link. Thank you for posting it.
I would add that some of this glass is stiff from the get-go though, so you must experiment with what each one will do under heat. To make a round bead, like this link, I make the basic footprint in a barrel shape to determine the size bead I want, and then use a tool like a flat brass edge or rounded graphite rod to work the barrel edges in to round.
Then I like to roll it in the graphite roller to smooth the ends and give it final shape before decorating. And if it is being difficult and wanting to devit or fry I take a thinnly pulled stringer and stop and wrap it from one side to the other, and melt it in to VERY thinnly encase it. Then it can take all the heat and the decorating you want to give it.
For example, the gorgeous blue below. I'm on a Hothead and I just cannot work it without deviting or frying it, so I always encase it and then work it. If you test each glass to see what it does in heat, and to see what it does when encased it will increase your success level. Happy glassing!
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2010-11-17, 9:15am
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<–I really do inks!
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Join Date: Oct 28, 2010
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 43
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Thanks for the painting compliment.
If I could make "non round" beads that look like all of yours, I wouldn't give a hoot if they were isosceles triangles!
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Thanks in advance! Beth
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2010-11-17, 2:34pm
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<–I really do inks!
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Join Date: Oct 28, 2010
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 43
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Well my glass arrived today... hummm, not glass for beginners! It's hard to get warmed up correctly.
I think there should be a lesson, if there isn't already, one like the way I illustrate different sizes of paint brushes. The stringers were as I expected but...whoa... I have a lot of three colors 1/4 lb each. I had no idea how to order in weight or size.
Then on 4 of my main colors, I bought 1/2 lbs of each and little did I know some of the rods would be the size of a slim jim or a thick asparagus!
Anyway, I am not sure what the technical name is for the glass shocking and breaking, well I thought I had it warmed enough, but oops, not. I have had specks of glass go off rods, but these are breaking in 1/8" rounds.
NOW, here is my life on a shoe string, seriously, this is how I live... I told someone that and said I rehabbed this 1860's building that way. Well they rolled their eyes, and I had to tell them, seriously, I know there is a shoestring holding something together here.
Moral of that story... has anyone put, not quite, boiling water in a coffee cup, then put the cup on an electric cup warmer plate and used this to hold their glass for warming? (Dried off first of course.)
So... I thought I would go out and take some pictures to show all I was talking about.
Here are some of of the shocked pieces:
I thought this would best show the width of the rods:
Now really, I need to learn to make stringers or frit, because here is the whole story! The whole vase with all the glass fell 3' right onto concrete.
yep, my new glass--I must say it held up really well compared to the vase holding it! All you can do is laugh with me!
Here is the first and only bead I've made with this glass:
Here are my two favorites, one is big and one is smaller, not made with this kind of glass.
I made the mistake of not buying any more metallic glass, I love the accent it gives. Thanks for hanging in there through this very long response.
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Thanks in advance! Beth
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2010-11-17, 3:14pm
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Glass Savant
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Join Date: Nov 02, 2010
Location: Island in the Bay
Posts: 95
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Devardi has some great videos that show how to work with the glass...
http://www.youtube.com/mailbuggy#p/u/2/7Dxg5PgufBk
But the rod warmer is the best, although it looks like they are sold out now. But the good news is, according to the Nov newsletter they sent me....
"Another great item we have on the way finally is a thermostatically controlled rod warmer that will be able to be used as a small annealing kiln. And, 220 volt rod warmers are also on the way for those of you in European and other countries with 220 volt house current."
(Now I wish I had waited to get one of those...)
I have read that some people use Gorge Forman Grills as rod warmers. You could try that.
Sorry about your glass falling, that really sucks.
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2010-11-17, 6:13pm
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewschott
Well my glass arrived today... hummm, not glass for beginners! It's hard to get warmed up correctly.
I made the mistake of not buying any more metallic glass, I love the accent it gives. Thanks for hanging in there through this very long response.
