Raking beads

[Buzzybead]

Can anyone help me with making a raked design on a bead? I have melted stringer into the bead and then tried to gently drag a metal tool down the stringers - the only problem is the bead came with the tool, so it keeps ending up a real mess.

[*rowanberry*]

Sound like you got your tool too hot, if its hot it will stick to the glass.
If possible, use Tungsten or brass to rake - these shouldnt stick (the tungsten may do if kept in the flame too much, the brass wont). If you have a stainless steel tool, this will be a lot harder to use.

My big rakey beads, I do them out of the flame and got much better control.

Beadysams brass pokey tools are excellent for raking I found!

[littlegiggles]

I found that I was heating the whole bead not just the bit I was raking... let the whole thing harden then just spot heat the bit you want to rake... the main bead stays still that way...

plus wot claire said

[beadysam]

Have you tried raking with a stringer?  Its a much gentler way of doing it than with a tool...

[Buzzybead]

Never thought of raking with a stringer - great idea. I may have been getting the whole bead too hot, so it all came a long for a ride. I'm going to give it all another go tonight and tomorrow! Why does it always take me soooo long to learn new techniques

[bubblefizz]

hey  Sam great tip, never thought of that!

[Isabelle]

And gently, gently! Took me ages to learn not to dig it in!!!

[Buzzybead]

okay - spot heat,stringer,gently-gently, flash. Good - I need to say little chants to myself when I'm learning new things, otherwise I end up getting into glassy tangles!

[Isabelle]

i thought I was the only one who chanted!!

[Buzzybead]

Nooo! - mine have to have a rhythm to them. I favour a syncopated beat 

[Isabelle]

I'm worse than that - when I have to do something nerve-wracking, I chant, don't think, just do!!