Easy Optic Mold Pictures Thread

Lorraine Chandler · #1 2009-01-11, 3:34pm

I wanted to start a new thread with just the pictures and that way they can be printed out and added to the instructions on my first thread.

So Here you go.... Top left is the base, top right is the gather,
Middle left is the gather into the mold..Whoops...too small
Middle right gather worked this time, I made it twice as big. Bottom left Gather starting to get its stripes

Lorraine Chandler · #2 2009-01-11, 3:45pm

Next set of pictures. Then the pics of the final product. Top left putting on the color stripes, top right color stripes. Bottom left melted the gather together and now starting to twist and pull or pull and twist. Bottom right twistie pulled out almost all of the way. I am heating up the last bit of it so I can pull all of it. My twisties are pretty crooked when I pull them but they turn out just fine... see the next two pics.

Lorraine Chandler · #3 2009-01-11, 3:50pm

Here is the final product...I hope this helps. I also would love to see your homemade optic mold pics and twisties or canes.

The wood scorches quickly. I would make the mandrels taller and just not push the glass to the bottom. It is very easy to use and it sure made putting on the stripes sooo much easier. I luv It!

Hugs
Lorraine

jhuels · #4 2009-01-11, 5:42pm

Ahhh, I get it! And I love the resulting twistie! Thanks for visiting my shop! Jill

volkanokaren · #5 2009-01-12, 11:52pm

2toucans,,,thanks so much for the followup ,very kind of you.

Karen
Volkano Exotik

Lorraine Chandler · #6 2011-03-13, 8:57am

This is a old thread and I never came back to it and said you're very welcome.

So you are very welcome.

Plus it will bump up for newbies just in case they would like to see these pics too.

I hope this helps some others to see how to do this.

P.S. 2Toucans was my old LE name......

artsyuno · #7 2011-03-13, 10:12am

If you're making your own mold, you can nail a piece of sheet metal to the wood before adding the nails that create the optic mold so that your mold doesn't burn.

Lorraine Chandler · #8 2011-03-13, 11:26am

Awesome idea!.. I will do that! Thanks so much!

ellabeads · #9 2011-03-14, 2:57pm

Thank you for sharing those photos. I was wondering what those optic molds were used for. I just didn't get it.

Now it all makes sense. What a fabulous idea!!

cakelady · #10 2011-03-14, 3:21pm

Thanks how sweet of you to put the time in to make this tutorial.

betsymn · #11 2011-03-15, 6:17am

Thanks!! I've got a bag of graphite. I think I'm going to try drilling holes into one and set nails into it. Interesting!

Lorraine Chandler · #12 2011-03-15, 9:12am

Let us know it works out with the graphite! Pictures desired..

Eileen · #13 2011-05-07, 11:11am

Thanks for the pictures, I want to try.

I have some scrap Corian countertop, I may try using that to make a mold. I think it will mark, but if it doesn't actually burn maybe it will work.

I bought some brass rods to try making a poker, but when I looked closer they are hollow"ish"... they have a pattern inside, looks like tubes within the tubes? No wonder they were more pricey than I expected, but I bought them anyway, figuring $1.50 - $2.00 was still worth not having to use the gas to go looking for cheaper ones. So now I have something to use them for so my money wasn't wasted.

I can't really tell though, is there a length that works best for these? It seems like a few inches would work, correct? Three-four at most?