Easy Spiral Impression Tool-tutorial - Page 2

hummingbird3172 · #31 2006-06-28, 10:08am

Peg, those are great ideas...I have used small phillips head screw drivers...the effect was cool. Dh wasn't happy, it was HIS screwdriver!

Erika, That was exactly why I made the tool...I was getting so antsy waiting until I could buy one! That tool of Andrea's makes such fabulous impressions!

I thought it was kind of a "duh" thing too, I almost didn't post it, but now I am glad I did!

Refined with Fire · #32 2006-06-28, 10:48am

I am glad you posted it too!

Now I need to make one,
I am a little worried about 18 guage wire...
have you used any thicker?
I think I have some 14 guage copper wire around here somewhere....

TJ

Limelight · #33 2006-06-28, 10:57am

Great idea Anna. Now you've got me rummaging around the house for cool stuff to poke at my beads.

Starfield · #34 2006-06-28, 5:53pm

I tried cake decorating tips years ago. The metal is too thin and heats up too fast and the glass stuck to it. I made a BIG mess. Perhaps you will do better than me however.

Karen

Carmen Isaacs · #35 2006-06-30, 12:50pm

You are so clever, thanks for sharing.
Carmen

Phoenix · #36 2006-06-30, 1:15pm

don't forget the leather tools and wax impressions while you are digging for new impressions!

beachbeads · #37 2006-06-30, 7:40pm

Great idea! I love homemade tools, I still use my "lentil" press I made out of measuring spoons. The kitchen is the best place! And I use my potato masher for lines also but it's pretty wide apart. And a meat tenderizer, I had to rush to my kitchen to find out mine is plastic, so I'll be hitting junk stores looking for a metal one. One of my favorite tools is a citrus or lemon press, it has handles and ridges where you smash the fruit and makes great fish fins and leaves. And I love my leather tools and wax tools, but you need to be sure both have deep impressions or it won't show up in glass! Sheila

playswithfire104 · #38 2006-07-01, 5:48pm

"wax impressions"? Wouldn't they melt?

beachbeads · #39 2006-07-03, 12:27am

saw a good one in use today, a flower "frog", you know those old fashioned metal spikey things for flower vases? Deb Crowley was using it to give an implossion type of effect.

hummingbird3172 · #40 2006-07-03, 6:15am

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachbeads

saw a good one in use today, a flower "frog", you know those old fashioned metal spikey things for flower vases? Deb Crowley was using it to give an implossion type of effect.

Now THAT is a very clever idea!

One of my favorite "found" tools is a butter knife from a thrift store..it is very heavy duty stainless steel...I use the serrated edge for patterns, the tip like a pallete knife, and the back edge for adding details to things.

Also, Nikki Carollo sent me this manicure type tool that has now become another favorite. One side is kind of chisel shaped...the other side kind of like a tiny spatula.

I have wanted to get some leather tools for using with Art Clay silver...I have a package of it that I am afraid to open..the first package did not work out so well!

Soooo, since the leather store is about 30 miles away through tourist infested roadways, I've held off.

Phoenix · #41 2006-07-03, 6:27am

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachbeads

Great idea! I love homemade tools, I still use my "lentil" press I made out of measuring spoons. The kitchen is the best place! And i use my potato masher for parelel lines also but it's pretty wide apart. And a meat tenderizer, I had to rush to my kitchen to find out mine is plastic, so I'll be hitting junk stores looking for a metal one. One of my favorite tools is a citrus or lemon press, it has handles and ridges where you smash the fruit and makes great fish fins and leaves. Sheila

I got mine at a restaurant auction- cheap and it will last forever!

I love the lemon press idea- i need to haunt garage sales and dollar stores for one

Phoenix · #42 2006-07-03, 6:28am

Quote:

Originally Posted by playswithfire104

"wax impressions"? Wouldn't they melt?

sorry- not the wax- the metal used to impress the wax

Phoenix · #43 2006-07-03, 6:29am

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachbeads

saw a good one in use today, a flower "frog", you know those old fashioned metal spikey things for flower vases? Deb Crowley was using it to give an implossion type of effect.

Do you have a photo- or does anyone else know what this is called? I can't picture it

hummingbird3172 · #44 2006-07-03, 6:30am

Yeah, I like that lemon press idea too!

hummingbird3172 · #45 2006-07-03, 6:35am

Quote:

Originally Posted by recipegal

Do you have a photo- or does anyone else know what this is called? I can't picture it

Hi Jessica!

Here is a place I just found that sells them:

http://www.marniturkel.com/Pages/Vas...gs&Covers.html

Phoenix · #46 2006-07-03, 6:42am

Thanks Anna- never would have come up with that one!

hummingbird3172 · #47 2006-07-03, 6:45am

Me either!

