Teeny murrini

truegem · #1 2010-04-21, 5:28pm

I order murinni from different people. I think, for the most part, they are too small. I'd say 90% of the time they are too small to really even use. I received an order recently where they were so tiny I wonder how I can even use them! Does anyone else feel the same?

=/

-Patti

chrissij · #2 2010-04-21, 5:31pm

NEVER!!!

tracidawn78 · #3 2010-04-21, 5:32pm

All this post is going to do is have people speculating which murrini vendor you're talking about.

Most of them specify which size you're getting. I find that most murrini I get is actually too big for me (and I've bought from just about everyone out there), so I have to specifically request smaller sizes from the makers. They have all accommodated my request, or told me when it wasn't possible.

SadiesJewels · #4 2010-04-21, 5:32pm

Hi Patti ... I prefer the bigger sizes too.

I think if you let the makers know most will try to accommodate you (probably going grrrr while they do)!

jamie lynne · #5 2010-04-21, 5:33pm

Humm. I just started pulling my own, and some are about the thickness of a commercial stringer, but they are made to be mashed so that 2-3 mm ends up being 4-5mm sometimes even 6mm once they are smashed onto the bead. Then encasing spreads them even more.... There are bigger ones too of course. I'd like to hear feedback too before I go and list these and bum out a bunch of people.

chrissij · #6 2010-04-21, 5:34pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracidawn78

I find that most murrini I get is actually too big for me (and I've bought from just about everyone out there), so I have to specifically request smaller sizes from the makers. They have all accommodated my request, or told me when it wasn't possible.

I won't buy regular murrini. I beg the makers to sell me their left over small bits.

Lisi · #7 2010-04-21, 5:43pm

I want teeny ones! Those "regular" sizes would make it hard to round out my small beads.

(well, mine are small, but not as cutesy small as chrissj's beads

)

Carolyn M · #8 2010-04-21, 5:45pm

I use teeny for some beads, huge for others. I have never met a murrini that is too small for me to use!

BellaBean · #9 2010-04-21, 5:51pm

Chrissij- I just started making more intricate murrini but suck at getting an even pull. As a result, I have bunches of teeny tinies that just get tossed. I'll happily send you them the next time my pull goes awry! I'd rather give them away than trash them. If you want them, just pm me your address.

chrissij · #10 2010-04-21, 5:57pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBean

Chrissij- I just started making more intricate murrini but suck at getting an even pull. As a result, I have bunches of teeny tinies that just get tossed. I'll happily send you them the next time my pull goes awry! I'd rather give them away than trash them. If you want them, just pm me your address.

Goody!!!!

I'm in the RAOGK. I'll send you beads!!

chrissij · #11 2010-04-21, 5:58pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisi

(well, mine are small, but not as cutesy small as chrissj's beads

)

Cutesy...I like that.

I've been called that all my life.

Gelly · #12 2010-04-21, 6:28pm

I prefer small murrini too. I like them thin and skinny. If they are too thick, they spread too wide and if they are wide to begin with... well, they just get wider.

bexrox · #13 2010-04-21, 6:36pm

I ordered some once, and they are about 1-2 mm thick. I felt unable to use them. I've pulled some recently, and discovered that 3-5mm thick is good for me. I wonder where those teenies are...

Lara · #14 2010-04-21, 6:38pm

I like the regular size (4-6 mm), but do wish they were on the thin size

Katie Gee · #15 2010-04-21, 6:42pm

Patti,

When you say too small, what size are you talking about? 2mm? 3mm? What size are you wanting? 5mm? 6mm? Or maybe even 7 or 8mm? It's hard to go by large or small.

I intentionally put a variety of sizes in my murrini mixes, because depending on the bead, sometimes you need a small murrini, sometimes you need a large murrini, and sometimes something in between.

I'm not sure who you have been ordering from, and quite frankly I don't want to know. It's good to hear opinions on this. And it's even better if you can be a little more specific about what you are looking for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by truegem

I order murinni from different people. I think, for the most part, they are too small. I'd say 90% of the time they are too small to really even use. I received an order recently where they were so tiny I wonder how I can even use them! Does anyone else feel the same?

=/

-Patti

glassymom · #16 2010-04-21, 6:47pm

I've never purchased any but I do make simple ones for my own use and I make them small because my beads are small. When I pull mine out they are different sizes so I'm sure others are like that.......like others are saying, just ask.
I know I would love to order some of the ones out there and am thrilled to know they are smaller too!! Yay!!
sue

Hayley · #17 2010-04-21, 6:57pm

My murrini collection is usually between 3-6mm (most of them are 4-5mm) but if someone lets me know that they want bigger chips, I always accommodate. Personally I use larger ones since I make bigger beads.

flyingcorgi · #18 2010-04-21, 7:08pm

I prefer the smaller ones as I like to use multiples, and the larger ones are just so ... dominating. I've even been known to re-pull large murrinis and recut them, to make smaller ones (it can be done)! They do spread considerably, at least the way I apply them. Then again, ones with intricate detail like Double Helix's latest need to stay large or you'd never see the complexity!

