Lentil Presses

[sparrow]

Okay, I give up. I want a lentil press or mashers, whatever you guys consider good. I'm fed up with producing nice colours, then squishing then on my marver into an unappealing semi-disc shape. Any advice? Which should I get - and where from?

[Mary]

Don't get Tapley tongs, I never got on with them. Go for something sturdy like Zoozii's, or look at Sandy's here in the UK http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2819.0 depending on what shape you want.
For a first press, I think a Spree (button from Cattwalk) is great. Lentils use less glass, but the holes are harder to get neat.
Is that the sort of answer you're looking for? Have I missed anything? lol!

[turnedlight]

I bought a lentil which was far too big, and thick, and needed so much glass that it was hard to do on the hothead. When I have the cash, I will be buying the sprees from Sandy. 

[saffie]

i brought lentil trio and nugget trio from Zoozii. i love them but need loads more practice as said by Mary the holes in lentil press hard to get right so you get a nice bead one side then half a bead on the other!!!
Practice makes perfect so they say!!!
other thing to mention is that i got clobbered for import tax ordering presses from america. There are more presses becoming available over here which would be cheaper from that point of view. something worth considering i seem to remeber a thread somewhere about spree press

[sparrow]

Okay.....had a look at the spree press....looks like I found my b'day present to myself (conveniently, it's next Saturday ) Thanks for the advice!

[Sarah]

I love my spree press 

I find the stiffer glasses (Lauscha or the transparents) easiest to press so you might want to start with those in your first press.

[sparrow]

Thanks for the tip - I've got today off work, so looks like I'll be spending money online

[turnedlight]

Cool - I love those days 

[hatvary]

I read about a tip of using play dooh or another clay to practise with, once you got it right you can use the clay to measure the amount of glass you need.

[sophie_r]

Hiya

I've had Sandys spree press for about 10 days now, and I'm a newbie to this too (4 weeks, roughly) and already the press has become a very good friend - I'm SO pleased I got it now, and will be going back for the oval one when I've been paid next. 

I agree that the transparent seems to work better (not sure why, my effetre transparent works very well as a general rule) but I don't have my own kiln and the a couple of the opaques I have made have cracked.... but the transparents don't seem to quite as much.

As for guessing the amount you use, Sandy will give you some instructions and tips, but honestly after a couple of gos you just sort of click into it anyway.... as long as you make your base barrell bead the right length (and you can hold it in the press quickly to check this) then build your round accordingly, you won't go far wrong.  I had a couple with lumpy seams or too small, but by day 2 of using the press that stopped and it hasn't happened since.

I'll post some pics of some pressed beads below for you to see how they turn out..... as long as you do the same in return 

Necklace made with transparent frit spree beads


Close up of same beads


Chocolate and frit and transparent drizzly bits


Topaz and brown stringer


Have fun!!!

[sparrow]

Woohoo, thanks! I ordered the press today, I promise to post....maybe not the first squished ones

[Sam]

Fab beads Sophie!!!



Sam.

[HairyBeader]

I got a cattwalk lentil trio which i think is brilliant, But you really do need a kiln to control the cooling as there is a fair bit of glass, I have never used a spree press so I could comment, I also have never been hammered for importing presses from Cattwalk they always seem to slip through

HB

[♥♥Tan♥♥]

You are such a jammy bugger Hairy

[sparrow]

Spree Press (no. 27  ) arrived on Saturday, and got played with over the week-end - yumyum, lovely new toy....finally a set looks like it's of remotely matching size