Hi
My dental picks have just about had it. I need a new reasonably-priced, durable pokey tool with a pointy end. Could anyone recommend a good one please?
Thanks,
Mand x
I bought a set of whimsy shapers from Tuffnell's i love em, very pokey!
I use this
http://www.suttontools.co.uk/cgi-local/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww.suttontools.co.uk%2f&WD=scribe&PN=Sutton_Tools_Marking_Tools___Squares_256.html%23aMT008#aMT008
the double ended scribe
for some reason the picture wont go bigger, but if you type scribe in the search box it shows a bigger one.
nice sharp point, but not so fine that it gets damaged.
postage is £3.50 though.(I wonder if you phoned them they might just stick one in a large letter for you and only charge you a little?)
I got a set of 3 double ended brass tools from Carl at Wibbly Wobbly Glass he makes them in 6mm or 3mm.
http://wibblywobblyglass.com/default.aspx (http://wibblywobblyglass.com/default.aspx)
Jenny
BeadySam did brass pokey tools, which I have a set of, and couldn't work without. Don't know if she still has any available though. Martin also started selling something similar although I think he's are thicker, and therefore a bit pricier.
For something cheap and cheerful, use the old reamers.
Kazx
http://www.mangobeads.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=6&category_id=27&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
our A3 Japanese Bead Shaper with Lake . Very sharp and pointy !
I can recommend Manda's one. I bought one a while back and find it very useful.
I got these recently and I wonder how I managed so long with out them!
http://off-mandrel.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=115_117&products_id=813
I have a needle with the blunt end poked into a second-hand cork from a wine bottle. Last of the big spenders, me.
Carls tungsten gorgeousness, wouldn't be without it and it does EVERYTHING
http://wibblywobblyglass.com/Tools.aspx
I use metal skewers that I pinched from myself out of the kitchen. If not sharp enough you can adjust the end with wet and dry sandpaper. I even rounded a couple of ends off so I can make super huge bubbles when littlies just won't do.
I bought a set of soldering pokers from the hardware store (a store called Biltema, if any Swedish beaders are reading this). It was a cheap set of several double ended tools so I bought them on a whim and decided to give them a try, and they've turned out to be fab. Just remember not to turn the tool around and use the other end right after you've used one end ;D
Quote from: MangoBeads on June 18, 2010, 05:55:28 PM
http://www.mangobeads.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=6&category_id=27&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
our A3 Japanese Bead Shaper with Lake . Very sharp and pointy !
Looks interesting - what would you use the "lake" for? Not heard of that before?
Thankyou to those for endorsing my hand made tools - Brass in 3mm and 6mm can be made to any profile (within reason) you desire, highly polished solid brass with an insulated centre.
Genuine Tungsten Picks / Rakes - 2.4mm diameter, straight or bent with a nice wooden handle.
All with free P&P.
Regards
Carl
Quote from: Mand on June 21, 2010, 10:09:05 AM
Quote from: MangoBeads on June 18, 2010, 05:55:28 PM
http://www.mangobeads.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=6&category_id=27&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
our A3 Japanese Bead Shaper with Lake . Very sharp and pointy !
Looks interesting - what would you use the "lake" for? Not heard of that before?
I've seen that too, Mand - I've always assumed it was a misspelling of 'rake'...
I bought one from Mand at the Flame Off. I do not know the others, but I use the lake end a lot and like it. It is good, if the brass paddle´s sharp end is too bulky or razor is too thin for the purpose in hand. I often flatten dots with it too, so use it as a very small paddle.
Only problem is that the pokey end is pretty good too and you can not use another end very quickly after you have used the other end, because it is all metal and not very long, so you have to wait till the other end has cooled. I think you can guess how I got that knowledge...
Quote from: Maikki on June 22, 2010, 09:35:19 AM
I bought one from Mand at the Flame Off. I do not know the others, but I use the lake end a lot and like it. It is good, if the brass paddle´s sharp end is too bulky or razor is too thin for the purpose in hand. I often flatten dots with it too, so use it as a very small paddle.
Only problem is that the pokey end is pretty good too and you can not use another end very quickly after you have used the other end, because it is all metal and not very long, so you have to wait till the other end has cooled. I think you can guess how I got that knowledge...
Pop a length of heat shrink plastic on it, and you will have a handle in the middle!
Thanks Sam. The handle part is not the problem, it is just that because the tool is quite short, it is quite difficult (for me at least) to keep it in a good positon without hot part touching some place of my hand. Maybe I should get me another one! But anyway, I like the tool very much, it is my one of my favourites already and I have had it only about two months. I have practiced to use heart press lately and found out it is great for finishing heart beads too, I use both ends to them.
Do you not dunk it in water between goes? I thought we were meant to, to keep them cool enough that glass won't stick. Would that cool them down enough to turn them round? Or does it damage the tool and we're not meant to do it?
That is a good idea! Thanks, I´ll try that next time. I dunk it and tungsten and whatever I use to water, if I poke with them several time in a short period and have not seen it damaging them.
(Why I did not think that myself...)
Hi, haven't tried it but this may be worth a look
regards
Hi again, I suppose it helps if you put the link in!!! Da
http://www.manchesterminerals.co.uk/acatalog/Shaping_.html
Regards
(again)