Newbie - first time set up

[bubbasbeads]

Hi,

I am a complete beginner, with only a one day course to my name...

I've decided to try and set myself up, this may seem a very stupid question but what would you all condsider are the absolute essentials for a complete beginner - apart from a torch,  gas, glass, mandrels some bead release and safety glasses. I'll start with a HH on bulk - I'm in Gibraltar so don't even know if I can buy Mapp Gas out here.

 The best place for me to set up would be in the kitchen, it's the most uncluttered room in my apartment, it has a ceiling fan (it's warm out here you know!) and a cooker hood for ventilation. The table is glass topped, what would you suggest I covered it with (I dont want to be melting my landladies table!)

Any ideas on basic equipment that I won't be able to live without would be very welcome - also if anyone is selling any second hand gear then I would be very interested.

Ann  xx

[Madam Steph]

A graphite marver and paddle, a slo-cooker and cooling bubbles

[bubbasbeads]

A graphite marver and paddle, a slo-cooker and cooling bubbles

Thanks Linda, I have a slow cooker (it's on at the mo with tomorrow's curry in it!) I'll make a note of the other things. 

Ann  xx

[Madam Steph]

I used to put it on HOT before I started torching.

Leave it on hot till half an hour after last bead goes in then turn down to warm for an hour then turn off and leave till all cold

I also find an old pair of snipe nosed pliers (from my seed beading) useful for pulling stringer. Failing that, when you ruin your first mandrel (arrrghhhhhhh!!!) you can use that to pull stringer.

Good luck with your torching 

[Redhotsal]

I would put down a soft cloth, or a thick layer of newspaper over the glass topped table and then cover  it with cheap floor tiles, pushed up together. The tiles will take the heat from any hot glass and protect the glass table and the newspaper/cloth will protect the table from the scratchy underside of the tiles. If you have the Maltese equivalent of B+Q you should be able to pick up a box of tiles quite cheaply - you can even go for the broken ones if they are reduced. I'm a bit worried about the glass table to be honest - check that it is toughened glass (tempered). I've seen a non tempered glass table shatter into lethally sharp foot long shards when a wine bottle got accidentally knocked over so take care.

[mizgeorge]

I wouldn't use the glass table at all. I'd get a cheap workmate or similar (which can be easily folded away when not in use and is very stable) and use that.

I have to say I've never bothered with a slow cooker for annealing bubbles - it's useful for vermiculite, but I don't think bubbles need heating, and I've never seen it recommended. It's going to be more useful making curry as you won't have time to cook any more!

You may struggle with having the ceiling fan on - if you're too close to it, it could well alter your flame. Better to have an ordinary fan to cool you if you need it.

[Lush!]

Yay! I'm so pleased you're going to get started, Ann 

I've been demoing on a hothead today (on bulk, the only way is bulk) and we're definitely friends again now 

[bubbasbeads]

Thanks for your advice ladies - I'll give that glass table some thought - I remember Julie saying in a reply to someone else that Ikea do a stainless steel table top - I can get to an Ikea from here in Gib so that might be the way forward.  The problem is I'm trying to fit a 'studio' into an already quite full 2 bedroomed apartment - no shedio for me!

Any more ideas on basic but essential equipement very welcome

Ann  xx

[Pat from Canvey]

Have a look at your kitchen tools with a new eye. A sharp pointed knife is useful as are various sizes of spoons. Rolling a bead in a spoon gives a nice oval barrel. Any tongs with flattish plates on them? They'll do until you can afford mashers. I was using a tea bag squeezer until then.

[bubbasbeads]

Have a look at your kitchen tools with a new eye.  I was using a tea bag squeezer until then.

..........must rush out and buy tea bag squeezer!! 

Thanks Pat, good advice.

Ann  xx

[sarah t]

while you are considering your landladies table i would also consider her floor its probably tiles but in case its not ....

 grafite marver  is a must , tweezers and pokey proddy tools will be useful as well

[SilverGems89]

like Pat says have a look around at what you have, as long as its stainless steel your good to go! I wouldn't be without my graphite marvers (and yes i have more than one because you can always guarantee when you want it it would be covered in frit/silver/anything else you can think of!) also pokey tools, for making plunged dots, dragging glass etc and also razor tool (can be substituted for a kitchen knife) tweezers/pliers for pulling stringer/twisties
There are others but those are the ones that are most used and always out on my bench!

[paintboxcrafts]

I have these, they have a trolley and a half width version too if space is limited.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80059652/
Have fun!

[bubbasbeads]

 grafite marver  is a must , tweezers and pokey proddy tools will be useful as well

We have tiled floors throughout so that is ok

It seems like a grafite marver, tweezers and pokey proddy things get the most votes so I'll definately put them on my start list.

I have these, they have a trolley and a half width version too if space is limited.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80059652/
Have fun!

If I decide not to melt my landladies kitchen table then the Ikea one looks perfect, thanks for the link.

Many thanks to everyone for their advice so far.

Now, to get on with making that shopping list.........   

Ann  xx

[Madam Steph]

Forget the floor tiles......my Loungio has acquired numerous carpet burns these last five months or so.
Adds a kind of rustic touch to a Docklands studio