Easy Spiral Impression Tool-tutorial

[Heather/Ericaceae]

I found an antique kenzan (floral spike frog) a few weeks ago and have been using it - I posted in in the "found treasures" thread. It does work really well! Mine is a 2 1/2" circular one with evenly-spaced (non-concentric) steel spikes and a heavy plastic (bakelite?) base. I use it for surface divots or for lotsa trapped bubbles!

The new ones seem to have metal bases and brass spikes, which should work too. But the round ones look like they have concentric spikes, which would make for less even divots. I bet the long rectangular ones would be best for rolling! -H.

[swamper]

Originally Posted by raindance

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!

That's my question too. I tried this to make a squeeze tool when I was too cheap to buy one and it was a mess.

[LadyCrow]

I just finished going through my kitchen drawers and came up with all kinds of cool stuff. I have alot of old S.S. gadgets that belonged to my Grandmother. There is an old granish cutter a tool used to old onions while you cut them, an old ornimental salad spoon.

[nivedita]

another item which gives very interesting results is the tool used to grasp fish while you skin then... it is a long plier like tool which has long , wide and flat jaws with deep regular serrations, when you squeeze a bead{and we have all done that} in the teeth of it it gives a lovely textured surface with deep indentations... perfect for using with raku and frits...sporting goods stores carry them.....

[SuzyQ]

You can get wooden handled wax stamps that work well. nostalgic impressions is an online company I like. here is the page. don't forget to order a handle.
http://www.nostalgicimpressions.com/...assdesigns.asp

Also, I have some thick brass wire you can shape into different things for impressions. Works like a charm!

Great thread!

[Raven]

I love reading this site in the morning to get new inspiration. I just looked in my kitchen drawer of gagets and found a Brass tool from my Grandmother. She used it when making ravioli. It's got a zig-zag wheel on one end and the other has a 1/2 moon zig-zag. I thank you for today's Inspiration
Raven

[!ngridh]

Yep great idea!

I suggested to amy of Zooziis last year that they make inserts that you can put inside of your press to get different impressions...you wouldnt have to buy a new press for each one...just use the insert ...just like you are doing ...
and yep ...great idea now if someone wants to manufacture brass discs that can be put inside of your press....?!

OK you would shape.. press... insert the insert... heat one side ...press and flip and heat the other side and press...(press is a hard word...more gently push...place... etc... )

The difference being a disc would create a raised surface pattern on the bead.

[Chau Nguyen T]

Dear Anna, i'm a new member here, but i'd like to put in somethin about your new press. It's very neat. I also can't afford a hot finger for my marble, so i made something like that. Use marker to mark the center of a 1/16 mandrel, use roundnose plier to bend like you did, then fold the mandrel in half. You can use this home-made press on both sides of your bead. Mine can hold the marble beautifully. Talk to you later.

[hummingbird3172]

Originally Posted by Chau Nguyen T

Dear Anna, i'm a new member here, but i'd like to put in somethin about your new press. It's very neat. I also can't afford a hot finger for my marble, so i made something like that. Use marker to mark the center of a 1/16 mandrel, use roundnose plier to bend like you did, then fold the mandrel in half. You can use this home-made press on both sides of your bead. Mine can hold the marble beautifully. Talk to you later.

That is a great idea!

[glassbead]

Just marking, great ideas!