In desparate need of stringer tutorial!

[plynnt]

Anyone ever seen one that helped them? Can't quite get the hang of using stringers just yet but really like the look of them on beads. Suggestions?

Stringer-Challenged,

Patti #-o

[shawnette]

PPP. A tutorial can't teach stringer control.

[Deb]

This may be helpful. It does still take a lot of PPP, though.

http://smartflix.com/store/video/307/The-Secret-of-Stringer-Control

[Deb]

Holy moly, when did it become $9.99 to rent from Smartflix?

[shawnette]

Holy moly, when did it become $9.99 to rent from Smartflix?

I've only known of them for 3 years and it's been $9.99. (And I have that video. Lol. My stringer still sucks because I don't PPP!)

[plynnt]

Rats - I was afraid of that answer!!! ;o) Was hoping for a magic trick that would make me a master of my stringer domain!

[Mustang Dawn]

Patti the best advice I can give you is turn down the heat. You will be surprised how fast you can master it with the heat turned down :)

[Ellen Black]

Corina's dvd is excellant ! Plus practice of course.

[GlassyEyedGirl]

How about that "Corina Jones" Art of Stringer Control or some such name? I picked up some helpful techniques from that. It helps to actually see someone doing it, I think.

[shawnette]

How about that "Corina Jones" Art of Stringer Control or some such name? I picked up some helpful techniques from that. It helps to actually see someone doing it, I think.
That's the one we're talking about.

[plynnt]

Thanks Dawn, will certainly give that a try.

[GlassyEyedGirl]

That's the one we're talking about.

Oh! Can you tell I did not click on the link? Sorry! :-)

[stacied]

Yep like Shawnette said it is PPP. I have Corinas dvd and I still suck at stringers. I am getting better because I force myself to practice every time but it comes natural to some and more difficult for others.

[nickandryan]

Hi Deb-

You could try pulling some encased stringers- a solid pastel color encased in a transparent, it makes the stringer less "floppy", and you still get the look of a solid colored raised stringer. You can also practice with a transparent stringer, it helps with the control issue.

You do get better the more you do it, it is just getting a feel for the consistency of the glass- too stiff to make a nice spiral vs. too soupy to get a nice curve to the scrolls.

Hope this helps! Laura

[gallerygal]

Someone suggested to me to pull stringer the same colour as your base bead and then start practicing stringer control.

You could start practicing with parallel lines all around the bead, melt them in; practice swirls, melt them in; practice cross-hatching, melt them in, etc., etc. I'm sure you've got heaps of ideas :grin:

It's a practice bead so there's no 'beautiful bead' requirement & you don't have to keep making more and more base beads to practice on.

Yes, you'll end up with a honking single colour bead :biggrin:

It does help and it's not tooooo boring.

Have fun!
Marianne.

[plynnt]

That's a great idea Marianne. Thanks!

[Nitadee]

The best advice besides that dreaded PPP is not only turn down your heat, but work to the side of your flame. A stringer melts faster than fast, so you only want the radiant heat from the torch. Clear stringers over solid color base beads also work! Have fun!!! (this from a noob who is still working on stringer control, LOL!!!)
Nita

[Reenie]

I carry Corina's "Stringer Control" DVD. I like it. It's helped some but I still need lots of practice which I can't ever seem to do :-)

[JCHerrellGlass]

Different stingers and different applications and different torches and such require different flames and different locations inside and next to the flame. That's why practice seems to be the only practical way to learn stringer. Lots of practice on a specific technique over and over and over again... That's my stringer education theory. What I mean to say is that learning stringer is really simple, it just takes some time and attention.

[Karen Hardy]

Corrina's DVD.

[Crazy Woman]

If you just want to practice stringer control and not waste any glass.... follow all the above and then pull a stringer from a rod... any rod and then use that stringer (once it cools) to practice on the rod that you just pulled the stringer from. Melt in, pull stringer and repeat.... This helped me to use the side of the flame and move the bead (rod) instead of the stringer. Keep the stringer in the just melty part of the flame.
And don't use white or ivory as they are way too soupy. Transparents usually are a bit stiffer.

Keep at it.... it does get easier!

[plynnt]

I'll definitely try this Leslie, thanks for the tip.

[LoriB]

I can vouch for Corinna's DVD too! You might want to check out your local library and see if they have it? Mine did and that's where I first found it.

[Crazy Woman]

You are very welcome. I hate to waste glass :-)

[ewdb]

yup corina's dvd is excellent. i watched it over and over again until i could do what she explained. still took three years for me to develop decent stringer tho...LOL

[plynnt]

Too late - I've already bought myself a copy! ;o)

[demcc2]

I never thought of ppp-ing by what Leslie said. "...pull stringers from a rod...decorate that same rod with stringer. Melt in and repeat."

I can pull great stringers!! (I'm 6'2 with long arms. on a good day I can almost pull my stringers to full arm's length)

Duane

[Crazy Woman]

Duane, glad you like my idea....and how are you doing at twisties???