Making Canes - What a headache!

[chimehk]

I've been trying to make a decent cane. I use the lolipop method and apply each color at each side. My problem is in twisting it. I always get both side of the punties soo hot that it's the punties that get twisted instead of the blob of glass. What is the best way to heat the blob of glass without overheating the punties? #-o
BTW, I'm using a hothead torch.

[ElizabethCreations]

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3450
Kimberly Affleck shared an awsome technique

[Kikki]

Use boro punties.
Some colours are hopeless if you use them as handles when making twisties.

[Anakin's Glass Eye]

If you don't have any Boro rod, use some 10mm or larger Lauscha clear rods as punties.

[chimehk]

Thanks for your tips. Why I didn't thought of it - using thicker rods :-o I just thought there must be something wrong in the way I'm applying the heat. The tutorial is really good. I didn't know that glass could be applied to mandrels without the release sludge on it.
Unfortunately we don't have much choices on glass rods here in Hong Kong. There is just limited hobby shops here supplying glass rods and the selection is very limited. Wish could try all these glasses that everybody is raving about.

[hummingbird3172]

I use the method Kimberly Affleck used in her tutorial. It has made a world of difference in my striped canes and twisties. It is so easy and there is little or no wasted glass! When you want to remove the glass from the mandrel I just drop it in a bowl of water, makes a nice hiss :lol: .

[glassbeadz]

I find that having a maria on the end of my punty helps to deflect heat away from the rod.

[Steph'sBeadCorner]

Thanks for your tips. Why I didn't thought of it - using thicker rods :-o I just thought there must be something wrong in the way I'm applying the heat. The tutorial is really good. I didn't know that glass could be applied to mandrels without the release sludge on it.
Unfortunately we don't have much choices on glass rods here in Hong Kong. There is just limited hobby shops here supplying glass rods and the selection is very limited. Wish could try all these glasses that everybody is raving about.

Do you have stainless steel chopsticks... those are the best!!

[Fana]

I found some Shishkebab (sp) sticks in my kitchen drawer, they work very well also. I can always use my mandrels if I want to make Shishkebab again :)
_____
Sheila

[Lara]

I use large mandrels are stainless chopsticks too. It is the only way to go! You can heat up your glass until it is molton and not worry about it falling in your lap or melting the glass handles into the twisty. Then when you are done, cut the cane off the metal punty, dip in water and sizzle the glass breaks off and you have a new clean punty ready to go.

[2catsdesigns]

I agree Lara.. this is the only method I've ever managed to get consistently good canes from! :)

Cheers,
Sue

I use large mandrels are stainless chopsticks too. It is the only way to go! You can heat up your glass until it is molton and not worry about it falling in your lap or melting the glass handles into the twisty. Then when you are done, cut the cane off the metal punty, dip in water and sizzle the glass breaks off and you have a new clean punty ready to go.

[glass-o-licious]

yep..im another who uses extra fat mandrels to make twisties. :) Mine are thick stainless steel welding rods. They are also great for making reduction frit stingers from small to medium size frit chunks. That way you get ALL redux stringer and no other glass from the punty in your stringer.

Lorretta :)

[dogsrlove]

I have a few 1/8 mandrels dedicated to pulling cane, I've also been know to grab the handle end of my Emiko Big Hole Mandrel and use that for thicker pulls. . .shhhh don't tell Emiko!

Vanessa

[theglasszone]

I use a Hot Head too - the use of mandrels, thicker ones, is the trick I need to finally get my twisties and canes rolling! Now I just LOVE doing them!!!! One MOST IMPORTANT TIP I haven't seen mentioned here: When using mandrels, use UNCOATED ones - no bead release!!! I start with heating the tip of one uncoated mandrel, wind my glass onto it, marver into a nice donut, add stripes, etc., encase in clear or not, keep it warm in the back of the flame, heat the tip of another uncoated mandrel, bring the end of the gather back into the flame and get it nice and glowing - just the end so you can poke your heated other mandrel into it. Hold them parallel and heat the entire blob - don't twist unless you want it twisted. Bring the whole thing out of the flame once it's evenly heated. Count to 4, 5, 6, 7 - start twisting the whole blob if your making a twistie, then 8, 9 then slowly start pulling the mandrels apart. Do this slowly at first, while the glass is still quite hot, at the count of 12, 13, 14, the glass has really started to cool so pull quicker!!! There you have it! Good luck!

DeAnne in CA

[Carolyn M]

I agree Lara.. this is the only method I've ever managed to get consistently good canes from! :)

Cheers,
Sue

Me too. I can pull tiny tightly twisted cane using this method

[Emily]

I'm not sure you want to use really thick mandrels as punties. Michael Barley teaches this method, and in his class he recommended using regular 3/32 mandrels. When I was making what turned out to be a pretty big cane, I happened to pick up a larger mandrel, probably a 1/8, and my hand was really, really tired by the time I was done. I was more comfortable with the 3/32 mandrel.

At least around here, it's hard to find stainless steel chopsticks that don't have squared-off handles. I think a square handle would be really hard to turn.

[Artistic License]

In the beginning my twisties were very skinny and uneven when I used punties. I then switched to using a large mandrel at one end to twist with and that seemed to solve all my problems. I had much better control and the twisties came out perfectly even.

Red