Favorite bead release

[debkauz]

Which one do you really like? I just tried a new one and every bead I tried to make the release broke. Not a very fun day for me at all! What do you use?

[meadowesky]

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16210

here is a link to the tips and questions section, I think there are several threads there actually :)
I personally like Bucket o mudd but I have only tried that and the flameworks bead release. Dont buy the flameworks! it is BAD! *

Disclaimer* this is my opinion and I am sticking to it! LOL

[1st Glass Beads]

I agree that the Flameworks is bad. It flakes off or cracks when just sitting in the mandrel waiting for a bead. Just my .02 worth.

[LavenderCreek]

Bucket o Mud. Hands down. I make really big beads, I tug on them, marver the heck out of them, push them, pull them and basically really abuse the heck out of the release and I have never had a bead break loose...not one. I have had the release near the bead crumble while pressing, but the bead stays put.

[Patch]

Bucket o Mud. Hands down. I make really big beads, I tug on them, marver the heck out of them, push them, pull them and basically really abuse the heck out of the release and I have never had a bead break loose...not one. I have had the release near the bead crumble while pressing, but the bead stays put.

Everything she says except my bead release is the FosterFire. The only time
it broke on me was when flame drying. I add water in it when it's becoming too thick and I love it.

[Lisi]

I've used:

Purple Piffle - good stuff, never lost a bead, but was getting difficult for me to get beads off the mandrels. I like to mix my release on the thin side, PP does not like thin. Thicker than I like, it's fine.

K.R.A.G Mudd - I love it for transparents, nice smooth holes and easy to clean. It's already mixed in the bottle it comes in, and on the thin side. Double dip and the beads come off easier.

Alice's Bead Release - Great stuff, holds up well, even with boro. Beads come off SO easy! One negative thing - it's got a "grainy" texture, and needs to be mixed very well in a blender to get those tiny lumps out. Then it's smooth and nice.

Bucket 'o Mud - Just got it today and will be using it tonight. Will report back tomorrow or the day after! :)

[Three Muses Glass]

I mix Sludge with Fireworks. I hate Fireworks by itself but it's cheap and Sludge is expensive so I mix 1 of each together cuz I like the graphite in Sludge but it's hard to get the beads off by itself so the mix works much better for me, I can really abuse beads and vessels with it. I just got Bucket O Mud but haven't tried it yet.

[Doolollies]

I have been through quite a few and Bucket O'Mud is no doubt hands down for any size beads.

Linda

[valerie_folly]

I am working my way thru my first jar of Bucket O Mudd - try it - it seems like the answer to a dream. and my dream isn't the tons of plant sticks I have!!!!!

[shawnette]

I think it really depends on the climate you're in. I personally HATE Bucket O' Mudd. Cracks, flakes and breaks every friggin' time! I make big beads and there's nothing worse than working for 30 minutes just to have the release break and the bead end up stuck! UGH!!! Mix BOM with sludge and it's A-OK. I haven't had any issues since I started mixing the 2 together.

Alice's is good, but you can make your own for substantially less (it's just kiln wash). I was making my own and I love it. No problems, other than I'm lazy and have gone back to buying, lol.

Sludge, Sludge Plus, DipnGo Sludge and DipnGo Blue Sludge have all worked well for me also.

I'd like to try the Kragg.

[Tanya]

I was using Flame Fusion and liked it just fine until I started doing boro. It doesn't like extended periods of very hot then cooling. I just tried Foster Fire and it worked really well for me. I use the middle of the mandrel so I can hold onto both ends, so I also like the fact I can get a 16 oz jar which is tall enough for dipping this way. No more buying olives just for the jars...

It's so true that different climates and working conditions have a big effect on bead releases since I haven't seen a single brand that everyone likes.

[DiPat]

I love FosterFire!
Just started using the Super Sludge and I'm not sure I like it. Bent two mandrels trying to get the flippin' bead off.
Just started using the Dip'N'Go, too... I'll let you know!
Want to try the Bucket'o'Mud as well.

So many toys, so little time!

[IF-Designs]

I like to mix ;)
Half Fusion Half Heavy Duty Foster Fire I mix it thin its been really great! :) Kinda pita to mix it but I love how it works!

[laurellanestudios]

I just finished a jar of Bucket o' Mud...no problems with it.

However, I just started using Dip & Go Sludge and love it. Much easier to get beads off. (My beads tend to be smaller though.)