Never thought of using that with glass! Now I just wish I could see the bead that it was used for!

beachbeads · #48 2006-07-03, 2:45pm

I use leather stamps all the time too. The need to have a deep stamp area though, I have used the wax stamps before but find the handles break off,I am going to try this method with them http://www.enamelanimal.net/store/http://www.enamelanimal.net/store/in...iewDoc&docId=5

LadyCrow · #49 2006-07-03, 3:28pm

Cheers to all th wonderful ideas. Being brand new to beadmaking ( tomorrow is day 14) I didn't want to purchase too many things at one time. Hubby says I spend alot on all my crafts, so any time I can "make my tools" We are both happy.
Has anyone used Polymer clay for a press? I have a bunch of rubber stamps I can use as an impression in the clay and then bake it to make a mold of sorts. Polymer clay is really cheap and can go pretty far, but does it hold up to the heat?

hummingbird3172 · #50 2006-07-06, 6:44pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyCrow

Cheers to all th wonderful ideas. Being brand new to beadmaking ( tomorrow is day 14) I didn't want to purchase too many things at one time. Hubby says I spend alot on all my crafts, so any time I can "make my tools" We are both happy.
Has anyone used Polymer clay for a press? I have a bunch of rubber stamps I can use as an impression in the clay and then bake it to make a mold of sorts. Polymer clay is really cheap and can go pretty far, but does it hold up to the heat?

Hi Lady Crow!

The polymer clay won't hold up to the heat. I haven't tried it, but regular fired clay or plaster of paris might hold up.

Hang in there with your bead making...I've been at it for less than a year, you will be amazed at how quickly your skill grows!

klrglass · #51 2006-07-06, 9:15pm

You can use cake decorating tips to impress small circles - works great

LadyCrow · #52 2006-07-07, 11:38am

Awesome...I love homemade tools! I went to Harbor Freight Tools yesterday, and looked for along time. Do all the tools HAVE to be SS ? I bought some dental tools and a cute little anvil, but the welding rods they had were not Stainless and had a coating on them. None of the pliers looked right. I left spending less then $20.00.( hubby thinks that's cool ) lol

Phoenix · #53 2006-07-07, 12:02pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyCrow

Awesome...I love homemade tools! I went to Harbor Freight Tools yesterday, and looked for along time. Do all the tools HAVE to be SS ? I bought some dental tools and a cute little anvil, but the welding rods they had were not Stainless and had a coating on them. None of the pliers looked right. I left spending less then $20.00.( hubby thinks that's cool ) lol

I use the the dental tools- they work well!

collectiblesbyrose · #54 2006-07-07, 10:02pm

Great idea....thanks!!!!

raindance · #55 2006-07-12, 6:31am

Quote:

Originally Posted by playswithfire104

"wax impressions"? Wouldn't they melt?

I assume this is the tool used with sealing wax for sealing envelopes?

Phoenix · #56 2006-07-12, 6:39am

Quote:

Originally Posted by raindance

I assume this is the tool used with sealing wax for sealing envelopes?

Exactly!

nivedita · #57 2006-07-12, 7:12pm

Something else which works is to find a heavily textured large button....vintage ones are great..mix up some casting plaster,{ the base of a pint milk carton, about 2" deep, is an excellent size } when it begins to firm up, press the face of the button into the middle os the surface as deeply as possible without plaster going over the edge. Pull out the button when it is firmed and allow the plaster to sit to dry fully for a couple of days, during which time you can make changes to the mold... use a dremel tool to add more texture or deepen an area. when fully dry ,paint a light coating of bead release...Heat up the end of your glass rod commensurate with the size of your mold...when it is nice and hot, press it into the mold, pushing from one end to the other with any tool which works for you... i use a big piece of graphile.Pull it from the mold... still attached to its rod, attach a small glass punty to the bottom,go back to the torch{full slow reheat} pull the rod out to form a loop, burn that off...there is your pendant. if it works out well, use the glass piece as the positive for your next molds. To do this as a bead, just form your rounded bead, center and press it into the mold. softly flattening the backside, to make a lovely lenticular bead....

nivedita · #58 2006-07-12, 7:18pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by recipegal

I use the the dental tools- they work well!

I buy my SS rods at the welding supply store.....

A 1 # tube of 1/16 rods...32 3' long rods....for about $10.00
A 1 # tube of 3/32 SS rods { 16} is pretty much the same... they are clean and ready to go....just cut them to your preferred lengths and blaze away !

www.glassArtists.org/niveditaphoenixrising

Phoenix · #59 2006-07-12, 10:14pm

I've wondered about this process before- do you not find the bead release sticking in the wrong places?

Quote:

Originally Posted by nivedita

Something else which works is to find a heavily textured large button....vintage ones are great..mix up some casting plaster,{ the base of a pint milk carton, about 2" deep, is an excellent size } when it begins to firm up, press the face of the button into the middle os the surface as deeply as possible without plaster going over the edge. Pull out the button when it is firmed and allow the plaster to sit to dry fully for a couple of days, during which time you can make changes to the mold... use a dremel tool to add more texture or deepen an area. when fully dry ,paint a light coating of bead release...Heat up the end of your glass rod commensurate with the size of your mold...when it is nice and hot, press it into the mold, pushing from one end to the other with any tool which works for you... i use a big piece of graphile.Pull it from the mold... still attached to its rod, attach a small glass punty to the bottom,go back to the torch{full slow reheat} pull the rod out to form a loop, burn that off...there is your pendant. if it works out well, use the glass piece as the positive for your next molds. To do this as a bead, just form your rounded bead, center and press it into the mold. softly flattening the backside, to make a lovely lenticular bead....

raindance · #60 2006-07-13, 12:03am

Quote:

Originally Posted by recipegal

I've wondered about this process before- do you not find the bead release sticking in the wrong places?

I'll bet it depends on the type of release. What kind of bead release do you use, nivedita? Your mold-making idea sounds like fun!