I know this has been discussed before, but with a couple of tool tips jumping up recently, and quite a few newbies around, I thought it might be worth another topic?
Also, because.........am I the only one who cleans without any motorised implement, and am I being stupid to do so? Do you guys use your Dremels etc. under water? I just can't imagine cleaning beads without water to dampen the nasty dust, but similarly, I just can't bring myself to take an electric tool to a water source?
Just call me newbie ;)
Quote from: sparrow on February 15, 2009, 06:55:23 AM
Also, because.........am I the only one who cleans without any motorised implement, and am I being stupid to do so?
No, you're not the only one - I don't have a flex-shaft thingy and wouldn't be happy putting my dremel end in water, I can be such a butter fingers!
So I use a bead reamer.
Steph x
Re-chargeable Dremel so you are not attached to the power source when using. I put the beads in a washing up bowl with warm water and a smidge of washing up liquid. Then I have a jug of hot water beside me. I don't clean the beads under the water (I find it too slippy and hard to locate the hole) but the beads (and release) are wet and I then dip the diamond bit into the jug of water and put all the cleaned beads into the jug. I then wash them in hot soapy water and put them in a sieve and run clean water over them. I have been known to put them through the dishwasher once bead release has been removed.
Kazx
I just use a diamond reamer - I don't usually have heaps of beads to clean though, when I have had a real pile of them I've wondered if there's a better way! I don't find it too much of a drag. Oh and I don't batch anneal.. maybe if I was doing that I'd be using something else. :)
I clean mine by hand too. Tend to do it while I'm watching (or half watching) tv. Bought a fancy dremel and decided it was a silly waste of money so took it back and got a refund. I think I'm less likely to chip the beads doing it by hand.
I do the same as Kaz, saves loads of time! Love my cordless Dremel would not be without it.
Glad I asked the question....I often only have 20 beads or so (from an 'after work' session), but every now and then, it'll be 100 in one go (including spacers). Maybe I ought to implement the 'in front of telly' strategy. I'm like you Shirley, scared of chipping, but presumably that's just because I can't use the tool properly, as I know the people who clean their beads with a dremel wouldn't sell on chipped beadies either, so....hmmmm......Hardest thing is keeping Toby patient while I clean - it usually costs me one grape per bead ;)
You could try a flexshaft on your dremel so that the motor is a long way away from the water. The trick to avoid chipping is to use a very slow speed and to put the bit in the hole before you switch it on and to switch it off before you take it out.
I use my proxxon if I have a lot of beads; otherwise I do them by hand with a mandrel and some polishing compound Becky gave me.
Sarah
xxx
Thanks Sarah - somebody was selling a flexshaft on here a while ago, but I was too slow.....will keep pondering. The cordless idea sounds nice too :)
Y'all know I often have half a ton of beads to clean at once ;)
My routine is similar to Kaz's - except my beads get more a cold shower than a hot bubble bath! I don't put my dremel-type-thingy in the water but my beads are wet and I dip them back in the water or under the tap when I finish reaming.
And I agree with Sarah - only turn the drill on when its in the hole to avoid chipping.
Okay Newbie? ;D ;D
Quote from: sparrow on February 15, 2009, 09:32:24 AM
Thanks Sarah - somebody was selling a flexshaft on here a while ago, but I was too slow.....will keep pondering.
My fingers were very quick on that one Sabine ;) I'd been after one for a while :)
Flexshaft on a dremel under the trickling cold tap to protect the diamond coating on the beadreamer which is fab
Big hole beads just get started with a tile saw blade and finished off with a hand reamer, again under trickling cold water.
I got my flexshaft with the dremel and use it a lot, it's a lot easier to hold than the large body of the dremel - I only have ickle hands ???
Quote from: Lush! on February 15, 2009, 09:36:46 AM
Y'all know I often have half a ton of beads to clean at once ;)
My routine is similar to Kaz's - except my beads get more a cold shower than a hot bubble bath! I don't put my dremel-type-thingy in the water but my beads are wet and I dip them back in the water or under the tap when I finish reaming.
Snap!
And rather then just using my chunky house drill, I've just bought a rotary tool from Focus half price £12.49. And somepne just posted a thread saying that Aldi are getting some in next week I beleive for about £11.
