Zoozii's Crystal Trio Press

[gemsinbloom]

Hey everyone, I love the beads you can make with the crystal shaped press. I have the trio and I at the moment am only focussed on the largest size for bracelets and earrings. I have been messing around with this press for quite awhile now so I am sucking it up to ask for some help.

This press has me a little stumped. I even called the Zoozii lady awhile back but I am still stumped in how to get consistent results with it!

Can anyone help? How the heck do you get the glass into such a strange shaped press? It is awkward.

Do you make a ball of glass? Do you make a barrel? etc etc

I really need help with this, thanks!

[theglasszone]

Check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqwheQw64nw&playnext_from=TL&videos=Fe5WNdobgB0

De

[theglasszone]

I think making the barrel "footprint" part needs to be pretty consistent (width, for sure). Then adding that stripe of glass down the center and melting it in - without spreading the footprint base - is also important.

Notice the little "pull/tug" she does near the end with a pick to crisp up the corners? I love this vid...

Hope it helps!

De

[cc2]

One of my most favorite presses to use. I love the video. It's almost exactly how I do it, except that little tug at the end, it seems to work better than how I do it. One of the gals in my group makes hollow ones, they are so cool!! AND BIG, she uses the biggest one, how she does it I will not guess.

[Pat]

I'll have to look at the video. What I do is make a small barrel a tad shorter than the width of the press. Then add some around the middle of the barrel. Then press. Then get the press marks off and press in the bottom only for the crisp points that I like.

[AutEvDesigns]

I make a round bead, preshape the round by gently pressing and turning in the tip half of the press, then add a little more glass if it looks like I need it, then press, flame polish, press again (which sharpens up the edges, but because the bead is cooler than the first press, gets fewer chill marks). That may not be the best way to do it, but it works for me.

[gemsinbloom]

It appears there are a few ways to accomplish the same finished product. Thanks everyone and I will try again tomorrow.

[bead crazy]

I am very press challenged and this one is the easiest of them all. I just do a little barrel just shy of the length then I go in the size that I want and press then add more glass around the middle and press and keep adding until it is full and balanced. I have to press a few times