Unusual lampworking tools.

Started by ♥♥Tan♥♥, February 19, 2011, 07:04:27 PM

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♥♥Tan♥♥

So, following on from the stumpsucker thread I thought I would ditch that and start one where we could discuss any new or unusual tools along with any useful links you may have?

Hopefully the more we can learn about what tools do the more we can broaden our horizons.


I will kick this off with a key mandrel

http://www.etsy.com/listing/40872083/jelveh-designs-key-mandrel

Easy to use, fun to use but if I am honest I use it very little but wouldn't part with it.


And a cabochon mandrel, no link but we have all seen them. I found it cumbersome and heavy to use and find it much easier onthe end of a rod or a mandrel so could have saved money there.


Blue Box Studio

And to think I sold off all my antique keys just before I took up lampworking :(  I'm yet to try cabs.

I use a borax dish, left over from my silver days for frit, and a small blue funnel courtesy of Tupperware to pour it back into the mini jars; they work perfectly together.  Guess it's not as unusual as a trunk blower or whatever that thing was ;) ;)
Sue
Website ~ Etsy ~ Blog ~ Flickr

Billie

I love my key mandrel... but have a shortage of keys to use it with  ::)

Cabs... Yeah, cab mandrels were a wasted expenditure, but I hang onto them after all these years just in case I use them.  On the end of a rod is better  ;)

ScarletLeonard

One that I am yet to try but ohh it's certainly interesting
http://www.lauschalady.com/LLBeadDock.html

Cross holed beads, 3 hole beads etc. The site even has usage instructions.

dichroicimagery used to sell them but for some reason their site isn't working atm.

I'm intrigued by the key mandrel, one of those I kinda have to try it things.

♥♥Tan♥♥

Wow, something new already, that mandrel looks pretty fab but I wonder if it is difficult to use?


The other tool I forgot to say is a graphite reamer, I have two, a favourite with the sadly broken off and a hooge one, these are just brilliant for reopening loops or mouths of vessels. http://www.gpescientific.co.uk/view-sub-categories.php?subcatID=271&catID=92&mastercatID=6  Not any of these reamers exactly but you get the idea

Blue Box Studio

Quote from: ScarletLeonard on February 19, 2011, 07:15:56 PM
One that I am yet to try but ohh it's certainly interesting
http://www.lauschalady.com/LLBeadDock.html


How do you get the cross bar out of the finished bead?  Does it pull out or am I being really stupid (again/still)?
Sue
Website ~ Etsy ~ Blog ~ Flickr

sparrow

The T-section joint unscrews, I believe :)

My fish tweezers - I use them every single day (as in, them fish de-boning tweezers,from a culinary shop)
Sabine x

www.littlecastledesigns.co.uk www.facebook.com/littlecastledesigns Ring Top Tutorial

MadelineBunyan

I can tell this thread is going to be dangerous!

I'm sure I have a whole box of keys somewhere, and I had thought about making them have beads on...


as for unusual tools...I don't have any to add right now. maybe its cause I don't think any of mine are that weird.

Dragonfire Glass

I have keys but I'm waiting for when I feel brave enough to make a bead staight on to it

Lilley

I can see this thread becoming a source of wish list things - like the graphite reamers...  just looked at the web page and there's other things there too  :)  ho hum wonder what the bank balance is looking like  ;)
Glass - lampworked, blown, kilncast or fused and slumped, it's all good!
website: http://lilleyglassdesigns.co.uk/

♥♥Tan♥♥

Do you have a pic Sabine? And what makes them better than say........eyebrow tweezers?

I love my stamp tweezers, the paddle shaped ones you can buy for lampworking or picking up stamps but I do have a very pointy pair that I nicked off a mate, I have no idea what they are for but they are sharp as heck and great for plucking out impurities.

Stamp
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PRINZ-STAMP-TWEEZERS-CRANKED-SPADE-SOLINGEN-STEEL-/270270273424?pt=UK_Stamps_Philatley&hash=item3eed5d1790

Very pointy
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EYELASH-EXTENSION-STRAIGHT-FINE-POINTED-TWEEZERS-5-5-/250694412589?pt=UK_HealthBeauty_Other_RL&hash=item3a5e8d292d

sparrow

Here are my fishies:



I think the gentle curve down the sides helps crinkle rose petals 'just so'...but, I have to admit, I'm quicker to go 'want want' about tools than I am about glass......  ::) ::)
Sabine x

www.littlecastledesigns.co.uk www.facebook.com/littlecastledesigns Ring Top Tutorial

♥♥Tan♥♥


MadelineBunyan

oh they do!
even if I never used them I'd love to have those on my desk!

sparrow

As I said, I use them every day  ;D ;D ;D More often than my marver, I think. Not as often as my *coughs* cone mandrel, blow mandrel, hot fingers........................the list goes on................................
Sabine x

www.littlecastledesigns.co.uk www.facebook.com/littlecastledesigns Ring Top Tutorial