T
dremel same as Kaz but no flexi shaft. i keep the beads in water clean them out of the water but dip the bead in and out to rinse it. also occasionally dip the diamond tip thingy in the water but v. carefully
Quote from: Sarah on February 15, 2009, 09:48:27 AM
Quote from: sparrow on February 15, 2009, 09:32:24 AM
Thanks Sarah - somebody was selling a flexshaft on here a while ago, but I was too slow.....will keep pondering.
My fingers were very quick on that one Sabine ;) I'd been after one for a while :)
AAaaah, 'twas you ;D ;D ;D ;D Okay, I think my dremel might move back inside......hmmmmmm.........it's good to be a newbie now and then ;)
I soak mine in water then change the water for warm water, and use my rechargable dremel type thingy with the diamond reamer attached... find the hole, stick the reamer in, put the bead under water, turn on my dremel and clean away. Then I clean them off under hot soapy water and occasionally stick them in the dishwasher in the cutlery holder...
I use a reamer attachment on my glass grinder. This is quick and easy. I started out cleaning them by hand but it took way too long for my liking. :)
hi Delana, that sounds interesting ...do you have an inland or kristall grinder and did you buy the reamer in the UK? How would you do thid though as the grinder doesn't have a choice of speeds - doesn't it spin too fast......
Lisa,
Yes it is fast! I have a Kristall grinder. I just make sure that I have LOTS of water going down through the bead when I introduce it to the grinder and I don't force the bead at all. I use 2.5 to 3mm mandrels for most of my beads so the hole is large enough. I have had a couple of 'mashed beads' crack but I can't be sure if this is the cleaning or different glass families not playing nice together or that I mashed the bead a bit too flat and it broke because the glass was too thin along the line of the mandrel.
I buy my reamer at a local supplier here in Belgium http://www.tiffany.be/ (http://www.tiffany.be/) but you might be better off price/shipping wise looking around in the uk. If you do get a reamer make sure you get an attachment that sprays the water up onto the reamer...for really large beads I also use a soaked sponge and drip water down into the top of the hole.
I have been thinking about an alternate way to clean beads since I have had a couple of beads crack on me....for the majority of my beads though I'm very happy to continue with the grinder.
If you have further questions or you need help navigating around the site I gave you (it's in Netherlands) let me know. :)
If I have a large amount to clean after a particularly prolific session I fill up a bowl with warm water and let them soak a little first. Then I pick them up and clean them with an electric bead reamer, dipping them in the water often.
If I have a smaller amount to clean because my mojo went on walkabout (or made several very complex focals), I often use the water from the previous day. Dunk them in the water and clean them out, dipping them often.
My bead reamer is on a cord but I don't actually put the tool in the water ever. Plus I'm from America where we have power sockets in our bathrooms.. *shock horror* ;)
x
I let all my beads soak in lovely warm water, with a drop of washing up liquid, for at least a couple of hours.
Then I rinse, dump them all in a nice big bowl of clean warm water, and use an old pearl reamer to clean by hand.
Then I let them dry on kitchen roll, and polish with a clean cloth.
I have, however, dropped hints as subtle as a sledgehammer for a dremel for my birthday!
But at least this way I can sit in front of the television!
I use a rechargeable dremel with a small bowl of warm water, even if I dropped the dremel I don't think it would go far enough in the water to damage it (or me). I may have chipped the odd bead but not many and I reckon if there was a problem lurking (cracks and the like) the dremel would make sure they came to light sooner rather than later.
I punctured my fingers a few times using the hand-operated reamer so got an electric one from Martin. I have a flat shallow dish that I put a little warm water into, on top of a tea towel and I just go ahead and use the drill in the water, keeping the bead actually in the water, dipping the point of the reamer in the water, keeping the motor part dry as possible. OK so far!
The drills that people have posted links to look like great value ...
BQ flex shaft £20 a few years ago, alot better than keep stabbing myself by hand, and less breakages.Soak beads and then ream out with flexi shaft, clean withD
I always stab myself if I ream by hand!! Ouch!
Me too, I have been using my dremel dry with no water, I am far too paranoid to dip it in actual, real, wet water!!!
