Beads are stuck on the mandrels ?

[Firo]

Have just made some beads, fist attempt, which I'm quite pleased with but have only been able to get 2 off the mandrels. Tried freezing them, no joy, soaked in water, no joy so here I am asking for help. I think it may be duff bead release (bought 2nd hand off the person selling the kit) as when I opened it it was dry so I added a little water to make it into a paste. I'm now thinking that was wrong thing to do. Any ideas appreciated as the beads are pretty and would make a lovely necklace.

[Madam Steph]

This may sound elementary, and for that I'm sorry, but....do you have a decent pair of pliers with which to grip your mandrels when removing the beads?
Try soaking them again....try etching them...anything is worth a go.

Linda x

[Purple Cobwebs]

I often add water to bead release that has thickened, and after a good shake it's fine.
I soak my beads in warm water and washing up liquid to soften the bead release and then I use mole grips to grip my rods as they give an incredible firm grip. Some firm bead twisting then usually does the trick.

[Blue Box Studio]

Cillit bang apparently works, although never worked for me.  I usually leave to soak for 24 hours and then attack with my pliers.  If all else fails, and I get a few that refuse ever to budge, I either heat up (very carefully) then plunge in the water to save a mandrel, or use them as plant stakes.  I have a lot of plant stakes from my early days.

[Firo]

Tried the pliers and still they are not moving so will now try soaking in hot water with washing up liquid....

[Firo]

Still laughing at the plant stakes....lol
now wondering if they'd sell...lol

[sea-thistle]

If you have a vice, you could grip the mandrel in this putting the mandrel in lengthways and see if you can get the bead off that way, that's what I  have done when they are a bit stubborn coming off the mandrel

[★★Terri★★]

I've found the only Cillit Bang that works is the 'Grime and Lime' one.  The degreasing kitchen one doesn't do the job.

Like others have said - a good strong pair of pliers to grip the mandrel and a tea towel to grip the bead and usually they come off.

[Angie]

Try the plierslike everyone has said and twist the beads with a dry rubber glove on your hand.

[helbels]

In my experience, Mole Grips work much better than pliers.  I'd be lost without mine!

[ScarletLeonard]

It is possible though that the bead release broke when you were first adding the glass to the mandrel. I know I made that mistake with my first ever bead. I didn't heat the glass enough and ended up pulling the bead release.

Normally though for me a good soak in water for a bit free's them up. I use pliers, but a pair of old multitool ones there is a convenient circle in them that fits a 2mm mandrel perfectly and holds it tight enough.

[Glyn Burton]

If all else fails I soak them in water and then use my glass grinder. If you have a glastar or similar type of grinder (the sort stained glass artists use) hold the mandrel against the spindle as it is spinning, the flat face on the spindle sets up vibrations which will loosen the bead.
If you don't have a grinder smash it off with a hammer and make another bead, thinking as you do it that practice makes perfect.

[lampworklover]

If you're soaking, hot water will make metal and glass swell up, cold water will make it all contract slightly and might help a bit.

[Donna@Rockin' Beads]

I sometimes put a challenging bead in the freezer for 15 minutes. That can help.
Bead release should be a liquid when it goes on and it dries up in the tub so you do need to add water from time to time.
Good luck.

[lyzzydee]

I have made hundreds of beads and recently I have had three stick, so I have given up with them after trying just about all of the things suggested above!!! The only thing that works with stubborn ones for me is huge pliers and grabbing the bead with damp newspaper.