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-   -   One tool (http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77721)

aleacim 2008-01-08 8:35am

One tool
 
What is one tool you have (besides your torch) that you couldn't imagine living without?

Mopnglo 2008-01-08 8:51am

Just one? I guess for me it would have to be my brass marver.

aleacim 2008-01-08 8:55am

Is brass better then a graphite marver? Well you can put more then one but I thought it'd be interesting to know what people like to use the most.

Cabanlet 2008-01-08 8:56am

I agree - my marver. I would get a brass marver/stump shaper. So you have a surface to roll your beads and different angles on the other sides to do other shaping. I think dawn - from here - she advertises her brass tools has something like this.
Amy

Mopnglo 2008-01-08 8:59am

I'm not really sure if it's better, I have both, but I like the brass one most.
I really don't use too many tools. Besides my marver the only other tools I can't live without are my shaping tools I purchased from (?) Whimsicality (?) I hope that's right. She sells them sometimes in the garage sale area.

ArtcoInc 2008-01-08 9:01am

It would be a toss-up between a pair of tungsten tip tweezers and a Kote.

Malcolm

tradesbears 2008-01-08 9:03am

between my handy marvers and my styli. i use them all the time

aleacim 2008-01-08 9:05am

What is a kote? artco?

bousky 2008-01-08 9:10am

Brass stump shaper. I use it on just about every bead. I do have the large one, but would prefer the small one. I mostly use it as a marver to flatten the start of my bead to a barrel shape. I have a torch marver that serves as storage for short stringers. I like to hold the shaper up to see better what I am doing.

LyndaJ 2008-01-08 9:27am

I don't think I can pick one.

This is probably what I use each one for the most, though. :)

EMS (electric mandrel spinner) invaluable to me for getting even beads and quick shaping.

Graphite marver (smooth, does not "stick" to the glass)

Brass stump shaper (seems to "grab" the glass more. helps to move it around better - and is a better heat sink to help push dots or stringer designs into beads)

Tungsten pick (I use this to actually stick into the hot-soupy glass and move it around for organic designs)

Corina Magic tool (although I could substitute a razor blade tool if I had it) (puts lines into beads, cuts lines into gathers to make small murrini, makes creases)

Stainless pick (I use this instead of tungsten to actually rake the glass because it grabs the glass a little and pulls it around better. Use for pulling only, or it can get stuck in the glass. Some folks use little glass stringers for this job, but these are easy to make from old mandrels, and work better for me).

Cattwalk crunch presses. Great to get flattened beads that have a gentle curve to the outside edge. I started with the standard size, but probably use the long and lean one more.

The Kote (a long steel paddle) looks like if you got used to it, you could do lots with it. It's long enough to use as a good marver, it's got edges that are sharp enough to do creasing with, and they aren't pricy. I just haven't been able to get used to using it.

My suggestion, try one basic one, and plan to set aside a little money every month to add another tool or two. With the exception of the EMS (that I got originally for pain in my thumb), none of these tools are outrageously expensive. $15-~50.

chrissij 2008-01-08 9:28am

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleacim (Post 1572870)
What is one tool you have (besides your torch) that you couldn't imagine living without?

My husband...


Seriously, I don't think I could live without my little micromini shapers from Whimzicalities.

evilglass 2008-01-08 9:35am

my butter knife, LOL. I use it as a hand held marver, shaper, etc. I actually go to big lots and buy 5-10 of them in a pack every now again, since they pit.

I'd probably love a brass shaper, just haven't invested in one yet!

aleacim 2008-01-08 9:45am

Great thanks!

Wendyki 2008-01-08 10:14am

My razor knife :) then my whimicalities tools them my ems and graphite work surface:P

aleacim 2008-01-08 10:42am

Where do you buy your whimicalities tools?

chrissij 2008-01-08 10:50am

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleacim (Post 1573158)
Where do you buy your whimicalities tools?

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=75402

suzanne 2008-01-08 11:14am

my stump shaper, definetly

Hothead Beads 2008-01-08 1:30pm

My torch mounted marver.

Carolyn M 2008-01-08 1:35pm

Brass stump shaper for me too.

twiggyinaz 2008-01-08 2:11pm

Definitely a toss up between my marver and my butterknife. I think if i lost my marver i could live with just my butter knife.

Rachel 2008-01-08 9:00pm

I have a new tool from Cattwalk that is very handy. It is a brass marver that has various angles on the sides. The top angle is sharp enough that I use it instead of my knife and razor for creasing flowers, hearts, lines for stripes on twisties or striped cane. One side of the tool has a v cut that I use often for deeper and wider cutting. I really like this tool as it is long enough to use it to roll beads for any kind of shaping and it is brass which helps with striking certain colors and it is lightweight. It has replaced several of my other tools as it does so many things in the one tool. I use my Smirchic graphite marver a lot because I really use the little hole for spinning my beads. This isn't a tool but I couldn't do without my creation station. So, I would say the brass marver from Cattwalk as my tool of choice but I couldn't do without my creation station as I have back problems and it really helps. I know Catt has some of these marvers in stock but I don't know if she has them listed yet. I've had one since summer and I use it on every bead. I can't say enough good things about that tool.

glitzy cowgirl 2008-01-08 9:36pm

My stump shamper!! Love it!

Vicki

Teri.p 2008-01-08 10:16pm

torch mounted marver and small brass Stump shaper

StacyLynne 2008-01-09 9:22am

Well I just cant not tell you about my favorite tool.


I love my Flat brass 45 marver. It has a flat smooth top and 45 beveled sides the edges are sharp and I use them also for cutting into the glass the back side is just perfect for the larger tube beads, bicones Oh and the angle is PERFECT for making even ends!! Every time I make a bead this tool is used in one way or another.

Here is a pic of the tool.
click on the links site below and it will take you to our web site or etsy. On my web site I have info on each tool we sell.

SL

LavenderCreek 2008-01-09 9:34am

Well, since I can use my tiled table top as a marver if I really need to, for me it would be my dental spatula. I can't function without it.

Sherry 2008-01-09 5:15pm

Brass stump shaper, and my beloved, ancient needlenose pliers. They're like part of my hand. As some of my students will assure you....I'm a bit weird about my pliers!

glasshouse 2008-01-09 5:35pm

I would have to say, not counting tweezers, that I use my Osibin Lentil Shaper more than any other tool on my table. Now I rarely use my flat marver except for pick-ups with frit and czs. I don't use the Osibin shaper for lentils, just for shaping and centering the glass. It makes awesome rounded barrels, olives and egg shapes. I even use it on round beads. Here's some bad pictures of beads I used the shaper to make. The second bead was smashed after being an olive shape.



I have to thank Cynthia (Glassactcc) for showing me how she used it, and Quincy (quincyandco) for giving me the shaper for my birthday! You ladies are awesome and way too kind!

:) Kelly

Jenfire 2008-01-09 10:43pm

My kitchen paring knife. Works as a marver, pick, everything.
Jen

Otter's Flame 2008-01-10 2:22am

My torch mounted marver because it serves so many purposes and is generally a stable, perfectly located base for all my shaping, frit pick up, silver leaf burnishing etc.

Otter

Jody Lee 2008-01-10 8:07am

Brass stump shaper and osibin lentil shaper.


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