[IF-Designs]

I love Foster Fire! But I found mixing Foster Fire Heavy Duty with Fusion at 50/50 works REALLY Great!

[Tanya]

Maybe I'll give that a try. Oh dear, guess I'm going to need another olive jar.

[rosiescreations]

Shawnette
Bucket of mud likes to be thin layer for me at least.
I really like Foster fire heavy duty and Purple pipple but at certain times of the year both were flaky and it was hell just keeping the bead from spinning loose.
I love Bucket of mud it likes to be a thin coat for me.
It is harder to get them off the mandrel but if you soak them in hot water and a little vinager for about 1/2 hour they come off a lot easier.
I also use a little rubber round thing you use to get lids off jars. It is great.
I bent a lot of rounds before I knew to hold the mandrel with pliers or a vise gripe.

Now someone Please kick me hard and make me go back to work and I'll thank you

[Deepwood Art]

A few months ago I discovered that my problems with bead release cracking had more to do with the condition of the mandrel than with the release I use (and I use all kinds - whichever is handy) I suddenly realized that my mandrels had all kinds of residue on them and were not all that clean, so I scrubbed them all with a Brillo pad, and haven't had a problem since.

Fran :)

[brimmy]

I just got a bucket of Fusion bead release. I don't know what is up with it, but it is extremely runny and has dried solid chunks stuck to the sides and bottom of the container. I think maybe it froze on the way here? Anyone know what's up with that? My previous, though smaller bottle was always drying out and I kept having to add water, so this is an extreme opposite.

[loco]

Fusion baby, I'm in love with it! Flame dry or dip it and forget it. I have used mandrels I dipped months ago and never had a problem.

DISCLAIMER: I really think that temp and humidity effects bead release. What works for some doesn't work for other. In addition I think one should take into consideration the type of beads being made.
Some releases work well with presses.
Some work well with large beads.
Some work well with smaller beads.

I don't press beads and while I mostly make hollows now I do still do solid beads up to a couple of inches long. I started using fusion when most of my beads were 1 to 2 ounces of glass I worked cool on a minor and beat the crud out of them (rolling hard to shape) fusion worked well for me then too.

[hummingbird3172]

I just got Bucket of Mud...and it has been hands down the best for humid Florida. I have tried Super Blue Sludge (works maybe a little too well), Fusion (it flaked horribly on me), and Foster Fire....Foster Fire was OK, but still a bit flaky..I know it has a lot to do with humidity and I also make a lot of big beads that get some serious tugging. I have only had the Bucket of Mud come loose a few times...and then I was really pushing it.

[Tanya]

Ok, I just removed some beads from my first batch of Foster Fire. They were easy to get off the mandrel, but the bead release isn't. That is, the Fusion used to dissolve easily in water, the Foster Fire more like "fire" to the mandrel and comes of in larger pieces. It isn't that hard to get off, just very different. Not as powdery. So far, I like it, although I've had a little bit of cracking under intense heating and cooling cycles. I've actually had a couple of beads pop off the bead release while I was making them. The bead release didn't break, but the beads came loose. I heated them up thoroughly and they stuck again and I didn't lose any.

[Heather/Ericaceae]

I used the Flamewerks stuff for two years... not too thrilled with it (some batches are better than others...) but it was all I could buy here. Recently ordered the Dip and Go and it's worked much better. I do need pliers to get most beads off, though. I had trouble for a while when I mixed it down thinner and over-did it. Now I have a good consistency.

It does bug me to order pre-mixed release, though! I dislike paying to ship water!

-Heather

[J. Savina]

I never really think of myself as being that anal about trying new things, but like the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I've just kept on using the same brand of release that my first teacher used. "Hot Line" They make a flame dry and an air dry and most recently the "Pink Slipper" which is both. I think it's the only release that my wholesaler carries. I think it has something to do with them owning the Hot Line company. I could be wrong. Anyway, it's been good to me so far, but I'm always open to trying new things so, maybe as soon as I run out of the 20 or more bottles I have in stock, I'll try something new.http://smilies.sofrayt.com/fsc/blow%20kisses.gif

J.

[Tanya]

I'm not speaking to my bead release today...had a bad session with it yesterday. I will say that although a lot of it flaked off around my beads, none of it actually stuck to the beads and it held. And, the beads came off very easily. I don't think any bead release likes lots of extreme heating then cooling, like when I make 4 encased boro beads on one mandrel. If anyone knows of a brand that will take that kind of punishment, please let me know!