Mandrel Vs. Release

[funfuser]

OK- I don't know what the problem is but the last 3 days I have been trying to apply my Flame Dry Release to my mandrels & it is not "sticking". I have tried thickening, thinning it & I even tried going back to my "air" dry version (Same company, Hotfire, I think?) Still having the same problem. Took a Green Scrubby pad to them, thinking the needed to be scratched up to hold the release.... that hasn't worked.... YIKES- I have done it a hundred times before- What the heck am I doing wrong??????????:cry:

[Judi_B]

Hmmm, maybe something oily got on the mandrels? Maybe try wiping the mandrels with alcohol before dipping. :confused:

[Tanya]

Sometimes I clean mine with alcohol - specially when they're new. I'm not a big for scratching up my mandrels, but that's only because I haven't had too. You might want to try some sandpaper or lightly go over them with a file.

[alexm]

You might have gotten something on them that is preventing the release from sticking. Run the ends of the mandrel through the flame of your torch that will burn off anything you got on them. This also workds for new mandrels, no need to rough them up, just run them through the flame.

[funfuser]

Huummmm. OK I will go home, clean in alcohol, then fire them & pray to the bead release goddesses that they will smile upon me and allow the release to stick... Maybe yesterday's Solar Eclipse will help too.... :badgrin: No really, thanks for the suggestions, I can't wait for 5 PM to go home & try!:-D

What is the average life span of a mandrel? Until it bends? :-k

[Tanya]

You might have gotten something on them that is preventing the release from sticking. Run the ends of the mandrel through the flame of your torch that will burn off anything you got on them. This also workds for new mandrels, no need to rough them up, just run them through the flame.

Alex - the lazy slug in me thanks you for this info! Now I don't even have to feel guilty for not roughing them up...

[alexm]

Alex - the lazy slug in me thanks you for this info! Now I don't even have to feel guilty for not roughing them up...

You're welcome! The way I see it is that it's not lazy, it's smart. I make beads for a living and time is money. It only takes seconds per mandrel to heat them in the torch, it takes more time and a lot more effort to rough them up, but the result is the same, so why sweat it?

[funfuser]

Heating the mandrels did the trick- Alcohol did too, but heating them is much faster. You guys rock! Thanks for the help!