I love them...and wanna try making my own...been reading up on all the info put here...and before I start just want to ask if there is anything last minute tips from you wonderful beady ppl out there.
xxx
now for the update... thanks for the encouragement and tips received... I am now the proud owner of a few pots of home made shards! Of all the glassy things I think I love them the most...xxx thanks for looking
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/cherishEDdoll/shards/DSCN2962.jpg)
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/cherishEDdoll/shards/DSCN2961.jpg)
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/cherishEDdoll/shards/DSCN2959.jpg)
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/cherishEDdoll/shards/DSCN2960.jpg)
(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/cherishEDdoll/shards/DSCN2964.jpg)
Beeee Careful!!!!!!
( I've had my mandrels for a month and still haven't plucked up the courage!!)
Have fun ;D
lol thats my problem too, havent the courage.......
I am terrible, always burning myself, and now I am already imagining not being able to eat for a while due to lip burns or something......although.....it would be good for the diet.....hard to explain to the doc though.....ugh got the blisters while blowing..hehehehe....sits back and tries to pluck up courage...
When you first blow into the molten gather there is a bit of extra pressure to get the bubble into the gather of glass. It's a bit like when you first blow up a balloon. SO - reduce the blow pressure immediately the bubble starts to form or you will over blow the gather and make the shards too thin.
Confetti-like paper thin "shards of doom" are the very LAST thing you want to be breathing in as they float around your studio. :o :o :o
oh gosh, now I am not scared of burning I am terrified of breathing in shards of doom..... :P no risk no fun they say....should I wear a mask.....no that wont work either for I would not be able to blow then.....notice the panic....
xxx
It's actually pretty difficult to burn yourself blowing shards, so don't worry there. But it is easy to overblow the glass bubble - you really want to try and avoid doing that, 'cos you don't want the bubble to burst - that's when you get the confetti.
Just practise blowing a small bubble - get your gather nicely formed on the end of the blowpipe - you can use your marver for this, if you want to - and then return it to the heat until the gather is glowing. Don't forget to keep the tube rotating as you blow or your bubble will sag.
Actually - the biggest hazard is having your lips stick to the dry mandrel - so make sure you lick your lips before you pucker! It's actually not frightening once you have a go.
Sal....what would I do without you....
xxx
pucker up baby!!!
:-* :-*
Great advice from Sal there Veronica. It was Sal who taught me how to make my first shards ;D
Jo x
just remember not to suck :P
Quote from: Jolene on August 13, 2009, 11:34:08 PM
Great advice from Sal there Veronica. It was Sal who taught me how to make my first shards ;D
Jo x
Blimey - was it, Jo? I didn't remember that! :o :o
Yes, wise words Les, "blow, don't' suck" applying to so many things in our lives! :P ;)
LMAO.... very true Sal ;)
Quote from: Redhotsal on August 13, 2009, 11:38:33 PM
Quote from: Jolene on August 13, 2009, 11:34:08 PM
Great advice from Sal there Veronica. It was Sal who taught me how to make my first shards ;D
Jo x
Blimey - was it, Jo? I didn't remember that! :o :o
I brought the shiney new blowpipe that I was too scared to even try to use to the "Corina" course and you showed me how to make 'em and how to use 'em. You sorted out all my encasing woes that week too! ;D
and Jo is my inspiration...
wonders if I should just wait until I can afford a trip to england.......
xxx
thanx
Quote from: Redhotsal on August 13, 2009, 11:38:33 PM
Quote from: Jolene on August 13, 2009, 11:34:08 PM
Great advice from Sal there Veronica. It was Sal who taught me how to make my first shards ;D
Jo x
Blimey - was it, Jo? I didn't remember that! :o :o
Yes, wise words Les, "blow, don't' suck" applying to so many things in our lives! :P ;)
and vice versa ;)
sorry, too early in the morning to be lowering the tone in such a manner ;D
I was thinking about having a go too!
