I think it must be because the bead is too hot, but I keep having a problem with a couple of my presses. The press clamps shut on the bead and refuses to open until I actually have to prise the top and bottom apart by sliding a knife inbetween. This of course is fatal for the bead which sometimes practically explodes once I finally get it out.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! >:( >:(
Anybody else have this problem?
are they straight sided presses?
I get that if i get EXACTLY the right fit, usually square and spree shapes
Its my lentil and tile presses.
And you're right Anna, it is when I get exactly the right fit - that's what makes it super-frustrating, cos its always a really good bead!
>:( >:(
Perhaps it's suction?
I would use slightly less glass - you are getting too tight a fit!
Found this on the Cattwalk website:
TIP: If you get the exact right amount of glass (or sometimes a little extra) you may find that your bead sticks in the cavity. Don't panic, but it is recommended that you keep some type of tweezers or pick nearby so that you can help nudge the mandrel up out of the cavity if necessary. This can happen with any of the tools that make beads with a 90 degree corner or edge.
So why do your lentils do it?
Their tuts are great for anybody out there trying to get to grips with a particular press, by the way!
http://www.cattwalk.com/tutorials.htm
Quote from: sparrow on February 13, 2008, 08:15:47 AMbut it is recommended that you keep some type of tweezers or pick nearby so that you can help nudge the mandrel up out of the cavity if necessary.
The top and bottom parts of the press actually clamp tight shut on the bead so this wouldn't work. You know when you have to separate frozen hamburgers .... ;D
Which make of presses are they? I was having this discussion with Sandra yesterday. I thought is was the pins when they are not tapered enough and Sandra thinks its the type of metal the pins are made from heating up quicker and thereby expanding to fill the hole the pin goes in.
They're both from Maria Louisa.
I don't know if its only happening with her presses, but I use hers more than any others I've got!
bring em to Pam's and we'll have a looksee
Quote from: Maytime on February 13, 2008, 09:06:21 AM
Which make of presses are they? I was having this discussion with Sandra yesterday. I thought is was the pins when they are not tapered enough and Sandra thinks its the type of metal the pins are made from heating up quicker and thereby expanding to fill the hole the pin goes in.
I don't think that expanding is that significant. That would mean that all the presses would jam when used. I also think it's too tight fit.
I sometimes have it with a tile if the amount of glass is exact right but I wiggle a bit and this always helps then. With the lentils I have never got it. I don't understand how this can be also.
You're the first I hear about this so I'm very curious what the cause can be.
I have no idea if this will work, but what about trying a little beeswax?
Quote from: Maria Louisa on February 13, 2008, 11:02:46 AM
I sometimes have it with a tile if the amount of glass is exact right but I wiggle a bit and this always helps then. With the lentils I have never got it. I don't understand how this can be also.
You're the first I hear about this so I'm very curious what the cause can be.
Maria Louisa, I
love my lentil press, its such a perfect size and shape - but yesterday I lost three beautiful beads in this way in the space of an hour! So I really am willing to try anything people can think of.
Quote from: beadysam on February 13, 2008, 11:13:20 AM
I have no idea if this will work, but what about trying a little beeswax?
Beeswax? It could be interesting to try something like this on the flat part of the press ...
It doesn't happen with the lentil press just the tab one. But then the sides are straight on the tab so maybe that's a factor. I do know it doesn't happen if there is less glass.
I get this sometimes on my Zoozii tab too. Never so strong that I can't open the press but there's a bit of a tug.
I like it when that happens, it makes a vacuum & it means you have pressed well my friend, its a bit pants if you can't open the press though :-\
Wow, this is really frustrating...I am a press girl ( love them) so I know what you are talking about. What you need to do, is not have the glass glowing when you get your bead to press. On my presses, I find this is only a problem with straight sided shapes...a nice prefect fit and a dead bead:S! Give it a try with out your glass being super hot...works for me.
As for the lentil...I have no explanation...whose lentil press is it?
