Tiny Cabochon CGBeadrollers!
Need a new idea to take to your craft shows this year? How about Tiny Cabochons for earring posts?
Six shapes (three sizes of each), that's a lot of earring possibilities. Sizes are roughly in the 1/2" to 3/4" range.
The principle is similar to a glass blower using an optic mold:
1) build up a blob of glass on the 'flat end' of a bead release dipped mandrel, not 'around' the mandrel.
2) heat the blob to make it symmetrical.
3) hold the mandrel vertically, heat the glass to make it drip into a teardrop.
4) center the teardrop in the cavity, gently plunge into the mold, at this time the glass will come up around the end of the mandrel to form the indent for gluing an earring stud into.
5) flame polish
6) at this point, I place the cabochon back into a cavity and gently tip the mandrel a bit to pop the cab off. Because the cab will be too hot to touch, the tool will be used to transfer the cab to the kiln, drop the cab into the kiln, do not place the tool in the kiln. You now have mandrels you can redip and use right away.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
These are some earrings I made.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Here are some sample cabs.
If you'll notice, the bottom center one is upside down to show
where the mandrel was attached, that's where the post is glued into.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
-Donna
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Donna Felkner - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|