1. BEAD RELEASE

Your Bead Release needs to be about the thickness of pudding, or a bit thinner. You

should end up with a 1/16" thick coating after you dip a mandrel (or a little thicker).

Thin the Bead Release with Distilled Water or Alcohol until you can shake it. Then

shake it very well. Bead Release usually has heavy graphite in it and you want the

ingredients well mixed. If your Bead Release is to thick, stir it well first, then thin it and

then shake it before dipping your mandrels.

2. MANDREL PREPARATION & FLAME DRYING

Dip your mandrel into the Bead Release and then pull it slowly out. Then stand the

mandrel upright to dry. If the bottle says it can be flame-dried you can wave the wet

mandrel high and in the back part of the flame to begin the drying.

3. If you are flame-drying, watch the color change as you roll and dry your mandrel -

so that you heat the dipped area the same all along the length of it. Then bring it

forward into the working part of the flame (4" or more from the Torch head).

4. Now start re-heating it beginning at one end, and rolling it and slowly moving it

along in the flame. Sometimes you can see gas form and leave the mandrel (a quick

process) as you slowly heat and move the mandrel along in the flame. THIS step and

from here on is done every time, even if you air-dry the mandrel.

Now roll the mandrel spot that you will apply the glass to - until you see the mandrel

glow. Then it is ready for you to apply your molten glass to begin your bead.

5. MAKE & COOL YOUR BEAD

Make your bead using Stringer or a pre-heated Rod of glass and the Tutorial, and then

put your bead into your Fiber Blanket, Vermiculite or your hot kiln. The 900 degree+

hot holding kiln is always the best choice to put a hot bead into. Make as many beads

as you like to practice your skills.

6. REMOVING THE BEAD FROM THE MANDREL

After your beads have been annealed in the kiln or cooled on their mandrels, place

them into a glass or pot of water that is about the same temperature as they are. Let

them sit a half hour or more.

7. Get a pair of pliers (I use Needle Nose Pliers but any will do) and turn water on to a

soft stream in the sink. Remove the excess Bead Release on both sides of the bead.

Then grip your mandrel JUST above the bead on the long side of the mandrel with the

pliers - maybe 1/4" away from the bead.

8. Pinch the bead in your fingers using your other hand, holding it under the water by

your fingers on the bead and the Needle Nosed Pliers on the mandrel on the other

side.

9. Gently begin to turn the bead with your fingers, holding the mandrel still with the

pliers. You will feel the Bead Release give and shift. Slowly twist the bead and work it

toward the end of the mandrel with your fingers. Reposition the pliers as you work the

bead toward the end. Keep the pliers about 1/4" to 1/2" from the bead on then mandrel.

Keeping the pliers close to the bead as it moves will help prevent bending your

mandrel.

10. When the bead has been removed from the mandrel I use a Pipe Cleaner (like you

get from Walmart) under running water, to clean out the hole.

Congratulations! Now go practice some more.