Mandrels - home made

[Krysia@No98]

"They are only 8 cm long." that's plenty long enough for a bead. How many of your beads are longer than 8 cm?   

Slight over estimation on length, they are between 4.0 and 4.5cm.

all boxed up and ready to be weighed for transport

[Pat from Canvey]

Foster Fire Smooth and Tuff is recommended for curved mandrels because you can't twist those either. I expect it would work for buttons too if twisting the button is a problem. I know there is a button mandrel holder you can buy from the States that uses only short lengths of mandrel but I can't remember which website I saw it on. Here's the link to one sort of button mandrel holder.http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=404137

[Krysia@No98]

That looks very sensible.  I have one that is a fixed U shape.  I managed to get it of and I have another one soaking in the the Cilit this morning - kept my paper cut away from it this time

[Fin]

Hi, Hopes this helps a bit.

Cutting the Tig Rods...Chop saw / angle grinder. If you doing a lot of cutting with a chop saw you will get a much better cut with a specialist stainless steel 1mm wide slitting disc in the grinder. It will cut like a knife through butter compaired with the normal 1.5 / 2mm wide metal cutting discs. And will leave less burrs

IF this is something that is of interest then let me know in my other post http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=16190.0

Cheers
Fin
Dynoflow UK

[chocolateteapot]

hia, we made...hubby that is....our own. 5mm and 6 mm. he sawed them to the right length and i just filed the edges so there werent any sharp bits. use them all the time. But..they do need washing in hot soapy water and scrubbing with a greeen pad thing to put a bit of a tork on them or else the bead realise cracks...everytime..i learnt the hard way. Sal told me abouy the washing and scrubbing with the green pad and now i havent had any probs.
Tracy
x

[Krysia@No98]

hummmm, I think I will try that I am having a lot of cracking bead release lately and I don't think it's that I have watered it done too much...

[Mary]

Or just stick them in the flame to burn off any manufacturing oils, and let them cool before dipping them. The lazy way!

[Krysia@No98]

I know what I'm doing this evening then x 300!! 

[glassworks]

or even lazier, in the dishwasher on the max cycle...

works a treat!!!...

[Krysia@No98]

no dishwasher

Funny actually I was talking to neighbours who are getting their kitchin finalised this weekend and I was showing the wishful thinking plan of what I want and there is a dishwasher on there.  I was told that I was being very optimistic (I have a VERY small kitchen, touch opposite wall at the same time small and I'm a shorty)