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Poor Sweetie! What an introduction... but you really MUST have a rod warmer. You can use a George Foreman grill if you can find one, but the best is the Rod Warmer. It hits about 800-900 degrees, and a Foreman grill can't do that. And you need to put the rod back in the Rod Warmer as you use it. Just let the glow go off the rod by rolling it on a marver, and then place it back in to be ready for the next use. The thick rods are great to pull thick stringers from and use as a regular rod, but again they need serious preheating to be ready to pull with.
Your beads are beautiful by the way!
We will help all we can, and you can also email Natasha at Devardi and she is quick to respond too. Be sure to sit and watch through the Devardi videos, they really help too. Hope this helps a bit.
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2010-11-17, 6:18pm
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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Sonja and Bethany, I wanted to ask what methods you use to make rounds?
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2010-11-17, 6:18pm
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<–I really do inks!
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Join Date: Oct 28, 2010
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 43
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Thanks Kristina and "user".
So, George Forman Grill... does that possibly mean my old mickey mouse waffle iron would work?
We that can be a bit of a serious question!!!!!
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Thanks in advance! Beth
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2010-11-17, 6:23pm
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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Anything that preheats can be used, just realize you must start the rods at the far back of the flame and continue their slow preheating until you see their tip start to glow and can tell they are ready to move forward for closer preheating.
You will get the feel for warming them up, but point the rod forward so any shocking goes away from you. When I was just starting to use this glass I used a small Potpourri Warmer until I got the Rod Warmer.
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2010-11-17, 6:29pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 15, 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,035
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90% of the time I simply use heat to make mine round but I have upgraded to a cricket from the hot head and its does go a wee bit faster with the oxygen added lol. I do have the bead roller that has the four different shapes, the disc, the round, the barrel and the oval. I use the disc the most, I love the shape and it's almost impossible to do that shape disc without the roller. I also use the round on occasion. I almost never use the barrel, I like making those free hand and I occasionally use the long oval. I would love to try a ribbed one though.
You can certainly try your old waffle iron.
For those of you who purchase the rod warmer, make sure that you purchase the plate that fits inside it or your rods may melt to the ceramic (ask me how I know). The rod warmer makes a huge difference in how easy it is to work with this glass, and as Kristina said, just make sure the tip isn't glowing anymore when you stick it back in there. I usually have two of the same color in there if I am making a set or switching colors a lot so that there is always one ready to go in case I forgot to stick one back in while waiting for the red glow to be gone.
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Sonja
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2010-11-17, 6:49pm
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Glass Savant
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Join Date: Nov 02, 2010
Location: Island in the Bay
Posts: 95
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fine Folly Glassworks
For example, the gorgeous blue below. I'm on a Hothead and I just cannot work it without deviting or frying it, so I always encase it and then work it. If you test each glass to see what it does in heat, and to see what it does when encased it will increase your success level. Happy glassing!
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Yeah I am discovering as I go what colors give me trouble. So far, out of the colors that I have tried, the op yellow and 2 of the trans blues love to burn on me. I guess I need to work on encasing, my few attempts have not been the most successful...
BTW, your beads are great. Nice work.
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2010-11-17, 7:16pm
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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Quote:
Originally Posted by user
Yeah I am discovering as I go what colors give me trouble. So far, out of the colors that I have tried, the op yellow and 2 of the trans blues love to burn on me. I guess I need to work on encasing, my few attempts have not been the most successful...
BTW, your beads are great. Nice work.
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Thank you. I am on a Hothead, so learning to encase was a trial for me. My favorite ways are to use thin stringers to wrap the bead from left to center, and then from right to center, so that I get the best alignment on both ends by the mandrel.
You can also lay stringers sideways across the bead all the way around, and heat in the center so that air bubbles (theoretically) can escape to the left and right.
I have had good luck when encasing Murrini on this Hothead by making dots of clear over the murrini and then all around and over until the bead looks like a clear glass spikey porcupine. Then heat and press the spikes as you turn, and use a graphite roller to round. I can't find a better picture but this one shows the murrine a bit. The passenger is just getting in the way of the view I'm afraid!
I'd sure like to hear favorite techniques the rest of you use to encase.
