Being exceptionally thick - turning a donut bead round....

[helbels]

I am posting in the "common problems" for those new to lampworking, because even though I've been doing this for four years, I am being exceptionally dim and need help - and I'm not too proud to admit my shortcomings!!!! 

I can make a donut bead.
I can make a round bead.

However, if I make a bead that starts off as a donut (eg: when making a striped bead), I cannot for the life of me then figure out how to make it round and "stretch" the stripes so that they cover the full fullprint of the round bead.

I have tried adding more glass to the encasing layer at each end of the donut bead - this just seems to give me a fatter, larger, donut.

I've tried rolling the fatter donut on a marver to try to squish it into a round, but often this just smudges the core..

I've sometimes managed to turn a donut round (not sure how), but then my stripes don't stretch the full width of the bead...

ARRRRRRRRRRRGHHH!!!

Someone help me before I go bloody mad!

[Madam Steph]

Helen, I'm trying to think this one through without much success.

Are your dots substantial enough?

I think I make about 3 clear wraps all the way around them and make sure I heat each side equally and alternately

Anyone else, cos I'm waiting to see too, now

Linda x

[spexy]

I hate making round beads, can't manage it without a bead roller. I might be wrong but if I understand you right I would make a disc first, add your dots, melt them in and then as Linda said make wraps of clear glass continuing on the disc shape and then melt down. I would melt the disc down on the centre though until the dots stretch into stripes.

[helbels]

I've tried winding a clear disc round the middle and then melting down, but my footprint never seems to stretch wide enough to form the core of a round bead?   When making a round bead from scratch, you start with a wider footprint, but I can't figure out how to make the narrow footprint you start with for a donut bead get wider!!

[Redhotsal]

If you want to make a striped bead then you should start off as thin as possible - like Spexy says - you need to start with a disc and then melt in the dots which will form the stripes. Cover this with a few wraps of clear - but still keep it disc shaped.

You'll only get the stripes as the clear stretches out the dots. As you heat the disc it will spread out and create the stripes. You'll not really get a round bead in "one step" using this method as the bead will naturally form a do nut but if you are happy with the stripes albeit the shape of the bead is still a do nut it is not too difficult to get this bead round.

However, if you just pummel it on a marver or a bead roller then you will smear the stripes. The way to get a do nut bead round without smearing the design is to roll it backwards and forwards gently on the marver, up and down - not in the same place. Remember - your aim is to shape the clear encasing, and not to distort the whole bead. You can also help this by applying clear glass in rings near to the bead holes and gently melting it in - but make sure you aim most of the heat towards the holes rather than in the middle. The glass will flow towards the heat so if you heat in the middle you're only encouraging the bead to go do nut shaped.

Remember - if you marver too hard  then you will smear out your stripes so you must be gentle and patient. To be honest - I've learned to my cost that often there's no short cuts and the best bead makers are often those with a lot of patience! 

[helbels]

Thanks Sal, that's very helpful.   I can make a stripy donut no problem, it's just the going round that's the issue.  Reading your reply, I'm on the right track I think, just need to go slower and marver more gently!!!!  I notoriously have no patience whatsoever, so I suspect that's the problem!

[Beansprout]

the best bead makers are often those with a lot of patience! 

This 'patience' thing... Can I get this from Tuffies?

[Nicknack]

the best bead makers are often those with a lot of patience! 

This 'patience' thing... Can I get this from Tuffies?

I WISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (But probably couldn't afford it! )

Nick

[GaysieMay]

Would love to find the supplier of patience, time, energy ....


... let me know if you do find them 

[Emma @ Tuffnell Glass]

I had some patience this morning but unfortunately I lost it with my neighbour and now have none for sale 

[Nicknack]

DD, a carer, has infinite patience with the people she looks after, even when they punch her, but none whatsoever at home!  Ah well 

Nick

[james M knox]

DD, a carer, has infinite patience with the people she looks after, even when they punch her, but none whatsoever at home!  Ah well 

Nick

Is that cos its all used up by getting home time  

James

[Nicknack]

DD, a carer, has infinite patience with the people she looks after, even when they punch her, but none whatsoever at home!  Ah well 

Nick

Is that cos its all used up by getting home time  

James

Probably.