Foster Fire application

[Humble newbie]

When I dip my mandrels into the Smooth and Tough I dip them straight into the jar and pull out not touching any sides. What I am getting is a thin fine ridge along the length for some reason. Almost time after time. What am I doing wrong? It's leaving a tiny white line behind after I clean my transparent beads. When I put it in a little tray to dip the middle of the mandrel, I get a ragged edge on bottom. Help! I love how this stuff makes the beads slide right off of mandrels. Thanks in advance!

[NLC Beads]

Have you tried thinning it down at all, and do you shake the bejezus (technical term!) out of it before dipping mandrels?

[kimberly]

Hmmmmmm. You are tilting the mandrel a little when you pull the mandrel out of the jar, pulling the mandrel out at a slight angle.
Put the mandrel straight in and pull it straight out, as slowly as you can stand. Also, thinning the release a little may help.
This is pretty important. That little white line in your bead can be a place for a crack to start - even a simple, correctly annealed spacer can develope a crack from this. It doesn't mean they will all crack! Just, this is a place for a crack to start, and someitmes, it does.
Kimberly

[Venessa]

I have not had that problem...have you thinned yours down? I had to add quite a bit of water to mine. I absolutely LOVE this stuff!! I made around 25 vessels this weekend, and all but one were with Smooth and Tough. The one that was made on another release was so difficult to get off the mandrel...had to use pliers and borrowed man-strength!! The rest I was able to hand twist right off the mandrel, barely any effort.

Anyways...don't mean to ramble! But, if you have not thinned yours, that may be the solution.

[Chuckie]

That little white line in your bead can be a place for a crack to start - even a simple, correctly annealed spacer can develope a crack from this. That's good info to pass along, Kim. Thanks for sharing that. Would reaming the ridge flat with the hole help prevent a crack from forming? Sometimes I get really fine ridges that I don't notice until I try to clean the bead release. I lightly file the ridge out to get rid of all the release by rolling the bead on my and and pressing down with a round file. It gets rid of the release and keeps the hole round while I'm filing.

[Carolyn M]

I put my mandrel in, twist it around once, then pull out fairly slowly, as I like a thin layer of release. I've found this works well to get an even application of bead release

[Humble newbie]

Thanks everyone! I haven't thinned it down as it seems to have almost a whipped texture. I have been tilting the jar:) Sounds like I need to get
the stuff into thinner taller jar and add a bit of water. Thanks for letting
me know about that ridge being a possible problem. I'm going to see if I
can smooth out the ones that are on my work bench now.
One more question please. I do notice it scales in the fire. I dip my mandrels the night before and then just run them briefly thorough the flame to make the glass stick. What might be going on with that? Thanks!!

[squid]

it is too thick if it scales in the flame. You sometimes have to thin it quite a bit when you first get it.

[Humble newbie]

Thanks!

[chrisdd]

Here's how I prevent the line when dipping in the middle of the mandrel. I thin the release down a lot. After rolling in the release, I tap the mandrel on the counter once or twice. That takes care of the thick line.

[FosterFire]

[SIZE="5"]Add water.

When you dip, if it looks patchy or forms a ridge add water, mix well.

[Humble newbie]

Thanks for all of the tips. I wouldn't have thought it needed watering but
it's surely help. So does not tilting when I dip:)

[Toni Lutman]

Fosterfire likes to be thinner than you'd think. I can almost see the mandrel through it. I love how easily the beads release!

[Mary K]

How many times do you dip? I usually go twice, a quick dip - dip. Is this too much release? I'm afraid of losing my grip with a too thin layer.
Mary K

[squid]

a single dip should be plenty

[Venessa]

How many times do you dip? I usually go twice, a quick dip - dip. Is this too much release? I'm afraid of losing my grip with a too thin layer.
Mary K

It is my understanding (and s/o correct me if I'm wrong) that a thinner layer will hold better than a thinner layer. The release has trouble holding onto itself when it is thicker. When you have a thin, almost transparent layer, it will hold stronger than a thicker layer.

[Starrr]

Fosterfire likes to be thinner than you'd think. I can almost see the mandrel through it. I love how easily the beads release!

Toni, are you talking about the new Smooth Release? because I haven't tried it yet. I'm so in love with the Foster Fire Heavy Duty, that I can't find a reason to change, but I am intrigued....

Anyone know the difference between the two releases and want to share?

Thanks!

[squid]

I have them both and don't see THAT much of a difference. The Smooth and Tuff is possibly a little more resistant to flaking in presses, but they both ROCK!

[WeeMary]

I was using powdered Heavy Duty, and I got drips down the mandrel when it was as thin as I liked. THe Smooth and Tuff doesn't drip!

[HONEYBUNNY72_99]

It really does like to be thin!All of mine were busting on me today and I cleaned em off and thinned the release way down and problem solved!I get cranky when my release starts breaking on me LOL!
Tina

[Kevan]

Ok, I should thin it down?

It worked great the first time I used it, but the next day it was flaking. It's pretty thick, but I just opened the jar last week. There's no room to add any water in the jar yet. lol

[Toni Lutman]

Toni, are you talking about the new Smooth Release? because I haven't tried it yet. I'm so in love with the Foster Fire Heavy Duty, that I can't find a reason to change, but I am intrigued....

Anyone know the difference between the two releases and want to share?

Thanks!


Sorry, hadn't been back here for a few days. I was using the HD, but wanted to try the Smooth and Tuff after I'd heard about it. I poke and push my glass alot. I'm currently using the Smooth and Tuff, and I really like it, but then I really liked the HD also. I honestly don't know if I've noticed that much of a difference, but then maybe that's because I haven't had problems with either one.

When I get mine, I usually put some into a separate small container, and add water to the big container. Then, when it's down enough, I add the small container back in. I like my FosterFire very thin so I can kinda see the mandrel through it when I first dip it. Once it dries, it looks fully coated. It's also much smoother when it's thin.

[FosterFire]

Toni's doing it exactly right!

Ridges? add water? Flaking? add water. be sure to mix well after adding the water. Shake it to mix all ingredients.

[cadia]

I put mine in a taller jar and added water, then I put a few wonkie beads in the jar to help when shaking ( like is done with nailpolish!). Cover tightly between use so the water doesn't evaporate, but you may need to add water each time.