Tab press technique question

[FourTailsLampwork]

When I use my tab press and flame polish away the chill marks, sometimes I end up with indentations on the tops of my beads, as you can see here:

76839

By the time there are no more chill marks, I've got that dip. Mind you, it's VERY tactile and feels good in the fingers, but it isn't a nice crisp tab. Am I simply polishing too close to the flame?

[Rose]

My Tab press is the same. I think they have come out with newer ones that don't do that, but not sure. You might want to invest in the Button press. So much better, with no indenttion. I never use my Tab press anymore but LOVE the Button press.

Rose

[JavaGirlBT]

I think you could press them again while they're still a little melty but not too much and that would crisp them up a little. You will get a few more chillmarks, but they won't be as hard to get rid of as the first ones. Then firepolish again and this time the indents won't be there.

[MaryBeth]

I think you could press them again while they're still a little melty but not too much and that would crisp them up a little. You will get a few more chillmarks, but they won't be as hard to get rid of as the first ones. Then firepolish again and this time the indents won't be there.


Yes, I always press more than once. I do the first press just to get the "rough" shape then I firepolish the chill marks and make any other corrections.

I press at a cooler temperature the second time and there are usually few if any chill marks.

If necessary I do it a third time.

[FourTailsLampwork]

Yes, I always press more than once. I do the first press just to get the "rough" shape then I firepolish the chill marks and make any other corrections.

I press at a cooler temperature the second time and there are usually few if any chill marks.

If necessary I do it a third time.

Maybe I'm pressing too MUCH; it takes me 4-5 presses to get it right. I'll try pressing at a cooler temperature than I usually do and see if that helps. I can get a nice tab-I just need to articulate HOW I do it so I can do it more consistently, and all these ideas sure help--keep 'em coming!

[JoyceMI]

Is your press a Cattwalk press? If it is maybe you have the Pastille press and not the Tab press. The Pastille press was made similar to the Tab but has a dip in the center. http://cattwalk.com/pastilles.htm

[Peter_G]

It may depend on how the press was made and what sort of tool was used to cut the holes.

If a standard 'slot drill' tool was used, the normal tool has a slight hollow in the centre. This is to minimise the centre of the tool dragging when a slot is being cut. When you cut a slot it leaves a flat bottom anyway. If you just plunge down to get the round shape, you can get a slight convex shape in the bottom of the hole. This will translate to a slight hollow in the pressed shape. I've never found it to be a big problem, but it is noticeable.

One solution is to get the cutters modified by having the bottom reground flat. Not something you always want to do when you've just bought a brand new cutter.

Peter