Sample beads

[ptbeads]

I wanted to make a few beads that show the stages of making a bead to have at my shows. I want to keep these beads on the mandrels. My question is, can I just make the beads on the mandrels without bead release so they are a permanent fixture, or will they end up cracking due to the different rates that glass and metal expand? I made a few last night to try, but one split right down the middle. Is this because I made it on an undipped mandrel or most likely some other reason? I actually don't care what the other reason might be, I just want to know about the undipped mandrel issue.
Thanks.

[Cosmo]

Just make them to certain stages of completion, then put them into the kiln. When you are done, take them off the mandrels, and then put them all onto one mandrel. Put a rubber band around the end to keep them in place.

[kimberly]

Just make them to certain stages of completion, then put them into the kiln. When you are done, take them off the mandrels, and then put them all onto one mandrel. Put a rubber band around the end to keep them in place.

This would work great! You could also string them on waxed cotton. This would be easy to pack if you travel to shows. But, it would also work the way you originally envisioned. I have a set of 6-8 mandrels I take to some shows that have beads in different stages right on the metal. No cracks or other problems.

[ptbeads]

It was pretty cold in the basement last night and dh was taking pictures (slowly), so I'll just assume the cracking was due to outside issues. Thanks! I didn't even think of putting them all on one mandrel.

[parisgal]

I've got some fairly big lumps of glass directly on the mandrel -- like an 1.5"+ round, and no cracks.