Sorry I know this question has been asked a thousand times before
I want to make my own. I know I need bolt cutters (and a strong man) Are this the right things
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/100-x-1000mm-Tig-Rods-1.6mm--dia-316L-Stainless-Steel-_W0QQitemZ320420844084QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090906?IMSfp=TL0909061610001r6031
It says they are 'bare' So I am guessing that means no flux...
If this is the wrong thing can someone point me in the right direction?
Ta
They look right to me! 316L stainless is the key, I believe.
Plus the 1.6mm ones aren't too thick, so they might be ok with a weaker man too :D
Fab!!
I shall press the order button then!!
That's a relief because I don't think I'm going to see the really strong man for at least another week
As an aside, I was telling him the other week that I was talking to some people at a bead fair and they were giving me some friendly advice and part of that was getting beads of mandrels. So they said what do you use for getting beads of mandrels, and I smiled and said I have that covered I give them to Bob! Ooo what's Bob got? Muscles!!!
That's a lot of mandrels ;D In addition to muscles and bolt cutters you need some sort of grinding device to smooth the ends. I happened to find an electrical grinding stone thingie in my DH's workshop :D
It is a lot, I did get 24 when I first started some of them are a bit bent from when Bob was being determined. ::)
Tell me about this grinding stone thingy :)
The thin ones do tend to get bent occasionally even without a determined Bob :D I think it just happens.
Don't know much about grinding thingies but I have a bench grinder from when I did silversmithing that does the job quite nicely.
I suppose a bench grinder is the correct name for it..... :D Normally used for sharpening knives and other tools, I believe.
Ok, that doesn't sound like it will be too pricey!! I shall have a look for one of those. Ooo they have loads of second hand ones on eBay, all bloomin collection only!! All quite big too (I live in a very small flat and it's shrinking rapidly with this hobby :) My poor computer doesn't have a desk anymore - I think it's in shock)
(I have one of my bent ones in the office, I am using it to help with my Mandrel Dexterity)
I bought some of those TIG rods a few months back. My OH's Dad cut them for me with an angle grinder and used a bench grinder to file the sharp edges away - did the job a treat and really didn't take long to do. Thank goodness for his workshop and thousands of tools! (- seriously, he has the biggest shed I've ever seen - I've such shed and tool envy!) ;D
I envy your Dad's shed too! I have more DIY stuff then my Dad, but he does have a very useful drill set. I used to 'help' him when I was little putting up flat packs. Now they just get me to do it! The last begging text from Mum referred to me as their little flat pack angel. She knows how to get me to do things for her!
I have found that B&Q have a bench grinder for £15. And Dad does have an angle grinder. (is this not going to cause little bits of metal to got flying?)
Do you really need a bench grinder? Would a dremel not do, and it would clean your beads? I don't even bother grinding my ends, my nice bolt cutters cut very neatly, no burrs. And I can cut even the 2.4mm ones myself, and I'm known as Wee Mary for a good reason, lol!
EVIL Mary, you have no idea how much I WANT a dremel!!! I have told myself that I can't have one til I get the bathroom done. Then I am not just buying it for the beads!! ::)
Actually I thing the lovely neighbour Alex has one...
To be honest I don't fancy carrying a bench grinder home (don't drive) It was very interesting getting the 3m waste pipe home on the train, it was a bit of a battle to get it onto the train, the 2 m lengths were fine though
The Bolt cutters at B&Q are £50!!
Some research needed I feel
(What can I say the spell check agrees with me it's just tried to correct Dremel to Dreamily)
it could end up a lot more expensive to make your own mandrels than buy them me thinks ???
Try a fence tool, cuts mandrels and comes in for alsorts of other jobs too. I used to make mandrels and sell them, but I lost the will to live. I only make my own now. If you are cutting thick ones, pop them in a vice and cut close to the vice - any waggling will bend them.
Me, a bad influence? Hee-hee!
My cutters just look like hefty wire cutters, not the long handled ones, and I think they were about a tenner. Might be from Maplin? I'll ask DH.
My Dremel-alike was about twenty quid from eBay, complete with flexi-drive so it's light to use and safe near water. It might not be as sturdy as the real thing, but I've had it a few years now.
I am going to have a route around, I have just found other bolt cutter, not heavy duty this time that's 11.99
Quote from: sea-thistle on October 01, 2009, 04:04:02 PM
it could end up a lot more expensive to make your own mandrels than buy them me thinks ???
I know what you mean, but one I have paid for the bits the first time it should cost much less going forward.
23.99 rods 1m length
20.00 Dremel-alike (worst case - But I have seen that they are doing it as a freebee with making Jewellery subscription)
20.00 Boltcutters (again worst case)
So minimum of 3 rods per length = 300 rods for £64 + Labour. I can make as an when I need
Working out at (hello excel) 22p + labour each (worst case) and the possibility of bigger muscles.
