Dirty graphite roller

BeeBeads · July 09, 2012, 06:06:42 PM

I'm having problems with a graphite roller leaving dirty marks on my glass.

I'm making the bead, encasing it, and then when I use the roller to shape it I'm getting dirty smudges from the roller
onto the bead. There seems to be an awful lot of residue in the roller because I've tried wiping it out with a cloth and the cloth is coming out completely black! But I don't know how to get rid of it so I can get nice clean beads.

Has anyone else had this? Is it something that just needs to be heated off by use? I can't remember having it on any other roller though.

Any advice very gratefully received.

Blue Box Studio · July 09, 2012, 06:14:36 PM

I didn't have it with the first graphite roller I bought but the second, which I've only had a couple of weeks, is a bit grubby. I've washed it in warm soapy water a couple of times and seems much better for that, but is still leaving black marks on my worktop, but not noticed on my beads.

Glassy Lou · July 09, 2012, 08:19:28 PM

I get the same thing - usually when I've used silver foil on a bead (on rollers and marver). A quick rub with a damp cloth seems to solve the problem.

LilLizaJane · July 09, 2012, 08:23:00 PM

Ah Ha! I've getting black smudges with one of my rollers - and I thought it was dirty glass! I'll give it a wash. Thanks for that.

BeeBeads · July 09, 2012, 08:29:41 PM

For some reason, probably because I'm dim, I wasn't sure if they could be immersed in water

But I'll give this dirty one a good wash now and see how I get on tomorrow. It really was the dirtiest roller I've had and of course
I didn't discover that until I popped a bead into a cavity and it came out all grey streaky .. not the look I was after

Blue Box Studio · July 09, 2012, 10:49:47 PM

Never dawned on me that they couldn't be imersed in water! It was so graphite dusty when it arrived and a quick wipe didn't sort it. I wouldn't put it in the dishwasher

but a quick wash can't hurt, surely?

Shirl · July 09, 2012, 11:01:02 PM

I had the same problem. I gave mine a wipe with a damp cloth when new as they were very dusty, but no matter how much I wipe them if you rub with a tissue it still comes off grey!. I guess its because thats what pencils are made of!

Hotglass28 · July 10, 2012, 02:41:00 PM

Well graphite will that, think of it like a solid pencil

I'm pretty sure with use it will go. I'd make some throw away beads to try and get rid of the residue (throw away beads, I mean, basic glass blobs)

Krysia@No98 · July 10, 2012, 02:42:09 PM

is it all the beads coming out with marks or just the ones at the start of your session?

Quote from: Shirl on July 09, 2012, 11:01:02 PM
I guess its because thats what pencils are made of!

Just what I was thinking.

BeeBeads · July 10, 2012, 03:29:14 PM

Quote from: Krysia on July 10, 2012, 02:42:09 PM
is it all the beads coming out with marks or just the ones at the start of your session?

It's all of them with this particular roller, which is strange because I haven't had it with any other roller before.
I know it's like a big solid pencil and I've given it a good wipe and brushed it to remove any graphite residue but I'm still getting dirty marks. I'm hoping it will go with the more I use it, so I'll do what Denise suggests, and make (more) throwaway blobs to try to clean it up

Krysia@No98 · July 10, 2012, 04:49:44 PM

Yeah, I think that's going to be the way to go. Or make lots of black beads. You'll be really good with it by the time it wears off

ARBeads · July 10, 2012, 04:58:04 PM

Our marble roller was the same, have you tried scrubbing with damp newspaper? That seems to have sorted our problem, though it could also have been the repeated use.

Is this roller from a different supplier? They may use a different grade graphite to what your usual supplier uses.

BeeBeads · July 10, 2012, 05:20:36 PM

Quote from: Krysia on July 10, 2012, 04:49:44 PM

Yeah, I think that's going to be the way to go. Or make lots of black beads. You'll be really good with it by the time it wears off

Haha! Yes, black beads .. good idea and good practice!

Quote from: ARBeads on July 10, 2012, 04:58:04 PM
Our marble roller was the same, have you tried scrubbing with damp newspaper? That seems to have sorted our problem, though it could also have been the repeated use.

Is this roller from a different supplier? They may use a different grade graphite to what your usual supplier uses.

It's from my usual supplier Ruth, but thanks for the damp newspaper tip, I'll do that.

Nicknack · July 10, 2012, 05:27:01 PM

Quote from: Krysia on July 10, 2012, 04:49:44 PM

Yeah, I think that's going to be the way to go. Or make lots of black beads. You'll be really good with it by the time it wears off

You'd better make a coloured one occasionally, or you won't know when it's come clean!!!!!!!!

Nick

BeeBeads · July 10, 2012, 06:25:57 PM