Poking Hot Glass

[Fruddy]

I'm probably doing everyone's heads in with these contant "help me!" posts, so apologies in advance for yet another one!!

I decided to have a bit of an experiment tonight and tried to make my first "poked eye bead."  Everything was going okay, I made a plain bead, put some dots on it, melted them in, put some more dots on the first ones, melted them in and then attempted to "poke" the dots, with the intention of getting an air bubble which I could then encase with clear.

I have a tungsten pick and also a rake, but for some reason both of these tools got stuck in the glass - what was I doing wrong??    I spot heated the glass and waited for the glow to fade, but found that the glass had solidified too much to poke - when I tried again leaving the glass warmer, both my tools got stuck - I tried to pull them out but no luck - I had to heat the bead and then yank it which totally ruined it!!

Gutted - I thought I was doing it really well until the poking stage!!

Any ideas?

Thanks so much.

[elburnzo]

are u heating the pick? if u heat the pick the glass will stick to it causing u to distort the bead when you try to remove it. solution is to keep it out the flame and dip it into some water to cool it regularly whilst u work.

[Sarah]

Hi Rachel

Were your tools cold? It sounds like they were hot & so the glass stuck to them.

I keep a little pot of water by me which is good for cooling tools down between uses. Hot glass won't stick to cold things which is why you need the heat mandrel when you begin.

Hope this helps

Sarah
xxx

[Sarah]

Snap!

[Fruddy]

are u heating the pick? if u heat the pick the glass will stick to it causing u to distort the bead when you try to remove it. solution is to keep it out the flame and dip it into some water to cool it regularly whilst u work.

No, I didn't heat it, but I think that the glass was maybe too hot.... I will try again tomorrow and use your suggestion about the water, thank you.

[Fruddy]

Hi Rachel

Were your tools cold? It sounds like they were hot & so the glass stuck to them.

I keep a little pot of water by me which is good for cooling tools down between uses. Hot glass won't stick to cold things which is why you need the heat mandrel when you begin.

Hope this helps

Sarah
xxx

Thanks Sarah!!  Will have another bash tomorrow!!!

[Redhotsal]

This MAY be pretty obvious but never, ever, ever, use your tools actually in the flame or they'll stick like the proverbial. You probably know this already but from my experience in teaching people it's usually where they are going wrong.

Hot glass......cold tools.

(Unless you're using a tungsten pick to make a hole in something.)

[Dragonfire Glass]

if your tool does get stuck in the glass, wait a few seconds - the metal will cool quicker than the glass and will come free

[poledra1958]

I normally use a brass pointer.  I have one of Carl's (Wibbly Wobbly Glass)  3mm sets and I find them great for poked eye beads.

Jenny

[Pat from Canvey]

Just to add, don't worry if the tool is still wet from the cold water. It won't affect the bead unless you splash lots of water on the bead. I sometimes use a tiny palette knife to push glass where I want it to go rather than letting gravity work on it. As long as the tool is cold it works well.

[Hamilton Taylor]

I spot heated the glass and waited for the glow to fade, but found that the glass had solidified too much to poke

Sounds like you heated the surface quite quickly, so the glass underneath didn't get hot enough to move. Try spot 'warming', ie heat your spot further out in the flame, allow the heat to soak in a little, even come out & allow to cool until no colour, and heat again, before allowing to cool again to no colour, and poking with a cool tool. If the glass surface is cool enough for a skin, and the glass under is plastic/fluid, you'll get a perfect poke without any stickiness at all...



Sean

[Fruddy]

Thanks so much to everyone who has taken the time and trouble to reply!

I havent made it into the studio since Sunday night, but the torch and I have an appointment later this evening, so I am going to try all your ideas and let you know if there's improvement!!!

[caraj316]

I'm probably doing everyone's heads in with these contant "help me!" posts, so apologies in advance for yet another one!!

Actually, I think you're asking all those questions a newbie normally has when starting, and it must be quite helpful to those who are wondering but too afraid to ask...

I'm quite enjoying reading all the answers!

[CarrieH]

I'm enjoying reading all the answers too - keep on asking those questions Rachel!

[Teddie]

Me too. I always read your posts. Keep on asking