Quote from: beadysam on October 01, 2009, 04:09:44 PM
I lost the will to live.
Noted!!
I have been looking for thicker ones but I haven't seen them any where. Maybe I'm looking with my eyes shut!?!
Quote from: Mary on October 01, 2009, 04:12:13 PM
Me, a bad influence? Hee-hee!
You and Trudi. ;D I met Trudi at hatfield the other week just after I'd bought some glass. She started realling of all the new cool colours and there was a voice in my brain going 'you don't have that one or that one and ooo that sounds nice and...' He he he!! I think I may need to just bring cash to the flame off!
(I have a maplins very close by)
I'm wrong calling them bolt cutters, sorry! Hubby says they are from B&Q, these ones. Like I said, easy to use (though your hands might get sore if you're cutting loads!) and nice clean cut.
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9676742&fh_view_size=10&fh_eds=%3f&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB%2fcategories%3C{9392044}&fh_search=magnusson&fh_refview=search&ts=1254412217195&isSearch=false
If you do get a dremel for bead cleaning, I'd recommend getting the flexible drive. It's a long bendy extension to the drill, so you hang the Dremel up and just hold the extension. Much lighter to use, and safer for cleaning beads under water, no risk of getting the machinery wet. This is like mine.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Draper-9-6V-Cordless-Rotary-Tool-Dremel-Style-40968_W0QQitemZ140345400855QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item20ad3cde17&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Oh look, the welding rod people are on to us!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Welding-Rods-TIG-GAS-Stainless-316L-2-4mm-Bead-Making_W0QQitemZ370254621945QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET?hash=item5634e52cf9&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
ha ha ha, Do you think some one phoned up and asked loads of questions :) And they are the thicker ones too.
Looks like I am going home via B&Q. I need to get some heat resistant tiles too for my Kiln so this will be good to do both at the same time.
I was teaching some kids to use tin snips, years ago now. because it required more strength them most of the 11/12 year olds had (and they were shockingly blunt!) we rigged up the snips in a vice and a piece of pipe over the handle that wasn't in the vice so that they could use their weight for cutting.
I would really like to get a dremel for cleaning. Now that I have a kiln I will have no excuse for not cleaning them!
Looks like the plastic is going to get more battering this evening.
Do you have your dremel permanently hung up or do you put it away after every use?
Quote from: Mary on October 01, 2009, 05:02:04 PM
Oh look, the welding rod people are on to us!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Welding-Rods-TIG-GAS-Stainless-316L-2-4mm-Bead-Making_W0QQitemZ370254621945QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET?hash=item5634e52cf9&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
These are the ones I bought and they are perfect. I used my dremel to cut them and grind them off but used a junior hacksaw before I thought of using the dremel! >:(
With the 1.6mm ones you got don't forget to cut off the tag ends, beads get stuck on them, don't ask me how I know ::)
Quote from: GlassOcean on October 01, 2009, 05:44:17 PM
With the 1.6mm ones you got don't forget to cut off the tag ends, beads get stuck on them, don't ask me how I know ::)
Ditto! :-[
Quote from: Mary on October 01, 2009, 05:02:04 PM
Oh look, the welding rod people are on to us!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Welding-Rods-TIG-GAS-Stainless-316L-2-4mm-Bead-Making_W0QQitemZ370254621945QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET?hash=item5634e52cf9&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
That's quite funny ;D - bet they were confused for a while why all these non-welding-women were ordering from them!!
;D thank you!!
I have just got back from B&Q - GOD my feet ache!
I have that exact pair of High Leverage Diagonal Cut Pliers. I haven't even taken them out of my bag.
I also got four polished porcelain tiles to stand my kiln on so that it's not standing on a 'combustible' surface. Boy that manual is scary!!
I haven't ordered the Dremel-alike yet or the slightly thinker rods. I think I have spent enough for today!!
---
Thank you everyone for all your help today. Both very productive and funny :)
Keep an eye out in Lidl sweetpea, they often do cheaper versions of the dremel.
:-\ I don't have a lidl. I have a netto and an Aldi
besides - it's not real money when you spend it on the internet ;D
If you buy a dremel you can use it to cut the rods too, there is a cutting disk you can get that will cut those rods and then you can switch the tool to smooth of the burrs. I got a dremel years ago fro glass etching. Its really a great tool to have for the hobby/ crafter it does so many things.
and if its a case of trying to convnce the other half, just explain that he/she can use it for <insert diy or hobby activity>
;)
Ha ha, when I got divorced there wasn't even a discussion as to who as getting the power tools. That boy wouldn't have known the business end of a drill unless I shoved it up his @### - ON!!
