How do you add glass to plain spacers without streaks?

[beadworkstudio]

I like to practice making even-sized spacers and dots at the same time, but I get a little outline where I added the new glass. I assume this is caused by soot collecting on the surface of the bead while I'm rounding it out. Even the beads that I manage to round out quickly get the telltale lines where new glass is added. Light colors often don't show the marks, but dark colors always do.

Anyone have a trick to avoid this? Or is it just PPP till you can wind on exactly the right amount of glass every time?

[NLC Beads]

Is this an ivory and turquoise/green color reaction? Are you too close to the torch head or too high of a temp and burning it? Opaque colors will show added glass easier - try practicing with transparents for a while?

[Wonker]

Sheila,

I've noticed that as well.....sometimes it's very subtle, but always just enough variation to be annoying. At a distance of 3 feet no one would ever notice, but.....there's that little difference.....drives me crazy...maybe there is a trick

[kimberly]

When I make spacers I get the base bead really hot while I am gathering a hot glob to add to the spacer. When the new glass is added, the spacer is "almost" as hot as the glob. Does this make sense? Add hot glass to hot glass. It should help. Also turning the oxy up or working further out (for those on Hot Heads) will help also.

[beadworkstudio]

Ahhh, thanks Kim. It makes sense.

I've read several recommendation for oxy and propane settings... and all of them were different. I'm on a minor with a concentrator, and I set the propane to 5, and I slowly turn the oxy up until the white tips disappear from the flames near the head. The concentrator is set at 4 with the valves open, but drops when the torch is on (that's normal, I'm told). Those settings sound about right? So how much should I turn the oxy up?

[lenora]

When I am making spacers, I mark the rod of glass so I always wind on about the same amount. No need to add extra glass later. I think this would apply to what you mentioned. If not, just ignore me.:-\"

[beadworkstudio]

That's an awesome idea, Lenora. Thanks!

[OSD]

When I am making spacers, I mark the rod of glass so I always wind on about the same amount. No need to add extra glass later.

How do you mark the rod? I'm assuming it needs to be a way that doesn't burn off too quickly but also doesn't mark the bead if the mark gets onto it.

This sounds like a great idea.

Thanks!

[lbjvg]

I cut the rod into measured segments, so there is no possibility of adding too much. The segments can be as short as 1 cm. Just hold them with tweezers, get the dangling down end hot and touch it to the mandrel so it sticks. Let go of the tweezers and apply heat to the new dangling down end and wind it onto itself like a spiral. I frequently then use a marver to make a cylinder shape which can then left as is or transformed into a sphere by heating the middle section.

[lenora]

I use a yellow sewing pencil. It stays on quite well. I haven't tried anything else. I like the color because it shows up on all colors of glass...well, except yellow, but I never make yellow base beads. Here is a picture of a set I just did with spacers. All of the spacers came out the same size. You do have to make sure every rod of glass you use is the same size.


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