I'd love a battery dremel though. I am off to screwfix to see how much they cost!!! ::)
Modified to say EEEEKKKKKKKK they are £68.50!
Quote from: Josephine on February 15, 2009, 03:40:00 PM
I use a rechargeable dremel with a small bowl of warm water, even if I dropped the dremel I don't think it would go far enough in the water to damage it (or me). I may have chipped the odd bead but not many and I reckon if there was a problem lurking (cracks and the like) the dremel would make sure they came to light sooner rather than later.
Me too - bought a dremel type set (JML I think) for about a fiver a couple of years age. Turn on and off when in the hole as have scratched a few nice beads in the past. Just got an ultra sonic cleaner so put them in there after for a real spruce up - there's always a bit of bead release sludge in the bottom of it even after good clean with the dremel. ;D
Oh, how I keep wishing somebody would invent an ultrasonic cleaner where you just chuck'em in straight from the mandrel, and they come out perfectly... ::) ::)
I know wouldn't that be great - now if it could slide them off the mandrel as well .... ;D ;D
Quote from: GlassOcean on February 15, 2009, 09:34:18 PM
Me too, I have been using my dremel dry with no water, I am far too paranoid to dip it in actual, real, wet water!!!
I'd love a battery dremel though. I am off to screwfix to see how much they cost!!! ::)
Modified to say EEEEKKKKKKKK they are £68.50!
Probably not a great idea to use it completely dry. a) it will quickly wear out the diamond bits and b) bead release in dry dust form is a bit dangerous!
Kazx
I usually wear a mask, but there is the odd occasion were I think Oh just quickly won't matter! I am going to save up 'after the falme off of course' for a re-chargeable one!
here's a battery one
http://shop1.actinicexpress.co.uk/shops/CJBeadworks/index.php?cat=Bead_Reamers
Thanks for that link Trudi, I've just ordered 2 of the large replacement bits. Just what I've been looking for!
I invested in the BeaDreamers from the chap in the States a while ago. They cost $30 each and for some reason I thought they'd last forever ... nope, about 6 weeks :o
I used to sit in front of telly and do them by hand, but last time I did that I managed to chip them because I wasn't paying attention! I use an old 'dremel like' drill with a remote variable speed powersupply, so it's only got about 12v going to the drill rather than mains voltage. The power supply is from an old combo drill, not sure they are even made anymore, and the drill I use now I think was from woolworths years ago. I think as long as it's in the hole when I start it (switch on the drill itself as well) I get less damage and more control - probably as i's quicker so I have less time for my attention to wander!
I have a Black & Decker Wizard that my Dad gave me, it's just like a Dremel, no flex shaft but I'm just careful with the water! The diamond bits from my hand reamer fit in it easily. I have used a hand bead reamer on occasion but last time I used it I stabbed myself in the finger right to the bone & ended up having to go to the doc's for an anti-tetanus jab after my finger swelled up spectacularly ::)
Do ultrasonic cleaners work? We have one here that DH bought to do contact lenses.. think that'd be the same? He never used it, and now has disposables so maybe I could pinch it when he's looking the other way ;D
I used an ultrasonic bath many years ago for cleaning slumped glass after coming out of oven but wasnt pefect. Did remove a lot of dirt though
Ian
These are good replacement reamers!
http://cgi.ebay.com/10-Diamond-Coated-Bead-Reamers-Beading-Jewelers-Tools_W0QQitemZ260361144467QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item260361144467&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14
I wasn't sure as they inexpensive - but I've used them and they're ok!
I used to clean mine with my Dremmel but now I clean them by hand I had to many accidents with the Dremmel
lol Caron x
Like I said earlier in this thread...I use a reamer attachment on my glass grinder but I'm making larger beads now and a really nice lentil cracked yesterday....are the dremmel's slower/gentler than the glass grinders? I've been studying your responses to this thread and have started to look at dremmel tools now. I've got some funds at the moment to invest in one.
The lentil has Lauscha clear and effetre glass in it so it could be incompatibility between the glasses but it did crack from hole to hole while I was cleaning it ....maybe with larger beads the grinder is not the best method.
Does anyone have experience with using both a grinder and a dremmel?