Well, I had a looooooong torchy session last night and I made about 20 lentils. I took my time and was careful not to press too hot, and I'm pleased to report I only lost one lentil to the naughty-clampy-grippy-syndrome :D
The tile press is not quite so easy to use so I didn't lose any tiles at all, although I did feel the press catch on a couple of them that had some perfect corners.
Cindy, these presses are from Maria Louisa and they really are lovely presses. The lentil is just so easy to use and the shape is perfect - I'm sure this problem is more to do with operator error than manufacturer! ;D
It's really funny - I've got the same lentil press and never had that probl;em......I'm obviously not good enough to get the glass right ;D Guess there can be advantages to being less-than-perfect ;)
Julie,
I'm pleased to hear it went better last night.
If there is anything I can do let me know.
It is true that it does take a while to figure out a press...but when you get it working...they are so easy. I am glad pressing cooler helped...I find I always have issued with any straight sided press when the glass is too warm.
Quote from: sparrow on February 14, 2008, 08:46:41 AM
It's really funny - I've got the same lentil press and never had that probl;em......I'm obviously not good enough to get the glass right ;D Guess there can be advantages to being less-than-perfect ;)
I love this comment, its how I think too ;D
I have found that there is a knack with most of the presses.
What I do with most of them is make the glass on your mandrel slightly less in length than the size of the bead shape you are going to press, but then add another wrap or two to the centre of the bead. I then marver the bead into a cube shape, as you squash the bead, this makes lovely puckered bead holes and fills out the bead to the desired size. Then I warm the cube let it cool slightly and press. This is what I have found works for me and you don't end up with sharp holes.
I hope you can follow this :)
I have just bought the ssided lentil press from Maria Louisa and I really like it, but I am having the stick problem exactly the same as Julie describes here. Just wondered if pressing with the glass cooler works and or using less glass? :) is it me or the press?
The thing to do is not panic if this happens - just let the glass in the press cool ever so slightly and the top will come away - otherwise you will fight with it and lose bead release and probably the bead too. Waxing the locator pins also helps. It can also help if you are slightly gentler when pressing down the top half and the bead is not quite so gloopy.
Kazx
I have maria louisa's straight sided lentil trio and i ever so slightly get this problem, but only when using the smallest cavity and only when i've been using it for a while and the press is hot, it still never clamps shut enough where i have to prize it open, just a little wiggle and it comes off fine, bead still intact etc
Julie do you only get this problem after you've used that press for a while? if so i think it may be something to do with the press getting hot and like most tools they stick slightly if theyre too hot, maybe we should be cooling our presses like other tools?
thinking its probably worth a try
Just to say i LOVE LOVE LOVE my press, its my first and im getting on with it so well, already wanting more ;D
I've had the same problem, especially with the smaller presses when I've done a few beads in a row. When they jam I find the press has got really hot, and if I haven't pulled the top half off completely straight. Once it's cooled it all comes away ok, then I make sure I cool down the press before carrying on, so I think it's expansion causing the problem.
Thanks everyone, I know this was an old thread but replied in here as the same thing had been described so well before. I really like the press and I did panic and try to yank it off and it had stuck fast Kaz. I was trying to get the bead pressed when very hot thinking to prevent it from cracking but if its ok to let it cool a bit I will do that. Also been pressing the top down quite heavily so all these things apply... and the press was very hot. :)
Same thing happened to me several times today with my new very large SS lentil. It took ages to release its grip.....and straight away my bead cracked. :( :( :( It's a shame when that happens as it takes a while to build it up to that size....not to mention the waste of all that lovely glass. :( :(
I'll have to try and press it when the glass isn't quite so hot.......unless anyone has any other suggestions?
Unless it splits and falls off the mandrel, cracks can be repaired by heating again ...
I got a cube press at the weekend and it has stuck a few times - i put it down to having too much (or exactly the right amount it now seems) glass going in. The joy with a cube is that if you have a fraction too much or little on then you can still manipulate your cubes with a bit of marvering which i guess is more difficult with a lentil. The press has gone across the room a few times whilst Ive been trying to wiggle the top free but I haven't yet lost a bead to it and am just still working out how to get the best from it!
if i get a bead stuck in a press like this I pick the whole thing up by the press handle, about 1cm off my work surface and drop it back onto the surface, the top then comes off the press as normal, no idea why it works but it works for me.
