Has anyone tried making finger rings using the big ring mandrels?
I love the idea, really fun to wear and trendy. I was hoping to take advantage of not being able to make a perfectly round bead by deliberately making lopsided ones!
So... what kind of glass, does it need special cooling/annealing treatment/how breakable are they/what mandrels are best etc etc etc Really hoping someone has been down this route before!
Sorry if this has been asked on the forum before, I haven't managed to find anything conclusive.
Helen
xxx
Lorna (Pixiewillow) makes some stunning rings. I'm assuming she uses a ring mandrel. My FIL has some ring mandrels downstairs, I've noticed, but haven't been brave enough to give them a try yet :D
They are a pest to get off the mandrel! And difficult to lay down a nice footprint. Oh, and near impossible to get the right size, lol! I have two sizes of mandrels and never made one I can wear. Try Tuffnells for mandrels.
Quote from: Mary on May 05, 2008, 11:12:58 AM
They are a pest to get off the mandrel! And difficult to lay down a nice footprint. Oh, and near impossible to get the right size, lol! I have two sizes of mandrels and never made one I can wear. Try Tuffnells for mandrels.
I'll go along with what Mary said - the smallest size that Martin has is the only one that produced a decent size for me to wear on my ring finger (think I'm around a size N?), the bigger ones were massive (unless you're into thumb rings). Other thing is getting the bead release out cleanly - that's a real b****r :(
Quote from: Mary on May 05, 2008, 11:12:58 AM
And difficult to lay down a nice footprint.
That's what has been putting me off :D :D :D
Billie, I've found that I get a better footprint if I draw a line in the bead release making sure the ends meet up. Then lay the glass to one side of the line to get an even footprint that lines up. I buy oddments of camping poles from the local large camping store, cut them to mandrel length with a tube cutter and make glass rings on them. That way I get a ring that fits one of my fingers. I can make them as narrow or as wide as I want. I think the largest one I've made had an inner diameter of about 1 inch.
I've found the picture now, (http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1426/5604171/22750186/388253507.jpg)
Modified to add picture
I must get into the habit of keeping a pencil by my torch so I can mark lines on the mandrels :) Thanks for the tip :-*
I'm glad it's not just me then!!!...i've had to smash a few off, because they got stuck!...only actually have 2 that look ok...and they're not great!! ::)