Shrinking Mandrels!

[daisydog7]

Hi:
I just heard from a customer that 10 of the beads I sent her don't fit on her rods (for pens, canape knives, etc.). The bead holes are too small. I used 3/32 mandrels and I cleaned the beads with the 3/32 Beadreamer. I am mystified as to how this can happen and I need to resolve the issue real quick so I don't make any more beads with bead holes that are too small. I have tested the beads I have on hand by putting them on 3/32 mandrels and on bead pens and canape knives, and all that I have tested so far fit fine. My mandrels are well used. I have made dozens of beads, maybe hundreds, on each mandrel. So if mandrels can wear down and decrease in size, it would be possible with mine. But, would the 3/32 beadreamer cleaner still work on the beads made smaller mandrels?
Anybody else have this problem, and if so, do you know what caused it? And how can you tell which mandrels are the culprits? Thanks for any info, Pam

[Captured Light Glass]

I think the pen is suspect and not your mandrels and would ask her to send it to you so you can evaluate it. She might be mistaken on the size it takes?

Unless! You sand down your mandrels for cleaning then that would be a different story....

[MaryBeth]

A lot of those beadable findings need to have beads made on 1/8" mandrels. I bet those are the kind that she has.

[daisydog7]

No, I don't sand the mandrels down, so that isn't it. It would be a huge relief to me if it is the rod at fault, not the bead hole. Thanks. Pam

[PixieFireBeads]

I've had two different type of beadable pens; one with a plastic barrel and one with a metal barrel. I don't know if they come from the same manufacturer or not but they don't accommodate the same size bead hole. If I remember correctly the metal works nicely with a 3/32" bead and the plastic needs one a bit bigger (but please don't quote me because it could be the other way around).

She may have a different pen than you have.

And just because we're talking about size... the letter openers and magnifiers need beads that have been made on 1/8" mandrels or you need to do at least a double dip on your 3/32" mandrels.

[Glacier]

Originally Posted by PixieFireBeads

If I remember correctly the metal works nicely with a 3/32" bead and the plastic needs one a bit bigger (but please don't quote me because it could be the other way around).

I just bought a bunch of pens. That is how the ones I have are sized. The metal ones take a 3/32 bead no problem. The plastic ones need a 1/8th.


Tamara

[hoboglass]

Sometimes it's just a matter of the 3/32 stopper and bead pen rods being a little "generous": a thicker coating or double dipping of bead release solves the problem.

[rainygrrl]

If they almost fit, maybe they could be reamed out to be a bit bigger?

[DaveF]

Originally Posted by daisydog7

Hi:
I just heard from a customer that 10 of the beads I sent her don't fit on her rods (for pens, canape knives, etc.). The bead holes are too small. I used 3/32 mandrels and I cleaned the beads with the 3/32 Beadreamer. I am mystified as to how this can happen and I need to resolve the issue real quick so I don't make any more beads with bead holes that are too small. I have tested the beads I have on hand by putting them on 3/32 mandrels and on bead pens and canape knives, and all that I have tested so far fit fine. My mandrels are well used. I have made dozens of beads, maybe hundreds, on each mandrel. So if mandrels can wear down and decrease in size, it would be possible with mine. But, would the 3/32 beadreamer cleaner still work on the beads made smaller mandrels?
Anybody else have this problem, and if so, do you know what caused it? And how can you tell which mandrels are the culprits? Thanks for any info, Pam

What's this?

Its...



Big drum roll...




"DAISY DOG AND THE CASE OF THE SHRINKING MANDRELS!"

Notice my ****clues**** inserted into the quotes below...

Originally Posted by Captured Light Glass

I think the pen is suspect and not your mandrels and would ask her to send it to you so you can evaluate it. She might be mistaken on the size it takes?

***** No, not necessarily. ***** -Dave

Unless! You sand down your mandrels for cleaning then that would be a different story.... **** Maybe, but not necessarily... **** -Dave

Originally Posted by daisydog7

No, I don't sand the mandrels down, so that isn't it. **** Not necessarily. -Dave **** It would be a huge relief to me if it is the rod at fault, not the bead hole. Thanks. Pam

OK, This was an interesting situation, and one I thought was worth posting an update about...