Anyhoo talkin of long pointy things
My 'mandrels-to-be' turned up this morning. The post man rang at about 7.55. I went running out in my pink PJs (looking as girlie as can me, and I'm not usually a pink girl) big grin on my face saying, yay - my welding rods have arrived!! It made the postman laugh. ;D
;D ;D ;D
Excellent thread....welding rods for beadmaking, love it!
Mmmm I have 3M lengths of rod waiting for me to get cutting, they're 3mm, 4mm and 5 mm but I think I'll be lucky if I get round to it this side of Xmas and then I'll be way to fat and pregnant to cut them without doing some damage!!
Still with a small baby 2 kids and no studio I'm sure I'll get round to it at some point... :-\
I might look into a sawing blade for my dremel to see if I can at least make them into 1M lengths ;D
You should never buy long lengths of metal rod on impulse...
Jessie
;D
I figured that if I was having problems cutting them I would take then round to my usual Wednesday night thing and 'challenge' the big butch men to do it ;D
Quote from: LittleHen on October 05, 2009, 01:21:43 PM
3mm, 4mm and 5 mm
That does sound like a dremal job. If you cut them down and want to do swapsey at some point...
Quote from: LittleHen on October 05, 2009, 01:21:43 PM
Mmmm I have 3M lengths of rod waiting for me to get cutting, they're 3mm, 4mm and 5 mm but I think I'll be lucky if I get round to it this side of Xmas and then I'll be way to fat and pregnant to cut them without doing some damage!!
Still with a small baby 2 kids and no studio I'm sure I'll get round to it at some point... :-\
I might look into a sawing blade for my dremel to see if I can at least make them into 1M lengths ;D
You should never buy long lengths of metal rod on impulse...
Jessie
;D
where did you manage to find them?
K
Quote from: squirsygirl on October 05, 2009, 05:45:47 PM
Quote from: LittleHen on October 05, 2009, 01:21:43 PM
Mmmm I have 3M lengths of rod waiting for me to get cutting, they're 3mm, 4mm and 5 mm but I think I'll be lucky if I get round to it this side of Xmas and then I'll be way to fat and pregnant to cut them without doing some damage!!
Still with a small baby 2 kids and no studio I'm sure I'll get round to it at some point... :-\
I might look into a sawing blade for my dremel to see if I can at least make them into 1M lengths ;D
You should never buy long lengths of metal rod on impulse...
Jessie
;D
where did you manage to find them?
K
the steel rods, not the kiddywinks. Sorry 'bout that.
K
So I now have these hundred rods and, well, they are so lovely and tactile I can't bring myself to cut them up...
(how daft am I?)
Quote from: Krysia on October 05, 2009, 12:40:36 PM
Ha ha, when I got divorced there wasn't even a discussion as to who as getting the power tools. That boy wouldn't have known the business end of a drill unless I shoved it up his @### - ON!!
Anyhoo talkin of long pointy things
My 'mandrels-to-be' turned up this morning. The post man rang at about 7.55. I went running out in my pink PJs (looking as girlie as can me, and I'm not usually a pink girl) big grin on my face saying, yay - my welding rods have arrived!! It made the postman laugh. ;D
ROFL
all the rods are now topped and tailed. I am going to chop them in to thirds in front of the TV. And what ever I have left I am going to 'show' to Richard and hopefully Bob tomorrow and then challenge them to an 'manly' test :o
Much to my pride I manage to do them all myself!!!
Here is the before
(http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww140/_Krysia_/P1010645.jpg)
And these are the after
(http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww140/_Krysia_/P1010650.jpg) (http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww140/_Krysia_/P1010655.jpg)
(I wasn't being anal about the lengths - honest :-\)
Any ideas as to what I can do with these?
(http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww140/_Krysia_/P1010658.jpg)
I will say that after doing them all. this is not something that I would want to do on a comertical basis. I also recognise that I will not be able to do the 2.4mm rods.
Thank you everyone for your help and the exact instructions on whereto et stuff and which exact thing to get.
wow Krysia, you going to need a load of bead release for those ;-))
as for the bits......I know on here somewhere someone used something like that to make bead stands.....basically you melt a blob of glass at the end (no bead release!) and flatten it so it will stand....let it cool and voila.....a nice lil glassy stand for your pretty beadies....
xxx
Fab idea!!!
So that's 200 bead stands to go with the 300 mandrels :P
Or get a pin vice and use it to hold an end, dip in release and bead away.
reading this cracks me up because i can fell everyone's pain!...
i generally use a metal chop saw to cut the bundles (i cut 10kg of each size when i make mandrels) and then use a belt sander to smooth the edges of each mandrel... takes quite a long time, and i end up with a pile of the "shorts" too... tempted to try use them to make little space martians like di east made for us in murano!.. she must have a pic of them somewhere?... and they go in the kiln no probs to do an annealing programme too...
