Spacer revolution!

[helbels]

Hello All

Until very recently I was suffering from a strange affliction - I couldn't make spacers to save my life.  Making a spacer would literally take me nearly as long as a big bead... and I'd have to prod, poke, squeeze and shape the glass into submission to get anything resembling round.

Then I took a course at Di East's, and got some tips from her & Sarah Hornik... and oh my god, I think there's been a revolution!  Firstly, I realised I was working with my Cricket way way too hot, which meant the glass was literally nearly falling off the mandrel as I was trying to work....

but then came the biggest breakthrough of all.... Di showed how she makes up to 9 spacers on the same mandrel, which makes consistent sizing a doddle cos you can see them all at once.

I thought to myself "I'll never manage that", but I've done it 3 times now (well, not 9, but did 8 in one go this evening) and it's SO MUCH EASIER!  As long as you don't make the spacers too big, it's easy to keep them all warm, and it's so easy to see where you need to add more glass etc.

Sorry if everyone else already does it this way - but this has been nothing short of a miracle for me, and has improved my spacers like 1000 per cent!!

[sublimekate]

Coolio 

I think we had a little competition on here once to see who could get the most spacers on one mandrel 

[Trudi]

Yep - I hink my record is 12 spacers on a mandrel (long one) but I find as long as they're not too big - I don't keep heating them - I make one and move along - then put them in the kiln. It's the cleaning of them that I hate!

[helbels]

I actually did 9, here's the proof.  I'm not up to 12 yet!!! 

[DragonflyLynne]

I'm impressed! 

[Kaz]

I also find it better not to reheat them as then they do have a tendency to crack.
Not done this for ages though (since batch annealing days) - must have another go at this as I used to do 8 or 9 too!
Kazx

[helbels]

I just kept wafting mine through the flame to keep them all toasty - didnt have any crackage issues.

[Trudi]

I used to try keeping them warm but if they get too cold and you heat they do crack. It wasn't till I readi it on LE or Torch Bugs that I realised that you don't have to re-heat them - try it out! Would I lie to you???

[Dragonfire Glass]

I've made 12 on a mandrel & I don't kepp them warm either. Just move to the end and into the kiln.

[Shirley]

I've done 16 on one mandrel a few times. Definitely the way to do it. I either pop them into vermiculite or straight into the kiln. I never try to keep them warm as they crack that way.

[cbeadies]

Thanks helbels, I am going to try this! Don't think I'll be able to manage 16 tho'....

[Shirley]

Thanks helbels, I am going to try this! Don't think I'll be able to manage 16 tho'....

you will if there's enough bead release on the mandrel

[beadysam]

I don't keep mine warm either - but I still don't make even sized beads.  I really hope nobody ever wan't me to  make matching earrings LOL!

[Kalorlo]

Woohoo! I don't usually manage to get more than 4 teeny ones without them starting to crack. I don't reheat them, but my initial wraps frequently need help so there's still some faffing around getting each one in shape.