Bead Release

jesnbec73 · #1 2025-02-04, 8:44am

I think I accidentally stumbled onto a really good bead release...
I was putting some sludge into a tall medicine bottle and got it about half full and got to wondering what a mix of Sludge and Fosterfire would do. I mixed them roughly at 50/50, and I couldn't be happier with it. It dries fast, and as soon as it appears dry, like within twenty minutes, you can hit it with the torch. There's no smoke like sludge, it isn't uneven like the Foster, and my god it takes a beating like no bead release I've ever used before. I sacrificed a mandrel to see how much heat it could take and you can pretty much melt steel before it affects the release. It comes off after a brief soak really easy as well, I think I'm going to start using this blend full time, it's tough as nails. Anyways, thought I'd share this tidbit with the group, I was really impressed with it, let me know if you try it out as well.

rcktscientist · #2 2025-02-04, 9:29am

I've been meaning to get back to beads and your post just lit a good fire under me!

ESC · #3 2025-02-04, 11:39am

Oddly enough I had just started thinking about trying some Foster Fire this last week. I've been using Sludge for well over a decade but just recently started having trouble getting the beads off the mandrel. FF apparently is much better about this.

echeveria · #4 2025-02-04, 2:41pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ESC

Oddly enough I had just started thinking about trying some Foster Fire this last week. I've been using Sludge for well over a decade but just recently started having trouble getting the beads off the mandrel. FF apparently is much better about this.

I use fusion or foster fire for my long beads. I use sludge for presses or anything that is going to get a lot of manipulation

Some other people have mentioned mixing sludge and foster fire and being please with the result. Maybe it's a nice middle ground.

jesnbec73 · #5 2025-02-04, 3:36pm

Definitely try mixing them, I'm really curious to see what other artists think. I was blown away with the results, seems to get the best qualities from either of them. I had one bead that was a little stubborn but it was the dreaded Devardi and I wasn't expecting it to make it, the rest were fine. I've still not had a chance to try flame drying it, when I do will let you guys know how that goes.

SGA · #6 2025-02-04, 8:25pm

I mix Foster Fire and Krag. That's my very favorite.

echeveria · #7 2025-02-04, 9:09pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGA

I mix Foster Fire and Krag. That's my very favorite.

I must have gotten a bad batch of Krag. It was horrible. I don’t even know how to describe it. It was separated, with a orangey liquid on top and I could not get it to stay mixed. It slid off the mandrel in two parts.

ESC · #8 2025-02-06, 10:49am

Kathy I think we must have gotten the same batch of Krag. Used it once and swore off forever.

KJohn · #9 2025-02-06, 3:43pm

I use sludge mixed with foster fire and a little Alices, I finally got some fusion in, so I mix that in now instead. It seems I have to have my sludge LOL

echeveria · #10 2025-02-07, 3:08pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ESC

Kathy I think we must have gotten the same batch of Krag. Used it once and swore off forever.

Mine was a free sample. LOL, probably did not have the effect desired.

beadmama · #11 2025-02-07, 5:32pm

I mix foster fire and fusion and am quite happy with the results.

jesnbec73 · #12 2025-02-11, 8:54am

Did my flame dry test last night, worked like a charm. I did use a propane only, candle size flame but it worked and I didn't have any issues whatsoever with it. Kinda surprised how many of us are already using a mixture. I was getting so frustrated with using just one or the other, the mix has got to be the best stuff I've ever used though. It takes a beating, I was doing some raking on a bead yesterday and hit the mandrel with a pretty good skip off a cool spot and it didn't even leave a mark.

SGA · #13 2025-02-13, 4:30pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by echeveria

I must have gotten a bad batch of Krag. It was horrible. I don’t even know how to describe it. It was separated, with a orangey liquid on top and I could not get it to stay mixed. It slid off the mandrel in two parts.

On its on, it will slide off brand new mandrels. They need to be scuffed.

Hence: mixing with Foster Fire. (Or Fusion).

I love how Krag cleans out though.

echeveria · #14 2025-02-13, 8:07pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGA

On its on, it will slide off brand new mandrels. They need to be scuffed.

Hence: mixing with Foster Fire. (Or Fusion).

I love how Krag cleans out though.

Definitely did not use brand new mandrels. It was just the weirdest stuff.