;D
We use a similar technique as Q, and the ends get used to make 'pot-stick marbles', for decorating plant pots or the ends of garden canes...
eventually.....
Sean
I have had a request from some one (who I shall keep nameless unless they want to change that) asking me if they can buy them from me!!!
Quote from: Pat from Canvey on October 13, 2009, 08:26:04 AM
Or get a pin vice and use it to hold an end, dip in release and bead away.
They are only 8 cm long.
Quote from: Hamilton Taylor on October 13, 2009, 09:07:04 AM
We use a similar technique as Q, and the ends get used to make 'pot-stick marbles', for decorating plant pots or the ends of garden canes...
eventually.....
Sean
Pictures!!!
Quote from: glassworks on October 13, 2009, 08:51:35 AM
tempted to try use them to make little space martians like di east made for us in murano!..
Definately pictures of those!!!
Krysia,
Going back to the beginning of this thread where you mentioned about strong men getting your beads off - have you tried soaking them in Cillit Bang (tip from RH Sal I think) I've had some which I thought were going to be added to my pot plant collection but with an overnight soak - came off (with a lttle encouragement). I generally hold the bead in a piece of kitchen towel and use a pair of toothless pliers and give them a good yank - usually works.
PS have you heard anything from Baked Beans
Shelia
"They are only 8 cm long." that's plenty long enough for a bead. How many of your beads are longer than 8 cm? ;) ;)
Funny you should say that. I had a go at a button the other day. 'Course you can't twist those to get them off. I Cillit banged it and off it came. Though I will say - check your hands for cuts before going near a mandrel dripping in cillit bang. Ouch, ouch ooouch!!! I didn't even know I had a paper cut before ::)
Sometimes the pliers, the bang and my lack of muscles just don't work and Bob is the only solution!! I think secretly he like to be given beads to take off. (Gives me an excuse to give him, hem hem, 'special' attention)
I haven't heard anything from Baked Beans since we all met up in London. I went to the Kempton bead fair and didn't see anyone there. Had serious problems with the trains though so got there over an hour later then I wanted to
Quote from: Pat from Canvey on October 13, 2009, 01:24:55 PM
"They are only 8 cm long." that's plenty long enough for a bead. How many of your beads are longer than 8 cm? ;) ;)
All of them !!!! Those Elephants I made were life size :D
Quote from: Pat from Canvey on October 13, 2009, 01:24:55 PM
"They are only 8 cm long." that's plenty long enough for a bead. How many of your beads are longer than 8 cm? ;) ;)
Slight over estimation on length, they are between 4.0 and 4.5cm.
all boxed up and ready to be weighed for transport
Foster Fire Smooth and Tuff is recommended for curved mandrels because you can't twist those either. I expect it would work for buttons too if twisting the button is a problem. I know there is a button mandrel holder you can buy from the States that uses only short lengths of mandrel but I can't remember which website I saw it on. Here's the link to one sort of button mandrel holder.http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404137
That looks very sensible. I have one that is a fixed U shape. I managed to get it of and I have another one soaking in the the Cilit this morning - kept my paper cut away from it this time :)
Hi, Hopes this helps a bit.
Cutting the Tig Rods...Chop saw / angle grinder. If you doing a lot of cutting with a chop saw you will get a much better cut with a specialist stainless steel 1mm wide slitting disc in the grinder. It will cut like a knife through butter compaired with the normal 1.5 / 2mm wide metal cutting discs. And will leave less burrs
IF this is something that is of interest then let me know in my other post http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=16190.0
Cheers
Fin
Dynoflow UK
hia, we made...hubby that is....our own. 5mm and 6 mm. he sawed them to the right length and i just filed the edges so there werent any sharp bits. use them all the time. But..they do need washing in hot soapy water and scrubbing with a greeen pad thing to put a bit of a tork on them or else the bead realise cracks...everytime..i learnt the hard way. Sal told me abouy the washing and scrubbing with the green pad and now i havent had any probs.
Tracy
x
hummmm, I think I will try that I am having a lot of cracking bead release lately and I don't think it's that I have watered it done too much...
Or just stick them in the flame to burn off any manufacturing oils, and let them cool before dipping them. The lazy way!
I know what I'm doing this evening then x 300!!
or even lazier, in the dishwasher on the max cycle...
works a treat!!!...
;D
no dishwasher :(
Funny actually I was talking to neighbours who are getting their kitchin finalised this weekend and I was showing the wishful thinking plan of what I want and there is a dishwasher on there. I was told that I was being very optimistic (I have a VERY small kitchen, touch opposite wall at the same time small and I'm a shorty)