removing button from button mandrel

[sansan239s]

OK my dear fellow artists..... I purchased a button mandrel quite a while ago and finally decided to use it. Ya know how you have to soak your bead in water, then use gloves and pliers to slowy rock the bead off?!!! Well...... ya can't do that with the button mandrel or at least I can't figure out how to get it off. I used the mandrel to make a bead that would have two channels in it versus making an actual button and now I can't figure out how to take the bead off now....:pout::pout: HELP......... PLEASE......

Thanks

[jaci]

very carefully!!! I have heard long ago about setting the base of the bead on the edge of a block of wood or such and tapping the top with a hammer (or bead press) until it is loose enough to move. Just use a piece of cloth or towel to protect the bead edge.

Adding extra bead release also helps avoid this issue, but be careful not to pull the release off while working in this scenario. A bit of alcohol or solvent to the release may help (the denture cleaning tabs, depending on the glass used-not for silver glass) OR if its really stuck, try the freezer and then the tap method.

[glass obsessed]

I have the same problem with the button mandrel. What solvent are you thinking about above?

[CO_Phantom]

It's kind of like the other specialty mandrels that are out there, too....

like the heart ones, or the oval ones, the hex ones, square ones...

For these, I put a heavier coat of bead release on. And when I go to remove them, I rock it back and forth just a little (in the direction of the mandrel, not trying to twist side to side, 'cause obviously it can't go that way!) Usually I don't have a problem getting them off this way.

-Amy