Probably giving the bead up in shock at your masterfulness! ;D
What you can do is make the holes (the ones for the pins) a little bit wider with a round file.
The brass is quite soft so that would work for most of the presses.
The ones with the straight sides and bottoms, like cubes and tiles and coins, are always a problem, with any press, not only mine, it's because of the shape that it gets stuck when using exactly enough glass.
Quote from: Maria Louisa on April 22, 2010, 01:15:43 PM
What you can do is make the holes (the ones for the pins) a little bit wider with a round file.
The brass is quite soft so that would work for most of the presses.
The ones with the straight sides and bottoms, like cubes and tiles and coins, are always a problem, with any press, not only mine, it's because of the shape that it gets stuck when using exactly enough glass.
Useful information Maria-Louisa!!
So for the The ones with the straight sides and bottoms - a little less is better!
Quote from: Maria Louisa on April 22, 2010, 01:15:43 PM
What you can do is make the holes (the ones for the pins) a little bit wider with a round file.
The brass is quite soft so that would work for most of the presses.
The ones with the straight sides and bottoms, like cubes and tiles and coins, are always a problem, with any press, not only mine, it's because of the shape that it gets stuck when using exactly enough glass.
Thanks Maria Louisa, it is a lovely press and I am very happy with, I haven't much experience of presses and so hope you didnt think that I wasn't happy with it I just wanted to check that it was something I had to do different rather than the press itself. Sorry if it sounded wrong... . I spose getting exactly enough glass is good in a way but there again...maybe not. ;D
Hi Jammie,
Don't worry. I just wanted to explain.
I know it's not a problem of 'my' press. It's will all the presses that have a 90 degrees corner in it.
They all get stuck than. It's the shape. And it happens when using exactly enough glass.
Guess you have to make those beads a little wonkie to begin with :D
No, just use a little less glass in it so it leaves a little space to get loose.
I use the technique Becky uses. Lift up my press and wiggle so the bottom falls off at my plate.
I used my new Maria Louisa press this week and I was actually delighted when it appeared to stick as it meant I'd managed to get the right amount of glass for once ;D ;D ;D
That was mostly due to watching Lorna patiently build up a lentil shape on Saturday ;D ;D
It did only stick very slightly though :D
I'm glad you like your press Jean, after all that daft mix up by me ;D ;D ;D
Hah I am lentil obsessed at the moment. :o eat drink and sleep lentil thoughts, first thought in the morning and last thought at night. I made some yesterday and only 2 stuck, I had let the glass cool abit, counted 5 slowly then pressed. I am going to try again with plain glass, nothing fancy and work out how long to leave it to cool before they go are able to go in and come back out again still in one piece.
My OH said when I was lamenting my exploded ones, they are more like split peas now ;D
i love my presses too .........have had a couple do the sticky grabby thing ...... feesl a bit like teaching grandma to suck eggs offering you any advice or guidence tho julie ;)
one of the things i love about your pressies marie apart from them being magic and working pretty much everytime ;D ...is the mandrel dip ....i have had other presses and the dip is really small >:( .......i will try the small file thing to see if that makes a diference re pins and dips ...but i often only use half the press anyway ......
i have had a couple of presses from bavarian beads as well and i am pretty happy with them too .........might have to go shopping for more ::)........like to spread the love ;)
I made my very first lentil in one of Marie-Louisa's presses the day after the Flame-Off. The press was great, but the bead snapped in two when I took it off the mandrel. Probably wasn't evenly heated. I think I need to start small and work up to the larger size :)
I just realised that this thread is actually 2 years old :o should I have started a new one as it was Julie started it off and I am pretty sure she is way past this point of stuckiness ???
nah - I think it's great that you can scroll back and see some history - then it's al in one place!
What I like to do if it's a really good thread is to bookmark it so I can find it again!
I had the same issue recently with my new SS lentil press. I followed the advice from Maria Louisa with regard to a small round file, and gently filed the holes slightly - it works like a dream now!
think I will give that a go dee dee as I am still sticking :)