Is there anything I can do??

Pam · January 17, 2011, 05:57:06 PM

To save my cabochons?
I have made some cabs on the end of an uncoated mandrel and they are stuck (surprise surprise!).
Is there anything I can do to save them or are they only fit for the plant pot

Les · January 17, 2011, 06:04:48 PM

have you tried freezing them in the hope that the mandrel will shrink slightly in the cold ? if they're stuck fast, then you've got nothing to lose, I suppose ?

julieHB · January 17, 2011, 06:36:28 PM

1. Yep, do as Les says. I saved one from the water pot the other day by putting it in the freezer for a while.

2. Put it in the kiln when you heat it up for annealing. After it has stabilised on 500 something degrees bring it back in the flame, attach a punty and remove the mandrel by heating the mandrel only. Attach a punty to the bottom of the cab (cold joint preferably), knock off the first punty, make sure you melt in any scars made by the first punty and put in kiln. Simples

i have done it with varying results....but I think it just takes practise

Pam · January 17, 2011, 06:41:51 PM

Thanks for the tips, you girls are ace. Mandrels in the freezer as I type. Will let you know the outcome and pics if it works.
XX

julieHB · January 17, 2011, 08:13:22 PM

Just read your post again, Pam....uncoated, you say? Hmm, please let us know if the freezer works!!

AnnaSpanna · January 17, 2011, 08:51:32 PM

If you don't mind losing the actual cabs that you have made then just whack the mandrel and cab straight into the flame without warming it first and the glass should hopefully simply shatter off. Wear eye protection!

Redhotsal · January 17, 2011, 09:28:25 PM

You could actually just saw it off and leave a tiny bit of mandrel embedded in the cab - then simply file the stump until it is flush with the back. Would probably work well with a mandrel up to 2.4mm but you'll struggle if it was much thicker.

julieHB · January 17, 2011, 09:57:56 PM

I was just going to suggest what Sal has already said

Studio Girl · January 18, 2011, 08:46:39 AM

me too what they said
good luck

Margaret xx

Pat from Canvey · January 18, 2011, 08:59:51 AM

I've made cabs on the end of a rod without a mandrel. I just nip off the rod after annealing and sand down the end of rod. It helps if you have a flat lap.

Pam · January 18, 2011, 04:10:07 PM

Quote from: Redhotsal on January 17, 2011, 09:28:25 PM
You could actually just saw it off and leave a tiny bit of mandrel embedded in the cab - then simply file the stump until it is flush with the back. Would probably work well with a mandrel up to 2.4mm but you'll struggle if it was much thicker.

Yep this sounds like the best idea for me. I'm glad a couple of you suggested it because it had crossed my mind (before just smashing them that is out of frustration)
Freezer didn't work.
Saw here we come.

Weston_glass_man · November 25, 2012, 10:34:34 PM

Feeling thick here but if I don't ask then I wont know... "covering face as he types" what is a punty is it a mandrel or something diff. Sorry stupidity is my gift!!!! lol

Calico Cat · November 25, 2012, 11:01:32 PM

Quote from: Weston_glass_man on November 25, 2012, 10:34:34 PM
Feeling thick here but if I don't ask then I wont know... "covering face as he types" what is a punty is it a mandrel or something diff. Sorry stupidity is my gift!!!! lol

When you work glass without using a mandrel - when you don't want a bead hole - for a marble for example - you work on the end of a rod of glass which you will then remove - that's a punty.

You might also use a couple of punties when pulling murrini - one each end of the gather although most folks pull murrini using a couple of old mandrels.

If you are working with soft glass COE 104 you might use a borosilicate punty so it didn't melt. If working with boro, you just have to make sure you don't melt the punty - or move very quickly when the marble falls off!

Weston_glass_man · November 25, 2012, 11:05:56 PM

Thank You

Nicknack · November 25, 2012, 11:11:06 PM

Quote from: Weston_glass_man on November 25, 2012, 10:34:34 PM
Feeling thick here but if I don't ask then I wont know... "covering face as he types" what is a punty is it a mandrel or something diff. Sorry stupidity is my gift!!!! lol

It's not stupidity, ALL of us were beginners once (I'm still not too far off), and there are things like this that we all have to learn. It comes with reading (books and this forum), taking lessons, and asking questions.

Well done!

Nick