Need help with my bead release - seems different, not sticking to mandrel

[Magicbobcat]

Hello,

I went to dip all my mandrels for the second time. The jar of bead release (it's Foster Heavy Duty) seems a different consistency than I remembered it? It doesn't seem to stick to the mandrel, the mandrel comes out clean. I stirred it up quite well with a mandrel, and shook up the jar. Should I be adding some liquid to it?

Thanks in advance for your help and advice,
Kelly

[Judi_B]

If the release is not sticking to your mandrels, there may be something on the mandrels. I had this happen once. Scrub the mandrels with soap and water with a scrubbie and try again. I prefer a thin coat of release and have to thin it every second or third time I use the release. You can use distilled water.

[squid]

Sounds like it might have gotten thick too - I would try taking a small amount in a separate jar and thinning it a little and see if that helps.

[rainygrrl]

What they said! And if you put 2 or 3 wonky beads in the bottle, you won't have to use a mandrel to mix it up. You just shake the bottle and the beads do the work.

[artwhim]

Do you soak your beads in water and fabric softener? If so, the mandrels need to be washed with a soap that will remove the residue.

[RSimmons]

Your mandrels can also develop a micro-thin layer of corrosion that will keep the release from sticking. I wipe mandrels with isopropyl alcohol on a cloth immediately before I dip them and often see just a bit of color on the cloth. This gets rid of finger grease, rust, etc. and gives you a clean surface.

Robert

[beadstillmyheart]

Originally Posted by Judi_B

If the release is not sticking to your mandrels, there may be something on the mandrels. I had this happen once. Scrub the mandrels with soap and water with a scrubbie and try again. I prefer a thin coat of release and have to thin it every second or third time I use the release. You can use distilled water.

WAIT!!!!

I thought there was some big NO NO about using distilled water.

[DesertDreamer]

Originally Posted by beadstillmyheart

WAIT!!!!

I thought there was some big NO NO about using distilled water.

NO....At least, with the Smooth & Tuff, IF you have a house water softener, you MUST use distilled water...the salts in the softened water mess up the formula and basically make it break apart (like curdled milk....ask me how I know). Distilled water is the purest form of water, no extra freaky stuff of any sort. I use it in my iron, too.

[Magicbobcat]

Hi,
Thanks everyone. I thoroughly cleaned the mandrels, no luck. I started adding a little water at a time to the bead release and testing, and now I'm all set to go again. It must have dried out a little too much.
Thanks again,
Kelly

[missbatteries]

that's a good idea, thanks!
-elaine

Originally Posted by rainygrrl

What they said! And if you put 2 or 3 wonky beads in the bottle, you won't have to use a mandrel to mix it up. You just shake the bottle and the beads do the work.

[AnnDK]

Have you "ruffled" your mandrels before you use them? My bead-release will stick better when I do so.

Ann

[FosterFire]

She got it right - just needed water. When you dip your mandrels if the release look patchy then it needs water added. And yup, please use distilled or bottled water if you have a house water softening system.

[jaci]

can i use vodka to thin it out?

[glassworks]

yes, but then you won't stick to you mandrel either!!!...

[FosterFire]

Vodka would be "dramatic", but Amaretto would smell better!

[DesertDreamer]

I think you'd have much more 'interesting' beads if you had the vodka on your workbench instead of in your bead release.

[Lisa]

You'd have even more interesting results if the vodka were in you.

Originally Posted by DesertDreamer

I think you'd have much more 'interesting' beads if you had the vodka on your workbench instead of in your bead release.

[loco]

Originally Posted by jaci

can i use vodka to thin it out?

Ummmmmmm beer works (ok so sometimes I'm real lazy), I don't know about vodka. Disclaimer beer works on FPI, I'm not sure about other releases!