My lentils are too SMALL to decorate!

Jammy · #1 2011-01-15, 2:46pm

Maybe this topic has come up a million times on this forum but I can't really find anything on here that speaks to this specifically. I have a graduated lentil press from Cattwalk, the largest cavity being about 19.3 mm.
My stringer control is good for scrolls, but when it comes to applying scrolls to lentils, it just doesn't look that great. Am I the only one with this problem?
I don't know why it didn't dawn on me before, but I just realized that I don't have a large enough lentil press to make beads large enough to really decorate attractively, unless I just do simple melted in dots or wraps.
I was never really a focal person, but I really think I like a larger size lentil, maybe a whole set of them!
Is 26 mm (about 1") too large? It just seems like this size would give me more surface area to work with, and thus more attractive stringer work!

I'd really like to know if anyone else has a hard time decorating the lentils that are 19mm and smaller or is it once again just me? I guess that is my main question.

BellaBean · #2 2011-01-15, 3:00pm

I just got a bead in an exchange that was 2" in diameter. Go as large as you need. I have a 29 mm press from CoonVally that I paid around $25 for. I love it!

tnehlers · #3 2011-01-15, 3:01pm

I don't decorate anything under 18mm. In fact, I don't even make anything under 18mm unless it's a round (orb) bead. I prefer the 21mm+ size for flatter beads because it gives more surface area. I don't really get why so many presses have such small cavities, because I'll be darned if I can make use of them! For me, the ideal press would be 18, 21, 25+. I turn away from a lot of presses for that very reason. I just don't want to press a bead and leave it alone; I want to have room to add whatever on top.

chrissij · #4 2011-01-15, 3:12pm

I think it varies from person to person. I'm not particularly fond of making large beads. You can certainly decorate more when you have more space, and a thicker stringer is easier to control than a thinner stringer, but's infinitely possible to decorate smaller lentils if that's what you like doing.

Jammy · #5 2011-01-15, 4:45pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnehlers

I don't decorate anything under 18mm. In fact, I don't even make anything under 18mm unless it's a round (orb) bead. I prefer the 21mm+ size for flatter beads because it gives more surface area. I don't really get why so many presses have such small cavities, because I'll be darned if I can make use of them! For me, the ideal press would be 18, 21, 25+. I turn away from a lot of presses for that very reason. I just don't want to press a bead and leave it alone; I want to have room to add whatever on top.

My sentiments, exactly!

I'm finding that anything under 21 mm is probably too small for me. I am always looking at other people's lentils, not really paying attention to the size they have listed and wondering why I can't make mine look as good as theirs. Then the aha! moment.....it's because theirs are probably twice as big in diameter as mine!

Jammy · #6 2011-01-15, 4:48pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBean

I just got a bead in an exchange that was 2" in diameter. Go as large as you need. I have a 29 mm press from CoonVally that I paid around $25 for. I love it!

That is one honking big bead! About CoonValley presses, are they as easy to use as Cattwalk presses? I can make perfect lentils, I just can't decorate them properly because of not enough surface to work with, and I can't make myself NOT decorate them LOL!

Jammy · #7 2011-01-15, 4:55pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrissij

I think it varies from person to person. I'm not particularly fond of making large beads. You can certainly decorate more when you have more space, and a thicker stringer is easier to control than a thinner stringer, but's infinitely possible to decorate smaller lentils if that's what you like doing.

I can wrap them with stringer, add dots, silver them, encase them....oh and I LOVE etching them and enameling them. But when it comes to making them look really dressed up well, it just doesn't look right when I try--- because they're just too freaking small. I'm thinking I'll just get a larger 1" press to make more decorative lentils, and use the small cattwalk cavities to make accent lentils to go with the larger ones. Does anyone else do it like that?

artwhim · #8 2011-01-15, 11:45pm

Are you using purchased stringer, or making your own? I find purchased stringer far too thick for my taste, plus I can decorate far smaller beads with thinner stringer. That being said, I love making huge beads! Cori, was that 2" exchange bead from me?

seedbead · #9 2011-01-16, 12:29am

From the point of view of a jewelry artist, I love the smaller beads. Even simply done, sometimes especially simply done. To me, the smaller beads are either backdrops to the focal, or to be part of a harmonious blend.
I do understand the desire to make small decorative pieces, but find them to be less useful in practical application. I have made really tiny, decorative beads that never quite made it onto a piece of jewelry...I wonder if it is because the tiny details are lost as soon as you step back from the bead?
In answer to your question, my thought is a one inch focal would be a lovely size, and even a bit bigger would be good. (Keep in mind I work small!) There are many people who would love focals bigger still!
You could then make use of the smaller press to make accents to the focals in coordinating colors. However to me, a 19mm lentil would probably be just the right size to incorporate in bracelets. Anyway, these are just my thoughts, and I hope it helps.
Would love to see what you do with the lentils!
And from the point of view of a hobbyist lampworker, I have to admit that I've had my eye on a "mini" press for a while now, but don't know if I'm ready to get that involved. Lampworking is supposed to be a hobby, not an obsession!

Jammy · #10 2011-01-16, 5:26am

Kathy, I use my own stringers because I like to pull them really thin. don't get me wrong I can decorate smaller beads with stringer, but I LOVE scrollwork and I just think it would look better if the bead were larger to make the scrollwork more involved.
And Seedbead, I totally agree with you on the smaller beads being a filler. I've been working with small beads for so long now I've got decorating them down pat and I'm ready to go larger!
I just realized, I've been on here over two years and I've never posted any pics of my beads. But then, I haven't even started SELLING any of my beads yet.

BellaBean · #11 2011-01-16, 6:20am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammy

That is one honking big bead! About CoonValley presses, are they as easy to use as Cattwalk presses? I can make perfect lentils, I just can't decorate them properly because of not enough surface to work with, and I can't make myself NOT decorate them LOL!

I love the CoonVally press. It's similar to using a Zoozi's press, but it's heavier, so it almost does the pressing in it's own. The pins are really long, so I usually don't even take the top totally off. Just lift it and line the bead up. It was my very first press and had almost no learning curve.

neagle · #12 2011-01-16, 8:17am

I was lucky enough to get 2 CoonVally presses. Both lentils-1 is 28mm and one is 31 mm. They are wonderful to use, but unfortunately, he slowed his toolmaking due to health reasons. However, he has some on ebay right now!
http://crafts.shop.ebay.com/Glass-Mo...=p3911.c0.m282

Jammy · #13 2011-01-16, 9:09am

I'm just curious, what does a bead look like pressed with a 26mm x 8mm lentil press? Does it have nice thin sides -- and is it about as big around as a quarter, or bigger?

neagle · #14 2011-01-16, 9:31am

The 28mm lentil does have nice thin sharp edges and it's 1.1 inches wide.

bead-meltdown · #15 2011-01-17, 4:47am

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBean

I love the CoonVally press. It's similar to using a Zoozi's press, but it's heavier, so it almost does the pressing in it's own. The pins are really long, so I usually don't even take the top totally off. Just lift it and line the bead up. It was my very first press and had almost no learning curve.

i have the coonvally large lentil, EXCELLENT and PRICES ARE EXCELLENT!