Is it possible to buy little bung type things to put on the end of mandrels to stop finished beads falling off the ends? I'd quite like to store my finished ones on mandrels ( since they're mostly doughnuts they look a bit better than stored hole side up in the tray!) I've tried to improvise with a few thinks (corks etc) but wondered if there was anything 'purpose built' as it were, or has anyone got any suggestions? Cheers all. :)
Manda has the caps for bead racks
http://www.mangobeads.co.uk/beadracks/end-caps
She also has the whole shebang as far as bead on a mandrel storage goes.
Edit because apparently I don't read things properly, Manda does the caps, rods and racks for 3mm and 1.6mm rods
I would have also suggested lush hoops http://www.lushlampwork.co.uk/userimages/procart45.htm but they are 2.5mm ID so would slip off. (but loads of pretty colours :))
How about these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180577033581?var=480008652361&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 - I think these are the things Madeline uses in her bead display frames to keep beads apart, am sure there must be various sizes to fit mandrels if these aren't right.
We glued a bead onto one end of the mandrel to display in our bead stands. That's pretty effective and looks nice.
You can just melt glass directly onto the end of the mandrel (no bead release) - solves one end at least! ;D
those things on the ebay link are quite good, but the ones I have left seem to have gone soggy or something and now no longer grip on the 1.6 manrels, and I dont have any spare 2mm ones. perhaps I should clean up some of my bent ones...
this is the display btw http://www.flickr.com/photos/madelinebunyan/sets/72157627229721501/
2.5mm rod with toppers either end?
Thanks all. Will buy some 1.6 mandrels & some of Manda's rod ends & Madeleines brake cable thingies to try :)
Fab display by the way, Madeleine - what a great idea! They're all too lovely to be stored away...
What a fantastic display ~ Jewellery as Art. Would love to see DH's face on his return from work to discover I'd removed all his pictures and framed all my beads instead ;)
thanks :)
yep, definitely too nice to live in a box!
I have 2 more frames to do as well, but need more o ring doodahs, so don't go buying them all before I get them! ;)