Your best ever tips!

Dee Dee · April 02, 2009, 01:07:52 PM

In your beadmaking...is there something you do, or has someone given you a tip, that has been worth it's weight in gold?

Care to share? I have two.....

I use a doming block to get round beads in a set about the same size (tip given to me by Sarah!).

I pull my stringers using a piece of a bought clear stringer as a punty, rather than tweezers, and leave it attached, that way I get to use my stringer to the very end!

Trudi · April 02, 2009, 01:45:31 PM

To make creases, instead of a razor tool, I use a stanley knife!

GoodMonkey · April 02, 2009, 02:17:37 PM

When using frit put it in a little foil tart tray. Thay way it is easy to use, you can pick the tray up if you need to and you can crease it to put your excess frit back into it's jar or grip seal bag.

sarah t · April 02, 2009, 02:26:16 PM

buy cheap buy twice !!........we all love a bargin ...but i have had to remake stuff for people because i skimped on materials ...not worth it in the long run !!

Graeme · April 02, 2009, 05:18:15 PM

Got myself a great tip from Rosenquartz.
I was using Vermiculite in a plany pot to cool my beads but found they were still cracking. He told me that he uses a slow cooker with the Vermiculite in it. Got one for £11.99 from Tesco and it works great. I can turn it down over 3 stages and not had a bead crack since. Thanks Neil, great tip.

Graeme

Black Heart Beads · April 02, 2009, 05:33:35 PM

I also used a slow cooker to cool my beads before I got my kiln but now I use it to keep petals etc warm. I Just removed the ceramic pot and use the metal base and its big enough to do several lots of petals at once.

GlassOcean · April 02, 2009, 06:49:18 PM

Trusty kitchen knife from a charity shop for making grooves and flattening dots!

Amber · April 02, 2009, 07:02:06 PM

When making long cylinder beads, make a bead at each end before filling in the middle. This should keep your dimples all nice!

Lush! · April 02, 2009, 08:31:30 PM

Thanks to Anna for this one I think - turn the valve on the your propane bottle ON as far as it will go, so that you never have any trouble working out which way is OFF.

Trudi · April 02, 2009, 08:43:51 PM

Quote from: Lush! on April 02, 2009, 08:31:30 PM
Thanks to Anna for this one I think - turn the valve on the your propane bottle ON as far as it will go, so that you never have any trouble working out which way is OFF.

LOL Julie!

sea-thistle · April 05, 2009, 11:31:56 PM

That's a good tip that I will have to remember!!

Pegasus · April 06, 2009, 12:13:00 AM

Never put a light bulb in your back pocket

.........and use a marble press to make round beads, you only need half the press so one press can be made into 2 round bead makers! That's how I do my round beads, I'd be lost without it!!!

Dee Dee · April 07, 2009, 08:48:03 AM

Some great tips everyone! I have another one......

Use a riveting tool (along with a rubber washer) to remove totally stuck beads from their mandrels!

I've just bought one.....it's awesome!!

Kaz · April 07, 2009, 08:54:16 AM

Cut up the little books of silver foil (into 3 or 4 smaller books cutting across the spine so they stay together)
Balance a bead by building it up. Make a small bead, balance it, add another wrap, balance it, etc. etc.
When using a press, if the bead is too small add glass at the middle, rather than the ends so that the glass pushes outwards and makes better ends (obviously won't work with a pre-decorated bead where your guesswork has to be much better!)
Kazx

TiaraHelen · April 07, 2009, 09:33:27 AM

Always wear an apron! Worth its weight in ruined skirts and trousers.