Help pls: Dimple on only one side :(

[GlassTorturer]

I am very consistant with this problem! I can get a dimple only on the left side of the bead (the same hand I use to hold the mandrel). I am soooo careful to keep the mandrel horizontal, but I can't figure out why almost every bead (when I don't use a mold or press) comes out looking like this. It's so frustrating. Does anyone else have this problem or know how to fix it?
I tried to upload a photo but I it was too many bytes. Thanks for any and all help.
Judy

[khammil]

Do your beads have a dimple on the right side going into the kiln?

This happened to me for a while because I was using soft base glasses (ivory, super clear, etc.) and putting the beads in the kiln while they were still glowing quite brightly. The bead rack holds the beads at an angle with the left side lower than the right side. The beads were slumping toward the left side leaving the right side pointy. Letting my beads cool to a dim glow before putting them in the kiln made this much less of an issue.

[GlassTorturer]

Thanks for the suggestion, Kerry. The dimple end (left side) goes into the kiln first, and the mandrel rests on a fiber blanket while the bead is off the edge. Since it goes in a bead door (Paragon SC2) it does tilt briefly- right side downward, as I load it in. I do try to make sure it's not glowing, but maybe that's enough to round it out. I think though it looks like this even before I put it in the kiln. I try adding glass close to the hole on the right side, but it doesn't seem to work.

[rainygrrl]

Hi Judy,
Maybe your perception of horizontal is just slightly off? I know I struggle with this. If you tilt the mandrel very slightly, can you make the dimples on the right rather than left side? Also, are you sure you have added enough glass for the footprint of the bead?
HTH.

[NLC Beads]

My horizontal isn't true horizontal either. I line up with something in the background that I know is true - a window frame, the base of my ventilation hood, etc - and find I'm tilting when I don't think I am.

[mnoelker]

Yep, it sounds like the mandrel isn't horizontal and you need something in front of the torch to eyeball like Nikki said. If you can find a grid of some sort and make sure it's level you can line your mandrel up with that as you rotate the bead. If they are going into the kiln with only one side dimpled that's most likely what's going on. Good luck!

[debkauz]

A lot of the time it's just a practice issue. One of the things you can do that should help is to make your beads on the middle of the mandrel. When you're in the middle you can have 2 left sides as you make the bead. That helped me tremendously when I started and although I don't do it anymore it's good for a lot of things. It will also help you get your dots nice and well placed if you have any trouble with that.

[GlassTorturer]

Thank you everyone. I can draw a grid on the back wall of my work area. Also, my footprints do tend to be a little sloppy. My bead size becomes larger than I originally intended and I keep adding glass to the sides of the bead. I've never used the middle of the mandrel, but I'll try that too. I appreciate the responses.
Judy

[Lisi]

Use a Smircich Tail Stock Holder and that will help you keep them even. I think Arrow Springs carries them. Looking at your bead at eye level helps too. You may think you are holding the mandrel horizontally, and actually you're "tilted" a little. A little is all it takes with molten soft glass for the bead to have uneven holes.

Make 100 spacers...then make 100 more. You WILL get it!

[GlassTorturer]

Ok I need spacers, and probably a chair that's not so high. I haven't had my torch set up for all that long, and I just grabbed any chair that I could find...

Judy

[Lisi]

Originally Posted by GlassTorturer

Ok I need spacers, and probably a chair that's not so high. I haven't had my torch set up for all that long, and I just grabbed any chair that I could find...

Judy

Yes, a lower chair will make a big difference!