Lentil Holes - how should they look?

[Shirley]

I've been trying to make lentils and I hate them. I don't really know what they holes should look like so I thought I'd ask. Anyone got any pics of good lentil holes? I'm using a Zoozii trio.

[theflyingbedstead]

Kaz is a lentil expert, so I would recommend having a gawp at some of her gorgeous beads!

Which sort of press are you using?  I find the straight sided lentil presses easier to get good holes with.

[saffie]

I only use straight sided presses as I never got the hang of the holes in the other ones!!!

[Lush!]

If you're talking traditional lentil press shape, rather than the straight sided, then I'd say they "should" have dimpled ends - imagine using a 4mm Swarovski bicone next to them, and half of the bicone would fit into the hole.

Its also important to get them the same on both sides, as long as your mandrel is perfectly centred you shouldn't end up with a tortoise-shell effect, where one side of the lentil kind of hangs over the other side.

[sublimekate]

I agree with Julie, dimples for sure, how dimpled is personal preference, but a balanced lentil is essential, and bloody hard sometimes   

[Shirley]

I've got straight-sided as well and they're coming on ok. Have been looking at Lorna's beads and they have a slight indent.

Must say, Julie, I really don't like the holes when you can fit a Swarki into them. Personal taste, I guess 

[Dragonfire Glass]

Don't like the indent myself - prefer a straighter edge 

[Josephine]

I'm thinking of getting a straight sided lentil for this very reason. Anyone have any recommendations.

[Lush!]

I prefer a straighter edge too, but the indent-style presses kind of force indents, if you see what I mean!

[Shirley]

I've got the Zoozii SSL trio, and I'm quite liking that one, I must say. I've also got a couple of Cattwalk lentils that seem to indent quite strongly, and an unidentified 37mm lentil that I bought from Billie. I actually using the big press as a shaper and not actually filling it completely. I di wonder about getting another SSL in a larger size than the ones in the trio.

[TiaraHelen]

Not sure how they "should" look, but I like them to look like a perfect circle from the side, if possible.  This usually involves adding dots of glass after the first press then re-pressing.  Just personal taste I guess.  Haven't done many, but used one of Maria Louisa's lentil trio presses, really liked it, sadly it was borrowed (anyone got one they don't want?).

[turnedlight]

With my slim lentil press I need to give a slight v shaped dimple, if the press is filled more and it looks like a more perfect circle, then the hole can be a bit fragile when it comes to making it up into jewellery, especially transparent glass. With the ss lentil press this isn't a problem, there's a greater depth of glass around the holes.

[Billie]

I've got the Zoozii SSL trio, and I'm quite liking that one, I must say. I've also got a couple of Cattwalk lentils that seem to indent quite strongly, and an unidentified 37mm lentil that I bought from Billie. I actually using the big press as a shaper and not actually filling it completely. I di wonder about getting another SSL in a larger size than the ones in the trio.

Was it not a Zoozii's?    I think most of my presses have come from there, or Maria Louisa.  I can't remember now.  Sieve like brain 

[nemeton]

As an 'end user', here's my 2p worth: I love lentils of all sizes but am not so keen on the straight-sided ones. I like the holes to be central and even, and prefer it when you can fit a swarovski halfway into the dimples at the ends, as it stops the lentil from wobbling around on the wire it's strung on (I know beadcaps would do much the same job but I'm not a big user of beadcaps). I'm off to have a peruse of my lentil collection now to see which are the ones with the bestest holes from my point of view... any excuse to fondle some lampies... will sort out some piccies tomorrow if that would be interesting!

[Josephine]

That would be interesting to see Lynn. I must admit I have no problem making up lentils into jewellery myself when they have the dimples. Its just when I list beads for sale that I worry what other people like/think the holes should be like. Just paranoid about people thinking my beads are no good I guess.