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2010-11-17, 7:22pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 15, 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,035
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encasing is one of my favorite things. I know, I am a bit on the odd side. Usually, I heat up a large blob of whatever glass I am using to encase, roughly the size of a large pea at least until its almost dripping, then I smoosh it onto the base bead and roll the glass all the way around the bead. Then I take a paring knife (my favorite tool by the way) and heat one side of the encasing glass and gently move however much needs to moved as close to the mandrel as I can get it without touching. Repeat on the other side. Then round.
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Sonja
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2010-11-17, 7:24pm
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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Neat explanation Sonja! I know that brass scoots hot glass well, but I hadn't thought of using a paring knife!
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2010-11-17, 8:16pm
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Glass Savant
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Join Date: Nov 02, 2010
Location: Island in the Bay
Posts: 95
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Thanks to both of you for the encasing tips. I'll give both methods a try.
And here is what I did today..
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2010-11-17, 9:23pm
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Help i am on fire
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Join Date: Aug 23, 2008
Location: in the woods
Posts: 267
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i am the worst at encasing, i am still waiting for a miracle.
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2010-11-17, 10:34pm
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Remember to keep smiling
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Join Date: Jul 09, 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,320
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I just made it to my son Steven's and he surprised me with a copy of Kristina's Critter tutorial book. "Kristina WOW" You really did a awesome job it is so detailed and those little critters are adorable. I really love it.
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Paula P.
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SRA#P109
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2010-11-18, 5:28am
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulaP
I just made it to my son Steven's and he surprised me with a copy of Kristina's Critter tutorial book. "Kristina WOW" You really did a awesome job it is so detailed and those little critters are adorable. I really love it.
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Oh, how neat! And how kind of you to say so. Here is a collection of the Critters made up into necklaces. BOC is getting the Workbooks posted on their website as we speak, and they will soon be available there too, not just on my site.
If you find I was unclear on any step or you have suggestions for revisions please be sure to email me. I really value input. And welcome back! Let's see more of your darling 3-D Cuties!
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2010-11-18, 6:55am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 07, 2007
Location: High Point, NC
Posts: 1,402
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The critters are so cute!
For my rounds I just use heat. I use the bead roller when I am in a hurry, but most of the time just use the flame. I also get the glass so that it almost drips onto the bead when encasing. I don't use a tool-but have a paring knife that I am going to try! Thanks for the tip!
All the beads are so pretty! Keep up the great work!
__________________
♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·: Bethany :·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥
When a child is born... so is a grandmother
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2010-11-18, 7:08am
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Help i am on fire
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Join Date: Aug 23, 2008
Location: in the woods
Posts: 267
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love the critters.
i am going to try the blob thing but the name makes me think in my case it will end up a blob.
__________________
There are no limitations in what you can do
except the limitations of your own mind.
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2010-11-18, 8:47am
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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Here's my offering from last night's work... another Christmas bracelet with a pendant. My Mother in Law loves red. They are all the same red, I guess the lighting made the farther out ones look lighter. I think this is the SOP Cranberry. It's like a deep Cherry Red actually. It has no heat issues and I just love working it.
Are any of you making lampwork gifts for Christmas? It sure would be neat to see them if you do.
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2010-11-18, 11:03am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 19, 2009
Posts: 181
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To the new folks posting here, WELCOME !! You will find lots of support here, and some great tips for lampworking in general.
Bead-Meltdown, try encasing with stringers. When I started encasing, I found this gave me the best results. Heat control is very important, you have got to keep the base bead warm enough, not to crack, but not so warm that the design will smear. IF you want to try encasing with stringer, keep your base bead BEHIND the flame and your stringer in the flame, wind the stringer right around your bead. Pick your least favorite colors to use as a base, because yes, your first few beads are gonna be ugly. Don't worry about gaps or air bubbles or anything else. Your mission is just to get the clear glass around the base bead. And don't forget to BREATHE while you're doing it, or you will get dizzy !!! ...LOL After you get so that you can apply the stringer in an even fashion all the way around the bead, THEN you get to worry about all the other stuff. And don't be so hard on yourself. Encasing and doing it well, involves alot of time, patience and practice.
