Ok, does anyone have any suggestions on cleaning these little buggers quickly ???
I have nearly 200 of the things and I'm lazy, I don't clean them as a I go along I put them in a pot and wait until I don't have any clean ones left before I attack them. :'(
I usually soak them in water and rub a bit of wet and dry on them cleaning off the bead release then let them dry... but there's 200 of the things! By the time I have finished I have wrinkled fingers and have lost the will to live :(
I'm really only loitering here to put off getting on with the job to be honest.... I could sharpen them and throw them at a dart board, I'm sure Tan would approve!
How about a bucket of acid? Would that work? But then again it's getting them out without burning myself and there's also health and safety issues around having so much dangerous stuff in my studio, adding acid to it would not go down well with hubby!!
Oh well, I'll stop messing about and go find a bucket and some wet and dry...... ;D At least the sun is shining, I'll sit outdoors and watch the crows fight with the cows in the field! ;D
I clean my mandrels when they're dry, with a piece of plastic pan cleaner. I then wipe them with a soft cloth to get the dust off. No doubt I'm doing it all wrong but it works for me!
steel wire wool OR the dishwasher - i kid you not.... hot as hell and blast them...
works for us!!!
;D ;D
Quote from: Buzzybead on August 11, 2007, 10:36:09 AM
I clean my mandrels when they're dry, with a piece of plastic pan cleaner. I then wipe them with a soft cloth to get the dust off. No doubt I'm doing it all wrong but it works for me!
So long as you're not breathing that dust in?! :-\
Ooooh the dishwasher ;D
Brush or scourer under running tap for me.
I am in awe of someone who has 200 mandrels. Sorry, 200 straightmandrels :D
I lay all mine down in a washing up bucket (one of the pastic quare things that you put in the sink) so they are touching and then cover them in warm water. I simple roll them back and forth really quickly and the friction of them rubbing together cleans the mandrels. I've got about 60 or so and can do them all in one go. Takes about 2 minutes.
Quote from: Sulis on August 11, 2007, 10:43:39 AM
Quote from: Buzzybead on August 11, 2007, 10:36:09 AM
I clean my mandrels when they're dry, with a piece of plastic pan cleaner. I then wipe them with a soft cloth to get the dust off. No doubt I'm doing it all wrong but it works for me!
So long as you're not breathing that dust in?! :-\
No - don't worry Hazel. I'm outside with my P3 mask on. The neighbour thinks it's hilarious.
ooooooohhh THE DISHWASHER...... ;D ;D ;D ;D Never thought of that one!!!
I'm about a 1/4 of the way through and my fingers are shrivelled!!
I only have 200 as I'm lazy ::) and as for straight, well there's probably a few in there that I ought to throw away but I turn them up the other way and use the straight end ;)
I hold them under the tap in the sink and clean them with a little sponge with a somewhat sharp green top on it. Don't know the word ::) but will look for a picture.
(http://www.antoon-aquarium.nl/2d7cfab10.jpg)
Quote from: Esther on August 11, 2007, 03:12:58 PM
I hold them under the tap in the sink and clean them with a little sponge with a somewhat sharp green top on it. Don't know the word ::) but will look for a picture.
That could've been me replying, I do it exactly the same way :D
Me too, except my scourer is yellow and green. Don't know if the colour makes any difference ;D
Me too
Quote from: Buzzybead on August 11, 2007, 10:57:43 AM
Quote from: Sulis on August 11, 2007, 10:43:39 AM
Quote from: Buzzybead on August 11, 2007, 10:36:09 AM
I clean my mandrels when they're dry, with a piece of plastic pan cleaner. I then wipe them with a soft cloth to get the dust off. No doubt I'm doing it all wrong but it works for me!
So long as you're not breathing that dust in?! :-\
No - don't worry Hazel. I'm outside with my P3 mask on. The neighbour thinks it's hilarious.
Phew! I was worrying about you there ;)
My neighbours think I'm crazy - I tend to sing to myself when I'm torching out in the shed!
I do the washing up bowl and the rubbing thing too, it's pretty good except if you get a mandrel that's had a troublesome bead on it and then it needs the green scratchy thing from the kitchen ;)
Gosh - I'm glad I'm not the only one who sings! I belt out either 'Mamba #5' OR 'Turn This Thing Around' by El Presidente. Helps me focus...and keeps the midges away ;)
I use a damp cloth to pull beads off, and the bead release just rubs off at the same time..
well I managed to get them all done, but thanks for all the tips I will remember that for next time.... But I'm going to try and be good and do them as I go along now.... ;D ;)(oh Yeah!!)
Hot water & a pot scrubby for me - but I never thought of the dishwasher either! Fab idea Q.... ;D
Quote from: stacyemma on August 11, 2007, 10:56:31 AM
I lay all mine down in a washing up bucket (one of the pastic quare things that you put in the sink) so they are touching and then cover them in warm water. I simple roll them back and forth really quickly and the friction of them rubbing together cleans the mandrels. I've got about 60 or so and can do them all in one go. Takes about 2 minutes.
I like this idea - gonna give this one a go - thanks!
I have another question in relation to mandrels.....
I was reading a thread somewhere, could have been here, not sure, the grey cells are dying off on account of all the juice I'm pickling them in... i.e. wine! anyway, someone said that they dip their mandrels three times in kiln wash. Well I use kiln wash on my mandrels and only coat them once. Sometimes it can be a struggle to get the beads of the mandrel, so thought I would give this ago, mind you I only did it twice, that was enough for me.... attention deficit here... I got bored waiting for them to dry!!!
Anyway, the beads literally fell off the mandrel after I had soaked them for a few minuets. It was a dream and the release seemed to fall away from the mandrel as well, makes cleaning them much easier. Perhaps it's me, I've been following the Cindy Jenkins method since I started beading... that's the closest to a lesson I have ever come and I must admit I thought I was doing things the right way.
Would be interested to hear everyone else's thoughts on this... i.e. do you dip once, or twice or more??
I dip twice- and the first coat doesn't have to be completely dry first, if you dip quickly! I use blue sludge and this makes it all much easier. You don't want to go too thick though!
Dipping twice seems to have worked I must admit. I have thinned out the mixture though, I did not want it too thick as you said, it's working a treat I must say ;D ;D ;D ;D
Hi,
The first time I did my mandrels I only dipped once, that was a big disaster.
Now I dip once, twice, three times, dip after dip, no waiting to dry.
My mandrels go straight into water to soak, and the beads never stick. I also clean off any remaining bead release at the same time.