need a tut on how to get xtra long beads off the *#$%&@! mandrel!!!

xxxMiEkAxxx · #1 2007-09-09, 10:53am

So I've been making superlong beads in an effort to start a game to see who can make the longest bead, and I"m getting pretty good here. I'm constantly inspired by trey's length (insert your own off-color joke here) and stringer control, and am the extremely proud owner of a margaret zinser bead that has to be over 5 inches- so I've made a bead longer than that, a hair under 6 inches, actually I've made a few, but when I do, I can never seem to get the things off the mandrels without cracking them or wanting to crack them... anyone with helpful "get the %&*#@$% of the mandrel!!" tips??

Huge hugs and thanks in advance!!
-Sarah

InspirationToolworks · #2 2007-09-09, 11:19am

If you can get it to move *at all*, immediately put it back under water, and wiggle back and forth... slowly flush the bead release out and let the water loosen the bead release at the center of the bead.

Of course, the hard part is getting the bead to move at all in the beginning. What bead release are you using? I've found the Foster Fire bead releases to come off easiest on my curved mandrels.

-Jeff

Wendyki · #3 2007-09-09, 11:48am

I too think Foster fire smooth and tough works the best

RyanTheNumberImp · #4 2007-09-09, 12:23pm

Leave it in water for a week or two.

*Naos* · #5 2007-09-09, 12:43pm

two tips:

1) Put a sheet of Bounce in your water and let it soak overnight.

2) Gently tap the rod vertically on some concrete. I do this with tough beads. It vibrates the release loose and helps the bead move down the mandrel. ah, the power of gravity! Once it starts moving, you can soak it in water and tap again. Eventually,it will come off.

ewdb · #6 2007-09-09, 1:32pm

ditto... add some fabric softener (i use liquid) to yr soaking water and let it completely saturate yr bead release. just discovered that a couple weeks ago myself and it makes such a difference. the beads now just slide right off no matter how long and hard i've worked them in the flame no DH, vise, pliers, gloves, etc. needed.

kittyluv4ever · #7 2007-09-09, 5:55pm

If all else fails throw bead mandrel and all in the freezer overnight and then in the morning try removing the bead. The cold temp. should cause the metal to shrink enough to get your bead off. I've had to do this with a couple of long beads myself.

Henrywashere · #8 2007-09-10, 3:59am

Sarah, You will probably find that if they are cracking as soon as you start to take them off that they have probably become the victim of thermal shock. Its hard to keep a bead that 6inches long hot enough not to crack. It mighnt look cracked but if it cracks the minute you try to loosen it it probably already was cracked. Another reason can be is if your release has cracked and the hot glass has gone onto the mandrel nothing short of breaking it will get it off. A solution I have tried with getting longer beads off is dipping your mandrel twice so it has a bit more buffer of release, I do this 2 days apart and let them dry overnight between dipping. If you soak it overnight that will make the release soft and if you hold your mandrel with a pair of vice grips it should come off easily. I had a bead that just about everybody in the world had had a go at and I had done the freezer acid you name it I tried it. My dad picked it up one day and just twisted and off it came.

Adrian Goertz · #9 2007-09-12, 8:37pm

I soak my long beads in a freshly opened can of Coke! It works great, takes about 1/2 hour. You can drink the rest of the can and eat chips while you wait!

jaci · #10 2007-09-12, 9:51pm

vise grips and a plastic jar grippy opener... I have never needed more than that...and a long soak. I'll probably jinx myself now for saying that!!! lol and then ill NEED theese tips!!!

xxxMiEkAxxx · #11 2007-09-15, 1:19am

AWESOME tips, guys, thanks so much!! Yes I'm entirely familliar with the difficulty of keeping a 6 inch bead warm

And I've had my bead release give in the middle of a bead and had the whole thing stick to the mandrel. the one I had so much trouble with was all good (btw, i always double dip for these, and i'm using super blue sludge, but just ordered ff's smooth n tuff) Great ideas with the fabric softner and freezer.. i've soaked em for a couple weeks, have rubber coated gloves, vice grips, dh (dboyfriend, really) and a variety of colorful language at my discretion but still i have 4 now (of maybe 15 total) that absolutely will not budge whatsoever!! My really nice one i finally DID crack, bent the mandrel trying to twist it and chipped the end off:'( oh well, that's shy I own more glass

Gotta give all these tips a try, will report back!
-Sarah

Robinj · #12 2007-09-15, 5:44am

I have a mandrel-sized hole drilled in the rail of my deck. I slide the mandrel through so the bead is sitting on the wood and gently tap the exposed mandrel end until it comes loose--then I can twist it off.

perlienne · #13 2007-09-15, 6:00am

yes... tried it all, but the coke... the buggers just resist unfairly!! especially hard are the very slim ones, you just can't grap them enough... and I bend tons of mandrels!! I guess the cheapest thing is to swallow your anger and take a vitamin pill while you crack them in the fire-/waterhell

to save the mandrels at least!!

so thanks, and keep posting more tips, while I'll go buy that coke for a test!
fabienne

LyndaJ · #14 2007-09-17, 12:21pm

Robin, I thought you were going to say that you had mandrel sized holes drilled into your deck so you could display the ones that were stuck!!

