im finding it so hard to make them! have done 6, only one worthy of bhb competition, they get sharp holes and stuff, and generally im a bit rubbish at them! :'( are there any tips for bhb making, or is it just ppp? seem to be rubbish at shaping them too, though that may be new hotter torch I am not yet used to...help please! :-[ x
There are far more experty experts than me, but mine seem to come out best if I do a very slim 'footprint' (almost stringer-like), to make sure it's level, then build a wheel up & melt it down ??? ???
Thats just the right thing to do start thin and then condense the disc as Sabine says. Make sure you do 5 or 6 wraps before you slowly condense the bead. Just keep at it practice a few a day and you will be surprised how you do ..... do you have any of our mandrels ? am not blowing my trumpet but if you are struggling on a 5mm solid rod of steel you will find ours so much easier ..... ;)
I've made a lot of rubbish ones Helen, but the ones I've made in the same way that Sabine & Manda have suggested have turned out the best :)
I've been having a concerted effort at bhb, my first attempts grew HUGE! so I tamed the footprint size and also got some bhb beadrollers (highly recommended!) and it certainly helped tame the size and shape - I've found that less is certainly more - good luck :)
try a really stiff glass - effetre special trans purple's a good one.
And practice, I'm afraid.
Kirsty
I highly recommend Mango Mandrels I don't find BHB easy but a lot easier with these.
I love my Mango mandrels as well also I have BHB bead roller. Mind you most of mine are still pants. Well try some of the tips on here as well.
Jenny
manda's mandrels are great (and i truly love love love mine!!!) but not essential if they're outta budget right now. but I usually make a tiny foot print and then marver it whilst hot and let cool a little before adding my wraps of glass in a disc shape. marvering helps all the way through x
thank you lovelies, have a manda mandrel on the way, hopefully that will help! back to the torch for ppp tomorrow! ;)
I don't have any of Mandas mandrels but I would say if you can then do get one, the solid mandrels seem to carry heat very quickly up the shaft to your hand and I am guessing if the bhb mandrels are anything like the ring mandrels then you won't have this problem, much lighter too
Quote from: Tan on May 10, 2010, 08:19:57 PM
the solid mandrels seem to carry heat very quickly up the shaft to your hand
Yes, I have the asbestos thumbs too ;) :D
What everyone else said about the narrow footprint to start. But if you do make the footprint too big then add lots of decoration and melt it in, it should balance out the bead and get rid of the sharp edges, and if all else fails roll it on your marver and make it into a cylinder type bead.