bead release problems

[CarletonChrissie]

Hello,
I have the bead release that came in a starter kit from Martin. More and more beads are now not coming off the mandrels. I have soaked them in water, put them in the freezer and always use pliers to hold the mandrel while twisting (or trying - causing blisters!!!!!) . What is the best bead release to use. My left hand is currently damaged after getting crushed at work and so the less pressure on my hand the better.

Ta

Chrissie

[beads-on-toast]

try molegrips on the mandrel - that's all i could use to get mine off

[Kaz]

I never soak the beads and find that they just twist off when cool and the dry release crumbles away? If one gets a bit stuck I use rubber gloves and the big pliers but usually I can just twist them off with my hands.
Kaz

[CarletonChrissie]

what bead release are you using as i have not had a bead yett in 4 years that i could just twist off by hand. I try first of all to twist the bead off dry using pliers to hold the mandrel. Some come off but this is getting less as time goes on. Is my bead release getting too old.

[beads-on-toast]

possibly

i use foster fire and it simply crumbles away

[Kaz]

I use fusion - bought a 3 pack from Martin
http://www.tuffnellglass.com/index.html?lmd=39511.559398
Kaz

[Josephine]

I use fusion or smooth and tough for long or larger beads. I avoid the blue sludge at all costs, I found it a nightmare to try and get beads off.

[Les]

fosterfire gets my vote

[Dragonfire Glass]

I use fusion - bought a 3 pack from Martin
http://www.tuffnellglass.com/index.html?lmd=39511.559398
Kaz

me too - no problems at all 

[Rachel B]

I think you`ll find the bead release in the starter kit from Tuffnells is the Sludge.  I spent yesterday reading through the forum trying to find the best bead release and have ordered some fosterfire from martin.  My thumb can`t take anymore blisters.  I read that the sludge needs to be "fresh" on the madrel and used within a day of being put on the mandrels otherwise it goes stale and wants to hold onto the beads.  Looking forward to getting my little creations off the mandrels with ease!

[Kay]

I had the same problem with the blue sludge, as time went on it got harder and harder to get the beads off the mandrels, some are still permanantly stuck on them, I use Foster Fire now and its fab, just pull off the mandrels, no tools needed

[Ilona]

I had the blue sludge and hated that, then I had the Fusion, this was ok but it was still a bugger to get beads of sometimes, easier to clean out the bead holes though, and dipping the mandrels was no problem.

Now I am on the foster fire, and I must say I love it for getting the beads off, just twist and go! its more of a bugger to clean out the holes though. I soak in warm soapy water and clean as usual then get a pipe cleaner thats been doubled over, and run that through. I don't like dipping with it, it runs, however much I try to thicken it up. So it takes me longer to dip but the pleasure of getting the beads off no problem is worth it

[turnedlight]

I've been getting the little pots from Martin from the start. They were blue, now they are beige (so I don't know what they are!) but they work fine.. the only thing I would say is sometimes the release breaks, but I guess you can't have it both ways?

[Funky Cow]

Blue sludge is pants! I had no end of trouble with it 
I use Fusion at the moment, and have only had one stick, but I thought it would when I was making it as I had pulled the bead around too much and it had cracked the release! My advice is dump the sludge, and move on to something better - or you'll and up tearing your hair out  I've got a tub of Fosterfire I bought from Sooz waiting to be tried - but it seems that's getting good reports from beady pals, so no worries there!

[Redhotsal]

I used superblue for years until changing to Fusion. Fusion is so much better. Blue will stick like the provervbial if you don't use it fresh. It's fine if you use it on the same day you dip it and if you have the layer thick enough but it's utter crap if it's "stale".