I have heard that some people soak their beads in an anti-calc cleaner to help loosen the bead release...I've not done this before and I wonder if some colors might react to the cleaner.
Thanks for the link shine on 2 I've just ordered one! I found my dremel even though it had different speeds(a sliding switch) it was still too fast on it's slowest speed, this looks like just what i was looking for! :)
I've been using the Finding King reamers (http://cgi.ebay.com/10-Diamond-Coated-Bead-Reamers-Beading-Jewelers-Tools_W0QQitemZ260361144467QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item260361144467&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14) for ages and they do a great job and very cheap.
But I ordered the Large Tapered Reamer Tip (http://shop1.actinicexpress.co.uk/shops/CJBeadworks/index.php?cat=Bead_Reamers) to see how it compares -its brilliant! It arrived the next day and its just what I've been looking for, fine enough for a 1.6mm hole and thick enough to speed up cleaning a 2.4mm hole. Wish they did one a bit fatter!
Delana - if you're going to get a Dremel just for cleaning beads, don't get a real Dremel, there's loads of cheaper look-alikes around ;)
Thanks for the tip!! Beadalon has one...I guess you're familiar with it and it seems as though you're happy....Thanks for the links...for the price I can certainly order the reamers and teh beadalon 'thing'
I'll let you know how I get on!
Delana
Quote from: Shadowdarner on February 19, 2009, 07:59:35 AM
The lentil has Lauscha clear and effetre glass in it so it could be incompatibility between the glasses but it did crack from hole to hole while I was cleaning it ....maybe with larger beads the grinder is not the best method.
I always thought that cracks from hole to hole were the result of thermal shock, particularly in the larger beads. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Pat,
Yea...I suspect thermal shock too....maybe I can't keep the bead cool enough when using the grinder...not enough water going down into the hole of the bead maybe. I kind of want this to be the problem since the solution will be so easy ;)
I'm going to put this question out in another post http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11258.0 (http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11258.0).
Delana
Delana, i also think this is probably thermal shock. I've also had this problem when working on large or complex beads - they look fine until I try to clean them and then they ping.......
So, who can translate Dutch?
This is a link from Anouk in the S&T thread, apparently it cleans beadholes ;) Jock's Release Remover and something called Smooth Bead ???
http://www.jocks-glas.com/index1.html
One's liquid, one's powder (mix yourself to yoghurt consistency). "Wet your bead so that the bead release it wet, then dip a wet mandrel into the stuff and plonk it in the bead. Hold there for a while 'and the bead release is gone'"....that's a quick and dirty translation.
Interesting............as is the shop overall - I've lusted after a grinder for a while ;)
Silicon Carbide grit (http://www.kugler.co.uk/prod03.htm), about £5 for 1kg from Glassworks Services is what is used for grinding / polishing glass, you work through the grades getting finer and finer and it is very good for cleaning bead holes out, just dip a wet mandrel into it - I use the same size as the one I made the bead on. I usually only use a coarse one but you can go all the way through the grits to get a totally smooth core.
Dont know if it is the same as the Jocks glas one but i have seen it being sold as a bead release cleaner before ;D
Oops my link didn't work - here it is again
but the secret is not the beadrelease, it's the bead release remover .
http://www.jocks-glas.com/contents/nl/d71.html Sorry the site is in Dutch, but Joyce also speaks English very well (you can always email her).
Thanks, Sabine - your dirty translation makes this stuff sound like it just evaporates the bead release, the miracle we've all been waiting for!
Becky, I think Heather has used the grit too.
Hi Everyone!
Jock's Webshop (Joyce) here with some instructions on how to use our release remover :) in english.... ;)
Instructions:
Leave the beads to soak in some water
Wet the mandrel that you have made the bead on, dip it in the release remover.
Move the mandrel through the bead and this should remove the beadrelease. You may want to repeat this
Quote from: Jocks on February 25, 2009, 10:11:46 AM
Hi Everyone!
Jock's Webshop (Joyce) here with some instructions on how to use our release remover :) in english.... ;)
Instructions:
Leave the beads to soak in some water
Wet the mandrel that you have made the bead on, dip it in the release remover.
Move the mandrel through the bead and this should remove the beadrelease. You may want to repeat this
Nearly what I said ;) Thanks Joyce! ;D