Making Lentils

[Flamechick]

Anyone have any tips on making lentils? I'm using a press with guide posts. I'm having a hard time gauging how much glass to put on the mandrel before I press. I either have too much or too little glass for the size of lentil in the press. I'm also having a prob scraping off bead release, so I can't do a remelt without worrying about it getting stuck on the mandrel. I'm wondering if it would be easier to just use a big ass pair of tongs. Meanwhile, I'm on the hunt for a tute.

Thanks,
Amber

[pierces*designs]

What I usually do is make a small barrel and measure the width against the size of the lentil press. Once my barrel is long enough I make a football shape by adding more glass to the middle of the bead. I get it nice and hot and then press.

Does that help at all?

[Flamechick]

Yes, that helps. Thanks! I will try that after dinner.

Amber

[Kaye]

well, making a lemon drop or football shape the width of the press always worked for me...don't over shoot the width...but try to come pretty close...if you find they are indented to much on each side to much for your taste, you can spot heat each side and repress and it will usually move the glass to fill they area that isnt filled.

just takes practice of knowing how much glass and how big of lemon drop/football shape...but if you get it down it works pretty slick and easy.

[Shawn T]

What I usually do is make a small barrel and measure the width against the size of the lentil press. Once my barrel is long enough I make a football shape by adding more glass to the middle of the bead. I get it nice and hot and then press.

Does that help at all?

Ditto:
I make a barrel shape for most my presses to guage the amount of glass. Until I get the press down where I can guge it by the football shape or other shape I need for it.
A barrel works well for the tab and tile presses also.