Hollows

[nana]

Hi All,
Any tips on how to make a round (marble shape) hollow on a puffy??
Thanks:???:

[musicpg]

Hi, email Jeri at JeriBeads.com, she's been making hollows on puffy mandrels for years and also teaches a class in my area (NJ). She's very nice and a great teacher! She also has a new book which is very good.
Pam

[jaci]

do you have a marble or bead mold? they work great. Just treat it like it is not hollow to shape. I also think it is helpful to not puff it out so much to start, you can always go back. I usually end up with big not roundish donut shapes. I did get SOME rounds, but it is just PPP....

[loco]

I never could get the hang of a "puffy mandrel." To me it was just too much work, maybe that was because I'm an anti-tool-ho. The fewer tools I have on my bench the better for me!

Making a hollow is second nature for me, no thought process necessary... I would recommend starting with some sort of prop to help stabilize your mandrel while working. I use a "helping hand" (Harbor Freight) with a piece of metal.

Ya the work bench is a mess, it's the way I like it!
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[Jeri]

Hi - just noticed this thread, and of course I HAVE to chime in on my favorite subject, hollow beads.

I agree with rounding it in a mold as one way to go. I find that it also helps to make the starting disks farther apart, my rough estimate is that the distance between the disks at the beginning is roughly the same as the diameter of each finished disk. When in doubt, the disks can be even a little taller.

Second thing that helps make rounder hollows is to build using two bowl shapes across from one another, then seaming them together at the equator of the bead, instead of building disks and then tipping the disks toward each other. Hope some of this makes sense, and even helps! Jeri

[sunnyone]

hey loco...got ya beat! I have more ends and stringer bits...along with some crusty bead release on my bench...although tonight I vowed to use the glass ON my bench to make some of it go away! It worked and forced me to be creative! hehe

crystal

[nana]

Thank you all !!!

[neagle]

I did an almost perfect hollow on a puffy mandrel the first time, but have had problems since. I think I start too far from the little hole. Also, you have to plug the "blowing" end of the mandrel during heating or it will collapse the bead. There was an instruction sheet from Jeri that was very helpful, but nothing beats practice...

Hey, Loco, I loooove your sculptures!!! If only I had some f-olding money....lol

[jaci]

oh yeah, I wanted to mention that a regular spoon will work to help shape it too! (probably a quick fix tool, no ordering needed..lol)