The Background:

Pam emailed me a while ago, because her NEW BeaDreamer (not the one she did these beads with- that was her old one - would not fit into the bead holes she had made with these same mandrels. That is, the uncoated guide tip would not even fit.

We spoke by phone after I got her email, and here's the answer to the mystery: Well, no, wait a second. On second thought, let's have some fun with this one. Read on...

First, I want to make it clear that this is NOT a BeaDreamer issue! Her tool is working fine, just as it should, after nearly a year in service, but it was nearing time for a new one, so she ordered in advance. But, there is a very interesting explanation, and the answer to the mystery is made absolutley certain because of the unique design of the BeaDreamer.

Wooo....
The plot thickens...

We went through the following tests over the phone:

(1) The butt end of neither tool will fit through Pam's beads. Why?
(2) Her old beadreamer's uncoated guide tip fits into the uncleaned beads she makes on these same mandrels. Why?
(3) Her new one's uncoated guide tip will not. Why?

This is Chapter One, of "Daisy Dog7 and the Case of the Shrinking Mandrels"...

To be continued...

Woo...

I let my sale rack privileges expire last month, and just re-upped tonight. I don't want to hawk my wares here, so for now, I'll just let you know, we're going to have some fun with this...

Tomorrow or so, I'll post a thread in the sale rack, with a CONTEST (yeah! ) and prizes for solving the CASE OF THE SHRINKING MANDRELS mystery Woooooo... I need the Jaws sound effects here...

Please don't post answers here, even if you know them. Wait till the sale rack thread is up, and I'll give all the details, and maybe a couple more hints. Don't worry, there will be something nice for everyone who tries throughout the duration, regardless of the outcome!

So the first hurdle is for YOU to answer WHY to each of 1, 2, and 3 above.
Be thinking about that, and see ya over there in a day or two!

PS... There will be a BONUS question too!

PPS... Sorry Pam, you don't get to play because you already know the answer. Awww..... BUT! Guess what? You get $5.00 off your next purchase (remind me! ) Just for providing such an interesting conundrum for us!

Take Care,
Dave

[DaveF]

Oh hey!

I just wanted to say, after reading my own post, Pam Is a really nice person whom I enjoyed speaking with! The " " emoticons above are in no way intended to be sarcastic about Pam or her very interesting (to me anyway) "mystery". Just a little poke at myself, and injecting a little humor (I hope.) Also, case solved, I think, in case you hadn't gathered that. I love those little things! Maybe I get carried away sometimes.

Just to be clear on that...

Take care Pam!
Dave

[pittypat]

Ok, Dave, it is tomorrow or so!!! I have a wonderful answer!! Harry UP!!

pat

[DaveF]

Originally Posted by pittypat

Ok, Dave, it is tomorrow or so!!! I have a wonderful answer!! Harry UP!!

pat

'K! Go look!

[IF-Designs]

im guessing the canape knives and pens that were being used reallly were 1/8th mandrels and you used extra thick coated 3/32 mandrels and reamed them out with the beadreamer and after that they fit the knives and unknowing to you you made the hole quite a bit bigger with reaming than you imagined many of the pens and stuff i have found use the 1/8th mandrels i believe...some of the nice metal ones have been made to use 3/32 size...but thats my guess

[Leanne]

I bet it is because she has the cheapo plastic bead pens....they have a bigger mandrel in them than the quality metal ones.

[Dragonfly Designs]

I sell bead pens as well as the key chains and letter openers to put my lampwork on and I have found that some beads don't fit...

Here's my solution...I have a Dremel tool with a diamond tip and I simply keep a pen by my cleaning station and check each bead prior to putting it in the "grab box" to make certain that it fits. Some of the beads take a fair amount of reaming...but with a Dremel...it takes less than a minute to make CERTAIN that ALL of the beads will fit on a pead pen.

[LyndaJ]

My vote is a change in bead release. She went thinner on the second set, or switched to a thinner style.