Someone mentioned the George Foreman grill, and while I wouldn't discourage anyone from buying a rod warmer, I do have to say, Mine has worked great for me !! I found it in a Thrift store for 2.00. I also stalk the kitchen section and have found many, many wonderful tools. Word of caution on that however, stick with items that are stamped as Stainless Steel. You do not EVER want to put any other kind of metal in your torch flame.
ew schott, I think you would love gallon glass jars to store your rods in. So sorry about your vase tipping over. I've always used these big jars for my rods because the base is so wide and the jars themselves are so heavy, I have a high spazz factor but have never managed to knock one of these over.
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2010-11-18, 11:33am
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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Well said!
I worked up these two Holiday Froggies last night, if you pardon the combination of Froggies and Candy Canes (or "Tandy-tanes" as my little girl calls them).
.•:*¨¨*:•.
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2010-11-19, 7:01pm
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<–I really do inks!
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Join Date: Oct 28, 2010
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 43
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ARGGGHHHH...
I officially wrote the company tonight to see if I could exchange these hot dog round rods for something thinner. If it doesn't shock/flake for me, it pulls all the bead release off the mandrel when I am first trying to wrap it.
The glass is lovely, but I am not!!!! I did watch their videos.
I think, without looking, it was User that posted the Wet Canvas link, the WC artist instructions on rounding a bead was great!
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Thanks in advance! Beth
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2010-11-19, 7:24pm
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Help i am on fire
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Join Date: Aug 23, 2008
Location: in the woods
Posts: 267
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hot dog rounds LOL. you trip me out. i cringe at the thought of making beads now. i am trying and trying to work w/ this glass.
i can work the semi-op great
op shocks some not alot
and the f**kin transparents are just flyin all over the place. i heat the end first then i wave it for 2 hrs high in flame and it is just popin like fireworks. i went through 2 rods just breaking.
i am getting close very close to selling this lot of glass i bought real cheap. it's a shame cause i am out alot of money. it's all on the credit card and i will still need glass, sucks.
__________________
There are no limitations in what you can do
except the limitations of your own mind.
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2010-11-19, 7:40pm
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewschott
ARGGGHHHH...
I officially wrote the company tonight to see if I could exchange these hot dog round rods for something thinner. If it doesn't shock/flake for me, it pulls all the bead release off the mandrel when I am first trying to wrap it.
The glass is lovely, but I am not!!!! I did watch their videos. I think, without looking, it was User that posted the Wet Canvas link, the WC artist instructions on rounding a bead was great!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bead-meltdown
hot dog rounds LOL. you trip me out. i cringe at the thought of making beads now. i am trying and trying to work w/ this glass.
i can work the semi-op great op shocks some not alot and the f**kin transparents are just flyin all over the place. i heat the end first then i wave it for 2 hrs high in flame and it is just popin like fireworks. i went through 2 rods just breaking.
i am getting close very close to selling this lot of glass i bought real cheap. it's a shame cause i am out alot of money. it's all on the credit card and i will still need glass, sucks.
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Please order the Rod Warmer and use it. It will make all the difference. And for the Hot Dog rods, preheat well and then pull thick stringers and use them, don't try to use the huge rods to wrap a small mandrel with.
Believe me, I have been in your shoes!
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2010-11-19, 7:55pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 15, 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,035
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Please don't give up on this glass just yet. I also strongly recommend that you get the rod warmer, it really does make a huge difference. I use Devardi for 90% of my beads. And do keep in mind that other glass can shock also. The transparent and the pinks for some reason seem to be the most likely to shock but the rod warmer really helps with those. Even the pinks which I have been sorely tempted to throw across the room on occasion. I seem to have the most problems with the transparent ambers and topaz when it comes to shocking but even those become pretty manageable with the rod warmer. Just make sure your buy the steel plate that goes on the inside too or your rods will melt to the ceramic.
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Sonja
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2010-11-19, 8:19pm
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Help i am on fire
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Join Date: Aug 23, 2008
Location: in the woods
Posts: 267
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they are sold out, well temp. out of stock of rod warmers.
does the rod warmer make the rods to hot to touch? while i am waiting for rod warmer i use a hot plate, w/ half rod on plate and half off. i have a hard time touching the rods they are so hot.
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