Looking for Flamework Button ..

[Scraphappy]

Hello,
I am trying to create a loop on top of a shaped button but my loop on top keeps breaking. When I purchased my Minor Torch the videio shows how to gather my glass on my color glass rod then dip it into my frit on a marble graphite paddle then encase it with clear glass on top... so far so good...but then he jumps to a mandral and make a small bead and attaches it to the button ... but he does not show how he detaches the clear rod from the button or how he smoothes the back of the button ?
I tried putting it down then making my bead on my mandral put when I pick up my button it cracks and pops because it has already started to cool off and the shock of the bead..could you please, please help me.....any advice would so much be appriciated... also I keep hearing about a punty what is that?
Thanks
Juls

[kittyluv4ever]

Hi Juls,
A few questions first before I suggest how to proceed. First what type of glass are you working with? Do you have a kiln? If so does it have a bead door? If you don't have a kiln what are you using to cool your beads? A punty is another glass rod that you use to attach to your work so that you can remove the original rod. You would take a rod of clear heat the center of your button face then with out heating the new rod attach it to the center of you button. I find the smaller diameter the rod the easier it is to work with if it's not going to go directly into the flame. Once you attach your punty you will burn off the rod on the back of your button and remove any excess glass with tweezers or any method you prefer then flame polish the back smooth. Once you attach your loop you then tap the punty rod on something solid say a torch mounted marver and it should pop right off where it was attached. Then fire polish the front and pop it in the kiln.

[Ro]

usually making the small bead first, pop it in the oven to stay warm, make your piece, punti somewhere with cold seal, add bead, remove punti, put in kiln on mandrel from bead. rods are burned off if hot seal, then piece of scrap glass or tweezers to get off as much as you can, then flatten with graphite marver. you could also just form the loop directly on the button, attatch in one spot let set up, bend over, tack on, burn off rod, finish seal where tacked , grab with whatever you use to grab hot glass remove punti and pop in kiln, use reamer to even out hole if nec. ive done the add a bead with boro for pendants, i found if they dont stay hot they crack. you could play with making the piece first as its bigger and will hold heat longer, but likely bead first, keep it warm, add to hot piece is better. whichever works for you.
ro

[Scraphappy]

Hi and thank you for helping..I don't have a bead kiln I have an Olympic kiln and I did'nt know their were different kinds of rods...Oh..Oh... I went to the Las Vegas Glass Convention last year and bought a whole bunch I thought they were all the same and I am starting to find out that they are not ... were would I be able to find out what the diffrences are and used for what?
I have a metal box with two pieces of blanket what my teacher calls it to cool you beads down ..
Im learning something new everyday about this great hobby...LOL..
thanks

[Peach Blossom Beads]

Scraphappy:
You need to read every thread you can on this forum. First, read every thread you can in the Safety section!!!!! Then read everything in the tips and techniques section. Then, go to the Tutorial section.

You should also get a book or 2 if you don't have any. I've seen a couple of questions from you now and I'm wondering why you're not more informed about some of these things. It's scary. I'd help but there's so much I feel you don't know, just the VERY basics, and that's too much info to type (I'd end up writing a book.)

Please tell me you know about ventilation, safety, etc. Also, there are a couple of threads on the first page of this Tips section (one in particular) where someone asks about the different kinds of glass and someone else listed them out and explained them all. You really need to take a look around and inhale all of the info. Let me go see if I can find the thread.

[Peach Blossom Beads]

Here it is (http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55573) - only 2 threads down the list from this one. It helps to look around a bit before asking a question because so many people ask the same ones w/o looking that they're usually right there.

Have fun!