crunch press

[susanlambert]

does anyone have success with this press? I have one and just haven't been real excited about the final shape. anyone? anyone?
;-)
susan

[Kaye]

I actually love the shape...look at Kimberlys seahorses...what a sexy shape that makes a perfect pendant.

for bracelet beads they lie so well on the wrist and are super comfy.

so yeah...its a great shape...I have the original size/wide and xwide...they are awesome

[Sherry]

I use that press a lot, but I do a lot of reshaping after pressing. The press is just the first step, just gets the beads started along the way to their final form.

[Kaye]

this statement is so true for so many presses...I have a brass stump shaper that I use all the time in my final touches of a pressed bead..heat and touch...fire polish...touch here...eye the bead.

sometimes pressing comes out totally perfect...but more times than not you need to heat and touch with a brass stump shaper or some other tool to help the bead to perfectI use that press a lot, but I do a lot of reshaping after pressing. The press is just the first step, just gets the beads started along the way to their final form.

[kimberly]

sometimes pressing comes out totally perfect...but more times than not you need to heat and touch with a brass stump shaper or some other tool to help the bead to perfect

Exactly my experience. I love this press. I us both the CBS crunch and two different ones from Cattwalk. Love them all.

[mdslampworkbeads]

The crunch/bead squeeze is my favorite mold. If I had to pick just one press to keep that would be the one. Ditto on that there is alot of reshaping, I descirbe it as debumming. But, it's SO worth it.

Monique

PS: Kim I can't wait to see you do some monster seahorses on some of catt's new larger crunch presses!

[rosiescreations]

It is my most used press. I just love it. You need to make sure your bead is round and centered on the mandrel.

[susanlambert]

it's a great help to go look at Kim's seahorses. It helps me seek what you can do with that press. I have tweaked a bunch, but never figured what I was heading for. anyone have any pics they would be willing to share of what they do with this?
thanks! Susan

[J. Savina]

The crunch press was among the first presses I ever purchased. I was hook right away. I've made and sold several focals and sets using the crunch presses. Here are pictures of a couple of sets that sold on Ebay not long ago.
J.

[Erica]

I've found that it helps to press when the bead is pretty cool, otherwise the glass tends to squish around.

[alexm]

I've found that it helps to press when the bead is pretty cool, otherwise the glass tends to squish around.

You're absolutely right. For any pressed bead, I take the bead out of the flame, count to 7 or 8 slowly, then press gently. This helps to avoid glass from squishing out the sides.

[LoriGreenberg]

I had one of the first ones at it was only 5.1mm deep and I couldn't stand it! I've since gotten many more and just a couple mm deeper made a world of difference. It's now my favorite shape also!

22307

[susanlambert]

thanks these pics are a tremendous help :o)
Susan

[Leanne]

Hi,
I have a kalera nugget on the way, will I be able to use this press to make really small crunched beads? I have been putting off buying a cattwalk standard crunch incase I can get away with the nugget. Any thoughts anyone???

[2tumblingdragonz]

I just got Anouk's tutorial on making silver glass sing and it is wonderful. One of the items on the shopping list is a crunch press. I'd never heard of a crunch press 'til yesterday. I looked at many and I can't wait to be able to get one!
I love the look and there are so many to choose from....I think it will be a case of can't get just one.....will I get thinner if my food budget goes for lampwork supplies?
Namaste
Rowyn

[tammydownunder]

I love the crunchie press and, recently crunchie masher I just got. http://www.etsy.com/listing/48547546/roll-about-masher-tm-lampworking-tool?ref=sr_list_8&ga_search_query=glass+lampworking+tools+stainless+ steel&ga_spelling_corrected=glass+lampworking+tools+stai nless+steeel&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade To me, this is the easiest press to use as you don't have to worry about the perfect amount of glass.

[Lisi]

I prefer my beads to be not so thin so I got a custom made press that is for 8mm thick beads. The 6mm just made me nervous and to me it would be okay for little beads, but not for the larger ones. There is not that much thickness on either side of the mandrel. The 8mm is a lot better IMHO, at least for my peace of mind.

Most of the press makers will be glad to make you a custom made press if you don't like the beads to be so thin.

[2tumblingdragonz]

What size crunch press do you suggest and why?
I've been browsing around and would love some input....
Thanks
Namaste
Rowyn

[glasslass2]

Well I've had a crunch press for several months now and haven't used it yet. Can anyone tell me if I need a longish barrel shape prior to pressing? I guess I've not attempted it cuz I'm not sure what shape to start with.

[SuzyQ]

Try a few different shapes. One of the neat things about the crunch press is you can get different version of the bead depending on your initial shape. I prefer to start with a something that resembles a little tootsie roll.

[SilverReflections]

Try a round shape and an oval shape too, as SuzyQ said it gives you a different final look. The crunch press is very forgiving though imo, it's a great shape.

[SadiesJewels]

I love my crunch presses ... I have mulitple widths and sizes thanks to Cattwalk!

My favorite shape to use in this press is a bicone.

Here are two that have been "crunched" Think I used the #6? The first was a dumpy olive shape and the second a dumpy bicone ...

All from last year this time.

Sadie

[glasslass2]

Ooooo, such pretties! I never would have thought of doing a bicone shape in a crunch press. Thanks so much for the suggestions. Maybe now I'll feel a bit braver and actually use this press now.

[JenniferP]

I also love this press. I have one from Cattwalk and use it almost every day. Here is a set that I did with it...I crunched the beads then did some additional shaping...

[Jeri]

I like to start with a fat tube, then I heat it so the ends get pointier and the belly rounder, kind of like almost a football. Then I press that. Jeri

231135

[2tumblingdragonz]

I ordered a Kalera trio--from zoozi's. I can't wait. It was a really hard decision. I'm sure I will end up with several...
Have fun!
Rowyn

[DesertDreamer]

I have the Cattwalk Dual Crunch and I like it. I'm longing for a larger/longer/deeper crunch (2nd on my buy list ATM), but the dual gets the job done for shorter beads, and you end up with 4 choices because you have a crunch side and a flat side on the bottom plate. I really like the basic crunch shape for 'pebble' type beads. They lay very comfortably in bracelets.

[Kevan]

It is my most used press. I just love it. You need to make sure your bead is round and centered on the mandrel.

And centered in the press. It's very easy to get an off center bead because there is no trough for the mandrel to line it up perfectly.