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How I make my
porthole and window beads
Here's a step by step with pictures!
Hope it works out for you! Send me pictures of your portholes!
1.Make a lentil in a transparent color, with the regular CBS stamp (the
original one) I use the smallest cavity in that stamp. [
 
2 Add a tiny "bead" in an opaque (or any contrasting color for
that matter) on either side of the lentil, close, and just barely touching
the lentil . A 2 mm stringer works well for this, although I have done it
with a regular rod.
 
3.Then "swipe" color along the thin edges of the lentil. Build up
glass gradually, and nudge it into shape with a brass tool, so that it will
fit the Lollipop press. (I guess you can do the same with the Saturn Press,
I just don't have that one, the concept is the same.) I really like my Magic
Wand for this, but a butter knife will work as well. Keep the entire thing
pretty cool. Add glass and nudge into shape until you have something that
looks close to a porthole bead, even before pressing.
 
4. Test
that it isn't way too large for the press. I nudge offending areas
into shape with my magic wand. Heat up to a medium soft (not
soupy) and press the first time.
   
5. Now you will see if and where you need to add glass. Add a little glass here and there, heat and press again. Repeat until the
mold is filled and the edges are fairly sharp. One good way to add glass, if
you want to fill out the mold "all over" is to dab a bit of the transparent
color in the middle of the dome on the "lentil" on both sides.
Then heat and press. The extra glass in the middle will force the rest of
the glass evenly toward the edges of the mold.
  
Note of caution: Since you are pressing
repeatedly, be careful with two things: #1 the bead release (try to keep the
flame away from the mandrel) #2 make sure you add more heat at times to the
middle of the bead, because it is thicker there, and when it cools while you
work the edges, it wants to crack.
Be patient, it takes about 20 minutes to do the shaping for me (you might be
quicker) don't rush it, these aren't melt & press kind of beads, the
press just "refines" the shape.
You can use opaques or transparents for either part of the bead. Just be
careful with the opaques as some of them like to "float over" the
transparent. That's why you need to work it fairly cool. The pink one here
below I tried making the rim with a twisted cane, it still needs some
practice though....
I have heard that some lentil
presses make flatter lentils, and they don't fill up the lollipop mold. If
your lentil is too flat, and doesn't fill up the porthole mold completely
when pressed, you can always add more transparent to the middle of the bead,
on both sides to beef it up.
Oh, one more note: In order to get really clear bead holes, I
use Kittrell Riffkind's "KRAG MUDD" as bead release. It isn't
the strongest in the world (keep the flame away from the mandrel), but it
makes the bead holes really clear which is a plus on these beads.
(Oh, and the window beads are pretty much the same thing, but entirely hand
shaped, starting with a little "tile" shape as the
"window" (but I guess you could use one of the smaller tile
presses too, to get the basic shape.
Good luck! Show me pictures of your porthole and window beads!
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