Found this site which you have probably seen but just in case.
http://www.glassgirl.com/shards.html
Nikki
Sorry to jug in on this, but just received my first blowpipe mandrels today, and noticed the holes are not at the bottom where I thought they would be, but further up the mandrel a bit? Do I have to put bead release on these, I am slightly confused as all demos etc I have seen so far use blowpipe with holes all way through!!! help please.
Mandyxxxx
Hi Mandy, I have newer used a mandrel like that before, I think they are for making hollows
Jo x
Quote from: Jolene on August 14, 2009, 09:50:51 AM
Hi Mandy, I have newer used a mandrel like that before, I think they are for making hollows
Jo x
Tis a mandrel for making hollows!
Aw what a shame, I wanted to make shards, hadn't realised when reading Martins site that they were specifically for hollow beads...never mind, will have to go hunting now for the other type. Does anyone know if you still have to put bead release on them? I am assuming yes, but unsure because wouldn't want it flaking off inside the bead... Oh gawd what have i got myself into? lol
Mandyxx
Edited to say: Mmmm Mandy if you had read Martins description properly you wouldn't be in this predicament....rofl..good thing I love spending!
I never use bead release when blowing shards.
Hi
for shards you don't want to use beadrelease.
For the hollows you do
the one you want is
6mm dia hollow pipe
A metal pipe mandrel , 6mm dia x 400mm long which can be used for blowing or making beads with huge holes through them.
:-* to you all and thank you for the advice...pics on the first page for those who havent seen it on the newbie show and tell
xxx
Looking good Veronica ;D
blushes...... now thats a compliment.......from the queen of shards......bows
thanks Jolene! still a long way away from making your beauties .......
Now I'm blushing lol
Those aqua ones in partcular are very pretty, looking forward to seeing your very first beads with your own shards ;D
Fantastic looking shards! I've had a go or two myself, but they always seem to end up too thin!
What size of a pre-shard gather did you make initially? And did you make it very thick?
Quote from: Dee Dee on August 18, 2009, 10:26:22 PM
Fantastic looking shards! I've had a go or two myself, but they always seem to end up too thin!
What size of a pre-shard gather did you make initially? And did you make it very thick?
uhmnnn ....you are asking a newbie here lol........but I think I will try explain what I did......
basically I made a base that looks like I was about to make an implosion, just thicker, (well than my implosion attempts!) about 5 mm...the width of one of my thinnest rods which is what I used to start with (I am still on a HH type thing!)
then I just built it up as I would with the implosion or a one sided hollow bead...I do suppose its alot thicker because I was worried it would block the hole! I kept turning it to keep warm (got a nice booby burn a while ago because I didnt while trying an implosion!...
I used a proddy poky thing to actually close the hole and then sealed it with another "blob" of glass....
I heated this up and then used a graphit marver just to shape it a bit coz it was very very wonky...and irregular ...remember its my first lol!
and then I heat it up alot until almost yellow and glowing...and took it out of the flame and did what I was told to.......blow like a balloon....first a bit mor puff then less until it wouldnt budge and let it cool....
I did get thicker and thinner bits...but I like that...
Once the bubble popped but then I just reheated and added glass to close the hole....and retried.......
Mabe just beginners luck-------
Quote from: Dee Dee on August 18, 2009, 10:26:22 PM
What size of a pre-shard gather did you make initially? And did you make it very thick?
Steph, I experimented yesterday with using much less glass, about a cherry sized ball in the end and found it much easier to manipulate. It didn't seem to matter that the void inside was miniscule or that the blob was mis-shapen and it was much easier to bring the whole blob to blowing temperature. Heating and twirling makes it form a bead shape anyway and evens out the walls. In the past I've used a "hollow on the end of a pipe " technique and found that was more hit and miss.
Thanks you two!
Quote from: Pat from Canvey on August 19, 2009, 07:11:56 AM
Quote from: Dee Dee on August 18, 2009, 10:26:22 PM
What size of a pre-shard gather did you make initially? And did you make it very thick?
Steph, I experimented yesterday with using much less glass, about a cherry sized ball in the end and
Yes, that's about the size I've been using. More practice required for me I think! :(