Keeping brass press cool enough for silver glass?

BeadedChic · #1 2012-05-05, 4:11am

Been lampworking for over three years and love to use a brass press for shaping sets. I also like how it helps develop the colors in silver glass but after a couple of presses, it seems to get too hot and the reactions just don't happen after the second bead. Any suggestions on how to keep the press cool enough during a session?

papimom · #2 2012-05-05, 4:49am

One way is to lay the press on a freezer pack to chill it down.
Joan

BeadedChic · #3 2012-05-05, 5:34am

Do you leave it in the freezer pack or just place it on occasionally? I appreciate the help.

Pat · #4 2012-05-05, 10:29am

Dunk it in your water bowl after each use. That will usually chill it down.

KFraley51 · #5 2012-05-09, 7:22pm

Freezer pack works great. Keep brass press on it when not pressing so it's cold each time.

5betsy · #6 2012-05-10, 2:39pm

Nice idea! Will this work for a graphite tool?

jaci · #7 2012-05-11, 8:25pm

ditto on the freezer packs.

Graphite absorbs water, so I do not think so, it does not stay as hot as long either.
Graphite does not really do a good job of pulling heat out of a bead to begin eith, I dont think cooling it much would really help it. Maybe try a piece of marble or tile that has been in the freezer. (if it does not condensate) Marble is great and readily available for cheep in small pieces. Even a marble tile from lowes or home depot is only a few bucks each. They are good and cool. Placing your graphite on that will help it cool faster, and the marble itself can be used as a marver. Just keep in mind it may have a coating that may burn off and possibly stain lighter colors. I usually use the back side if it is an issue. It is usually just fine though.

glassmaker · #8 2012-05-11, 11:45pm

If it is decent graphite, water won't hurt it at all. If it isn't decent graphite, it will be useless for tools anyway. Cooling graphite tools in water is standard practice in scientific glassblowing. NOT cooling graphite when one should is what eats it up.

As far as cooling the brass tool, water is what I use. If the tool is a size or shape that can't easily be dipped, then use a wet cloth to cool it. Any excess water will evaporate very quickly. The freezer pack idea sounds interesting, although I'm not quite sure how it would be used.

Oddly, my experience with silver glass has been that steel works better than brass, and brass works better than graphite when it comes to chilling the glass to get good color. It doesn't seem that it should make much difference, but it appears to.

Brad

BeadedChic · #9 2012-05-13, 12:28pm

Thank you everyone...these are some great ideas.

saraconklin · #10 2012-05-14, 11:21am

i have had problem with silver glass and pressing. i make the bead, encase it and then when i go to press in a brass press some weird poop develops that i can't deal with since it is under the encasement layer. BTY, thought i read something about brass presses being too cold and if you kept them warm maybe the poop wouldn't develop....so put them on the top of the chili pepper kiln and the things got so hot i couldn't touch them! opposite of the ice treatment. what do you all think about encased silver glass and the post press poop development?

simvet02 · #11 2012-05-14, 2:58pm

Sara, when you talk about encased silver glass getting poop are you talking about reduced silver glass or striking glass? I haven't had that problem for either one....just curious.

My poop always happens in the kiln...still trying to figure that out.

I'm going to try the freezer pack to cool the brass down between presses, that sounds easy enough to try.