Frit-Happens !

Technical Forum => Studio/workspace/setup/equipment => Tools and Presses => Topic started by: Fruddy on August 27, 2010, 08:08:08 PM

Title: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Fruddy on August 27, 2010, 08:08:08 PM
Hi folks,

I was just wondering what you guys used to standing your mandrels in, ready for use, when they have been prepared with bead release?  I am trying to remember what Sabine used when I visited her studio - she had then standing in something - but I can't for the life of me remember what!!  Is a cake tin, or something like that, any good with sand in?? 

Recommendations and suggestions pleeeeze!

All my kit should be here by the middle of next week, Studio worktops are now fitted, so hopefully in the next week or so, I should be ready to rock!!! ;D
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: jammie on August 27, 2010, 08:15:09 PM
Wood block drilled with holes maybe..... or I think people do use a tin bucket but not sure what they fill them with.
Mines is an old cribbage  box which already had holes drilled for the pegs, seemed holding mandrels was a much better use.   :D
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: shaz on August 27, 2010, 08:20:32 PM
Plant pots or old pots filled with sand :D
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Sulis (Hazel) on August 27, 2010, 08:21:00 PM
I've been using a plant pot 3/4 filled with sand for the past 4 years or so - perfect for me :)


eta : great minds think alike Shaz :)
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Dragonfire Glass on August 27, 2010, 08:23:11 PM
Quote from: jammie on August 27, 2010, 08:15:09 PM
Wood block drilled with holes

That's what I use  :)
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Fruddy on August 27, 2010, 08:23:58 PM
Brilliant - thanks folks!

Nice and cheap as well - after the amount of money that I have spent in the last couple of weeks, my hubby is likely to have a seizure if I order anything else from Tuffnells or Off Mandrel!!!! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: sarah t on August 27, 2010, 08:25:45 PM
flower pot with rice works for me
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Steampunkglass on August 27, 2010, 08:28:44 PM
Quote from: Failariel on August 27, 2010, 08:23:11 PM
Quote from: jammie on August 27, 2010, 08:15:09 PM
Wood block drilled with holes

That's what I use  :)
Me too! I've also heard of people using pots filled with sand (no drilling!) and oasis foam that them flower arrangers use!
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: poledra1958 on August 27, 2010, 08:36:35 PM
flower pot  (one without the hole in bottom ) filled with sand

Jenny
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: isc on August 27, 2010, 08:56:43 PM
I use a flower pot with some sand in. There was a pile of sand in the garden that was left by the previous owner that I used and managed to get mandrels surrounded by a little green cress-like plant that somehow grew in the darkness of the garage. Made me smile :)
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Ilona on August 27, 2010, 08:59:32 PM
I use oasis :)
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Nikki on August 27, 2010, 09:13:55 PM
I have some old mugs filled with sand, the handle is useful if you are moving them around ;D
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Redkite on August 27, 2010, 09:54:47 PM
Sand for me too, in a flower pot. I love the crunching sound when I "plant" the mandrel!
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: bluefairy on August 27, 2010, 09:59:27 PM
Another oasis vote here  :)
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: AnnaSpanna on August 29, 2010, 06:01:47 PM
I also have a drilled wooden block.... But then I am slightly predisposed to having nice orderly lines when I dip my mandrels. So I am trying to break this foible and now have several jars filled with vermiculite - now I find myself arranging the mandrels in pretty symmetrical patterns instead...
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Fruddy on August 29, 2010, 07:08:19 PM
Quote from: AnnaSpanna on August 29, 2010, 06:01:47 PM
I also have a drilled wooden block.... But then I am slightly predisposed to having nice orderly lines when I dip my mandrels. So I am trying to break this foible and now have several jars filled with vermiculite - now I find myself arranging the mandrels in pretty symmetrical patterns instead...

Oh blimey.... you sound just like me!  I'm one of those people who loves order and hates mess and chaos.. i'm already mentally planning exactly where everything is going to go in the studio - have fished a load of old kilner jars without lids out of the attic - perfect for storing glass rods, I think!  Plus which I have found a load of old Sarsons pickling jards which are slightly smaller - they seem pretty damn good for holding stringer!!
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Blue Box Studio on August 29, 2010, 07:13:53 PM
I use old baked bean tins (or similar!) filled with vermiculite.  But then I only have a few mandrels.  You can get about 12 in each.
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: GaysieMay on August 29, 2010, 07:20:26 PM
I had a catering size tin with sand, but have up graded to a vase, after finding one whilst clearing the garage, I feel quite posh now! ;)
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: AnnaSpanna on August 30, 2010, 02:19:34 PM
Quote from: Fruddy on August 29, 2010, 07:08:19 PM
have fished a load of old kilner jars without lids out of the attic - perfect for storing glass rods, I think! 

Just wait till you discover the joys of drainpipe for stashing your glass in.... all stacked in a nice cabinet (mine's from ikea) and colour co-ordinated. Pure bliss!
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Hotglass28 on September 06, 2010, 07:22:27 PM

A jar of cat litter, minus the poo  ;)

Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Dickie on September 06, 2010, 07:43:54 PM
Sarah uses a small 4 or 5" galvanised plant pot from Ikea, with some red sand (flower decorating style) also from Ikea. Looks nice too.
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: mizgeorge on September 06, 2010, 08:59:59 PM
I nick my daughter's Easter Egg buckets (nice little tin ones with winnie the pooh etc on them) and fill with playsand, so same idea but less pretty!
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Les on September 06, 2010, 09:00:53 PM
LOL George ... I have a Ben10 one :D
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: rocky on September 06, 2010, 10:50:16 PM
Quote from: Dickie on September 06, 2010, 07:43:54 PM
Sarah uses a small 4 or 5" galvanised plant pot from Ikea, with some red sand (flower decorating style) also from Ikea. Looks nice too.

Hmmm ... galvanised plant pots. I knew there was a reason why I needed to go to Ikea :) They would look better than my old plastic measuring jug with potting compost  :P
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Dickie on September 06, 2010, 11:21:40 PM
I think it's this one at 10.5cm

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30155665

and this is the sand

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10159749
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Pat from Canvey on September 07, 2010, 07:35:59 AM
If you want to use sand, specify "fine sand" not sand from the beach.
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Les on September 07, 2010, 07:45:13 AM
I use a chunk of flower arrangers oasis, still shrink wrapped so that I don't get bits everywhere :)
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: jobead on September 07, 2010, 08:22:14 AM
I feel left out now, I have no pot, no sand, no wood with holes.


I dip em and stick em on the rod rest, flame dry if I need to. I'm more disorganised than I thought  :-[

:)
Jo
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Kalorlo on September 07, 2010, 09:31:38 AM
I have an empty ice cream tub (the bucket-shaped kind) with my leftover annealing bubbles that don't fit in the container I use for them in it.

Jo: my rod rest tends to be fairly full of rods, and I dip more mandrels than it has slots for at a time.  :)
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: jobead on September 07, 2010, 10:41:41 PM
Yup I am a very slow dipper ! I tend to work in shorts bursts and then get called upon to do something mundane  :(
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Shirl on September 11, 2010, 06:17:18 PM
I have mine in a glass jar filled with dry rice. I tried sand but it must have been damp as it stuck to my mandrels  :D
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: Dickie on September 11, 2010, 08:21:51 PM
BTW the red stuff from Ikea doesn't stick to the mandrels...
Title: Re: What can I stand my Mandrels in????
Post by: afina on September 11, 2010, 08:58:37 PM
Flower pot with bird sand for me.