Regards,
- Becky in MN

Douglas · #19 2010-04-21, 7:29pm

I have murrini from Lori and Kim, Hayley and Jet Age Studio, they all have a great range of diameters and I really like that as it does mean that you can use a size specific to the bead you are making or even have a few tapering down in size on one bead.
I use the Japanese style tweezers from Artco which have the pointed tungsten tips and they work very well when putting on murrini as the tip is small enough to hold every size firmly and allow the heat from the flame tip to warm them and the curve allows you to see clearly where you are placing them.

BoulderGlassMonkey · #20 2010-04-21, 7:32pm

I like teenie tiny too! 2mm is best!

--Joy

squid · #21 2010-04-21, 7:37pm

I like them all. I am an equal opportunity murrine mutilator.

artwhim · #22 2010-04-21, 8:11pm

Patti, if they seem too small, only heat the spot on the bead enough to make the murrini stick, but not so hot that the murrini can be sunk into the bead. Then gently heat the murrini and lightly pat with a marver or the flat edge of a knife. Slowly continue to heat and pat until the murrini is almost even with the bead. Doing it this way will spread the murrini to a larger diameter.

Katie Gee · #23 2010-04-21, 8:13pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by squid

I like them all. I am an equal opportunity murrine mutilator.

Katie Gee · #24 2010-04-21, 8:14pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by artwhim

Patti, if they seem too small, only heat the spot on the bead enough to make the murrini stick, but not so hot that the murrini can be sunk into the bead. Then gently heat the murrini and lightly pat with a marver or the flat edge of a knife. Slowly continue to heat and pat until the murrini is almost even with the bead. Doing it this way will spread the murrini to a larger diameter.

This is exactly how I do them. It works really well for me too.

Shrimp · #25 2010-04-21, 8:23pm

I have found that if you don't ask for a larger murrini, you will get tiny ones. It isn't just one vendor selling the small ones, there are alot of them who do it. I'm thinking that it is assumed that since we use them in bead making, that we naturally would want "small". I have decided to request certain sizes according to the project that I have in mind. So far, the vendors have been accomodating when I request larger ones.

jeepinwelch · #26 2010-04-21, 9:36pm

When I sell murrini I always list the size range and have a picture that shows an average order next to a ruler. They typically run from 4mm-8mm. I have no problem with someone asking for a particular size and will do my best to accomodate them. I pull some extra small and set them aside for a few "special" people.

If you got some from me that you can't use just shoot me a pm and I'll take care of it.

ETA: I'm mailing your mica tomorrow. I really didn't forget about it!

truegem · #27 2010-04-21, 9:44pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracidawn78

All this post is going to do is have people speculating which murrini vendor you're talking about.

I don't think so because I mentioned that I buy from several different vendors.

zen-mom · #28 2010-04-21, 10:02pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas

snip...
I use the Japanese style tweezers from Artco which have the pointed tungsten tips and they work very well when putting on murrini as the tip is small enough to hold every size firmly and allow the heat from the flame tip to warm them and the curve allows you to see clearly where you are placing them.

Awesome idea! I have those tweezers too, now I just have to remember this post the next time I go to use murrini.

I love most all size murrini. I pulled some of my own a couple months ago and some of that is the only murrini I would say was too small!!

theglasszone · #29 2010-04-21, 10:19pm

Hey Patti!

If it happens that the murrini you're referring to is anything you purchased from my store, please shoot me a PM and if you can remember, the date you bought them. I'd happily refund on a return because it's important that any murrini customer of mine be satisfied with their purchase.

When I was first starting to sell my murrini, my pulls were much smaller. Now that I've done dozens of designs, use stainless steel punties, and have learned to control the gather much better, my murrini are a fairly consistent 4.5mm-6mm range most of the time.

I can say that personally, like others have mentioned, I've not met a murrini that is too small for me to come up with something to do with them. I, too, often ask if there's a skinny portion of the pull (happens sometimes if the gather over-heats/cools on one end more than the other) that I may purchase in addition to the slices being offered.

I love making micro marbles, and enjoy using the tiniest of chips to embed into them. These marbles, that are less than 6mm in diameter and all stuff into small vessels, are made with itty-bitty murrini chips that are 1mm or less - some from me and some from other artists:

truegem · #30 2010-04-21, 11:17pm

I'm talking about murrini that is 2mm or smaller. I just received some that is less than 2mm! You would have to use a magnifying glass to see the lovely pattern in them. I'm talking super teeny! But you are right, this is my own fault. Because I should have paid attention to the size before buying. Size matters. (Ha ha, to me it does anyway.)
I like the murrini for my focals. If you look at some people's focal beads and look at the murrini on the focal, you can see the murrini covers a certain amount of surface area. Well, with what I have been ordering lately, they cover much less surface area than what I am used to seeing on beads of similar size. This is what I am talking about. I don't mean to offend anyone. I'll look more carefully at the size before buying from now on.