Frit-Happens !

I have had my eye on this beadpress http://www.bavarianbeads.com/product_info.php?products_id=378&osCsid=gkgbegaqsc51dbitoge5i626b7 (http://www.bavarianbeads.com/product_info.php?products_id=378&osCsid=gkgbegaqsc51dbitoge5i626b7) and I was wondering how you would use it because the mandrel hole only goes into the top. If anyone has used one before I would love to hear what you think of it and how easy it is to use.

Thanks

Jo x

Never used one but you would build your gather on the end of the mandrel so it overlapped it. After that just keep checking the size of the gather to the press as normal.
The hardest part would be gauging how deep the hole should be for what ever type of bail you are using but I would say just measure the bail then wind a starting footprint on at that point.

Then just a matter of gluing a bail into the hole.

The bonus is it won't need as much bead release :)

i would recommend ....and use a lot and love her other heart press

http://www.bavarianbeads.com/popup_image.php?pID=337&osCsid=gkgbegaqsc51dbitoge5i626b7

and someone else uses it a fair bit too  ;)

http://www.bavarianbeads.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_59&products_id=337&osCsid=gkgbegaqsc51dbitoge5i626b7

and there is less of a what do i do with the mandrel

Wow, that was a nice surprise! I hadn't seen that page with our beads on before :)

I do love that Bavarian press  ;)

The press you're asking about is a gorgeous shape, Jo. The Shari Slonski tutorial produces a similar style heart built on the end of the mandrel.    http://etsy-lampwork.blogspot.com/2008/12/broken-heart-tutorial.html

Thanks Scarlet and Sarah, think I'm gonna give it a go. Julie thanks for tut link, her work is amazing just wish I was upto that standard.

I always meant to try and master the off mandrel heart with a glass bail - I have done it but it wasn't a really lovely fat heart, and too many have cracked around the place where I have to grab it with tweezers, so it's hot fingers and a bushier torch on my shopping list then.. ;D

I think that heart press looks good, you would see the bail if it were transparent but I don't think the bail would have to go in very far so it could look quite tidy.