doreenf · #15 2007-09-17, 12:55pm

Oh Can We See the Long Bead???

uglybeadsneedlove · #16 2007-09-17, 2:22pm

When I soak my mandrels in h20, my beads rust around the edges, why?

beadworkstudio · #17 2007-09-17, 2:40pm

I had some stuck beads and tried Amber's "tapping" method, and it works. I bounce them on the garage floor like a pogo stick, and eventually they come off. I've started loosening all my beads like this, and I haven't bent a mandrel in a long time.

ewdb · #18 2007-09-17, 5:38pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by perlienne

yes... tried it all, but the coke... the buggers just resist unfairly!! especially hard are the very slim ones, you just can't grap them enough... and I bend tons of mandrels!! I guess the cheapest thing is to swallow your anger and take a vitamin pill while you crack them in the fire-/waterhell

to save the mandrels at least!!

so thanks, and keep posting more tips, while I'll go buy that coke for a test!
fabienne

how long are you soaking the beads for? i make sure the beads are completely immersed and then soak overnite. in my case, even the beads that had been previously (i thought permanently) stuck from that crappy Flameworks bead release that came with my hothead kit came off with a slight twist.

oh and i probably added like 1 part fabric softener to 4 parts water...

ewdb · #19 2007-09-17, 5:42pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by uglybeadsneedlove

When I soak my mandrels in h20, my beads rust around the edges, why?

if it's yr mandrels that are rusting you may need to re-season them (kinda like seasoning a cast iron fry pan). whenever mine start to rust i scrub them with a green scouring pad, then throw the stack on a burner on the stove (mine is electric), heat them all to red hot and then leave to cool. once they're seasoned i've left them soaking for weeks and no rust.

krisdaka · #20 2007-09-22, 7:19am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewdb

if it's yr mandrels that are rusting you may need to re-season them (kinda like seasoning a cast iron fry pan). whenever mine start to rust i scrub them with a green scouring pad, then throw the stack on a burner on the stove (mine is electric), heat them all to red hot and then leave to cool. once they're seasoned i've left them soaking for weeks and no rust.

Oh wow, can you tell I'm a noob? could you do this say in a gas oven? or in your kiln? I'm not allowed to use my stove for glass related stuff at all. (self imposed, it;s only 2-3-4 years old and has a glass top) but I'd be willing to do this at the house in Troy. It has a gas stove and oven, obviously.
Thanks for any replies.

krisdaka · #21 2007-09-22, 7:20am

oops, sorry to hijack this thread.

glassactcc · #22 2007-09-22, 7:32am

I use Super Blue only for huge beads on a 3/32 mandrel which is what I make most of. If I use it with a 1/16 mandrel and small beads, I have a hellava time getting the beads off. Even the huge beads are not a walk in the park. I would change your bead release in addition to the other removal ideas.

stacievan · #23 2007-09-22, 8:38am

I had a big boo-boo from trying to get a bead off that was wrapped with wire. I had the middle of the mandrel held with vice grips and the bead in my hand and ouch the wire ripped into my hand. Blood everywhere and parts of the wire pulled off so the bead looked like cr*p afterwards. I will have to try some of these tips.

*Naos* · #24 2007-09-26, 8:02am

Sheila - I'm glad it works for you. I do that with all my beads, too! Makes quick work of the pile since I'm also using FosterFire. Just tap tap tap and they start to come off. Easy breezy!

Stacie - Now that is not melting in your wire.

Sorry you were cut!

For the most part, if the wire is not flush to the glass or close to flush, it can be picked off, pulled off, etc since silver is inherently incompatible with glass. Try using 30G wire and heating the entire bead to even heat after the wire is applied, rotate slowly and let it melt into the surface more. That should help.

Wendyki · #25 2007-09-26, 8:42am

I completely stand by Foster Fire smooth and thought I frequently make 3 inch beads that dont even require tapping or pliers just soal in water 10 minutes twist and remove I love that stuff

xxxMiEkAxxx · #26 2007-10-06, 11:58am

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenf

Oh Can We See the Long Bead???

oops, totally didn't see this post! I"ll take pics of it, i'm so bummed i think i'm gonna superglue some of the broken parts back on and just keep it on my bench

ssshhh!!! I was just so happy with it... Ill take some pictures later, it's my b/f's 21st birthday and he's whining at me to go do something to get out of the house.... as if it's his 3rd birthday..... ugh. boymen. manboys. whatever.
-Sarah

Jackie · #27 2007-10-06, 2:01pm

Wow some great tips here! I'm going to try the fabric softner. On long beads I do use vice grips and I've tried the freezer thing - Still on the mandrel! Sometimes I hold it vertically and take a rubber mallet to the top of the mandrel - a few quick taps tends to loosen most beads. Except for 2 beauties that are still on the mandrel!

Mbrim · #28 2007-10-09, 3:45pm

i also use the inner tube of a ten speed bike to grip the bead, that works pretty good. and when they are stuck i wrap the inner tube around the bead so the it is really thick and i tap on the mandrel end with my pliers to get it moving... it has worked on most of them.

i almost always soak them for awhile first. and i have found that i really like fusion bead realse, it holds up pretty good and comes off not to bad...