Fine stringers

[chipperpottery]

I am trying to make beads with a couple of fine stringer lines on, but the don't seem to stick to the bead and just ball up and separate.
What am I doing wrong.

[spexy]

Is your base bead hot enough?

[chipperpottery]

Yes it was slightly glowing.

[Lush!]

Is  your stringer fine enough?

[chipperpottery]

Yes it is like a cats whisker......

[lampworklover]

try moving the whole thing a little further out in the flame so that the stringer gets a little tiny bit warmer and sticks. Too close in and it will go 'poof' though , bit of trial and error...

[spexy]

I found this video by Laura Sparling a big help in learning to apply stringer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eei0n8z_1uc&feature=plcp

[MangoBeads]

Anyone who would like expert stringer help we have Lorna Prime this weekend

[chipperpottery]

And I am now hoping to persuade D/H I need to go.  

[Trudi]

It's all PPP - pull lots of stringer, make some simple round beads and practice. You need to

get the stringer thin enough
the base bead hot enough
the right spot close to the flame but not in it.

Once you have your bead made spot heat the part to attach the stringer to, and working just to the side of the flame (if your stringer isn't too thick  the radiating heat will help it bend and stick to the bead) guide it onto the bead. It does take a few goes to understand the thickness of the stringer and the right spot to work in!

Then when you have it attached you need to warm in slowly and gently in a cooler part of the flame. If you blast it with heat too soon the stringer will break up.

Good luck x

[flame n fuse]

I notice that Laura says she works above the flame. That's new to me - I try to work to the side and struggle sometimes because I can't reach the bit I want to decorate. Which place do others find best?

[Trudi]

I work to the right of the flame.

[Kaz]

I work above the flame and what that actually means is turning the flame down to a pinpoint and working just above where the flame ends with the bead underneath where the flame would be if it was turned higher. The phrase above the flame seems to imply that the flame is actually below the bead.

[helbels]

Kaz, that's the single most helpful comment I've read in ages, thank you :-)

[Les]

Thanks Kaz ... I might give that a go myself ... fine stringer control continues to elude me ... if I could afford a class with Lorna, I'd take one