What am I doing wrong????

Foofaraw · #1 07-04-2003, 11:40 AM

Okay, so I ran out to Target and got those ice tongs, also got some neat wine stoppers where the tops screw out, so I think I can use them to put beads on all for $4.99, anyway I got the tongs and was so excited to use them. I made my first bead my normal size and it looked like a tab bead, so then I made my second bead twice the size of the first, again another tab bead. I know that a lot of people have bought these tongs to make the barley shape, but has anyone been successful? What am I doing wrong. Oh, and I did bend them slightly so that they would come together correctly.

Thanks for any words of advice!
Jenn

Red*Dog*Designs · #2 07-04-2003, 11:51 AM

If you are turning out tab shaped beads, it sounds like everything is working fine ! We want pictures !!

I am confused about the "Barley" shape - have I missed something somewhere down the line ?

Foofaraw · #3 07-04-2003, 11:57 AM

I thought the ice tongs were supposed to make a rounded tab shape, these are definitely not rounded, maybe I'm pressing too hard??? It's in the kiln right now but will be up for show and tell probably tomorrow. Any rate, It's not a throw away bead. I used Ink blue with a SIS swirl design, bery pretty!

Jenn

Kaibeads · #4 07-04-2003, 12:17 PM

the tongs just dont have the same concave surface for mashing.. its a mold and the bead should come out the exact shape of the mold?

Griffin Dove · #5 07-04-2003, 12:23 PM

I call it a "pillow form": basically circular but with a pooch?!

I've not tried this technique with the tool you are talking about, but after I flatten a bead with regular mashers I subject the bead to direct heat on one side only, center of the bead. Edges and other side should still be solid. Gradually the bead will start showing its pooch. The larger the bead, the harder it is to get that glass to flow over the mandrel, but it will...you may have to dance the bead in and out of the flame some. Just keep from getting the other side or edges hot.

Once you like the shape of the one side, repeat the instructions to the other side. It is a beautiful shape.

Deanna

Red*Dog*Designs · #6 07-04-2003, 12:24 PM

Ooh ~ ink blue and silvered is definitely delicious !

I think alot has to do with how the glass is laid onto the mandrel to start. A donut shaped bead when flattened is definitely going to turn into a non round tab. Maybe try making the initial bead a bit wider than tall for a more rounded tab shape ? I am definitely no round tab expert so hopefully the experts will jump in here !

I just picked up some of those ice cube tongs myself but I haven't had time to play with them yet - very cool for $4.99 !

Deepwood Art · #7 07-04-2003, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Foofaraw
I made my first bead my normal size and it looked like a tab bead, so then I made my second bead twice the size of the first, again another tab bead.

Don't cry Jenn... you're not doing anything wrong. That's exactly the shape you should be getting, and it's beautiful. Way nicer than the tab you would get with flat mashers, imo.

The truth is, the "cups" on the Target Tongs are not really deep enough to make the curvier lentil shape (rounded in the middle and tapered on the ends)... at least not in a mash-and-go kind of way. You may need to heat both sides of the resulting tab so that they "puff" out.

Fran

!ngridh · #8 07-04-2003, 02:32 PM

gee I don't think you are doing anything wrong...I have REAL lentil makers and have made at least 10...im getting better but hey it..........does ..........take practice...;-)

the bead has to be ROUND and big......and you have to take into account that the pressure on the bead will not be uniform...you have to compensate for that lack of uniformity when shaping..

and it takes practice...

hey if anyone finds something in lampworking that doesnt take lots of practice and experience...LET ME KNOW! I wanna do it!

if you aren't laughing...you have not taken this in the right way...
come back when you are in the mood for it ;-)

Ignuss-Fatuus · #9 07-04-2003, 03:53 PM

What I have found works with the tongs is to do the following...
Start with making a tube bead about 1inch in length then add lots and lots of glass to the middle put like 3 layers on then melt it in then 3 more ...so on so forth till you get a odd looking shape big in the middle little at the ends almost kinda biconey in nature but more glass then squish it once it is all moltently not droopy but plasticy...smoosh it with the tongs and it will come out rounder. What I tihnk your doing ois making a round bead and smooshing it which will turn into a tab because the glass has nowhere to flow to from hole to hole. By laying a tube and adding glass in the middle you have created a pathway for glass to flow down to create a more rounded lentil shape. I know im using alllll kinds of "technical" terms hehe j/k If I could think of the correct words I would. I hope this helps if not I will try to make a little visual tutorial later this week but im swamped with jewelry work this week

karin

!ngridh · #10 07-04-2003, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ignuss-Fatuus
What I have found works with the tongs is to do the following...
Start with making a tube bead about 1inch in length then add lots and lots of glass to the middle put like 3 layers on then melt it in then 3 more ...so on so forth till you get a odd looking shape big in the middle little at the ends almost kinda biconey in nature but more glass then squish it once it is all moltently not droopy but plasticy...smoosh it with the tongs and it will come out rounder. What I tihnk your doing ois making a round bead and smooshing it which will turn into a tab because the glass has nowhere to flow to from hole to hole. By laying a tube and adding glass in the middle you have created a pathway for glass to flow down to create a more rounded lentil shape. I know im using alllll kinds of "technical" terms hehe j/k If I could think of the correct words I would. I hope this helps if not I will try to make a little visual tutorial later this week but im swamped with jewelry work this week
karin

thanks karin, I will try it that way...i was considering trying to make them behind my back looking in a mirror ...but I think that now I will save for later in case this doesn't help...

my goal is ...yes a pillow...like a round pillow...noticeably thin edges poofing in the middle and round...or I am a Kimberly Affleck Wannabe ...and I want them to look like hers...I have had them in my hand...and.........whooooo am I kidding ...I will NEVER make ANYthing like hers!
that woman can reallllllllly make beads!

PolychromeBeads · #11 07-04-2003, 06:31 PM

Quote:

hey if anyone finds something in lampworking that doesnt take lots of practice and experience...LET ME KNOW! I wanna do it!

Well, !ngridh, it took me no practice time at all to learn I wanted more glass...and more...and more!

I think Karin's advice is sound - if yoiu smoosh (technical term) a round bead, it will be wider than it is tall. To make it more even, it needs to have a larger footprint on the mandrel.

Aimee

MaureenKennedy · #12 07-04-2003, 07:03 PM

When I am making lentil beads, I start with an elliptical shape (a football with pointy ends). There is more mass in the middle with this shape. I get the mass red hot, almost drooping which I then plop into an Osibin marver. The problem with the ice tongs, is that it is too shallow and does not have a plane that will cause thinner sides compared to the cavity. My earlier post about them being too shallow, was that they ended up looking like "tabs" - which means the sides of the beads were thick. A plumped up tab bead (which I also call pillows) are not lentil beads. Again, because the sides are not thinner than middle mass of glass. If you look at a lentil bead sideways - you see an arc with a gentle slope from the thinner edges going up to the middle mass of the bead and then sloping back down again to the edges.

Now it is possible, with some effort, to do this without a marver. Use the ice tongs to get the rounded plump shape. Then heat it like crazy and then rock just the sides against your regular marver to flatten just the side edges of the bead. Flip the bead and continue doing the same on the other side.

Foofaraw · #13 07-04-2003, 07:39 PM

Thanks for everyones help/advice. My kiln is full for today, but I will try these techniques tomorrow and see if I have any luck!

Thanks Again for providing light at the end of the tunnel!
Jenn

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