Mashers

[Sam]

Hi Guys,


Can anyone please recommend a good mashers for flattening beads and where to get one


Thanks,


Sam.

[turnedlight]

I don't have any, I use my graphite marver against my torch top marver. I'm wondering if mashers would be good though..

[Shirley]

I don't like mashers myself. I always end up with wonky beads. Prefer to use a marver and flatten one side at a time.

[saffie]

Jim Moore tools have some mashers bit pricey and from USA so tax etc possible have you looked at Martins site! i think he has some!

[Donna@Rockin' Beads]

I haven't gotten round to buying mashers and I do the same as Shirley and turnedlight - it takes a little practise to ensure even width throughout but then I think mashers do too - unless you get a specific press for it.

[Billie]

Martin should have some, so should Q.  I either use my stump shaper to press the bead on my graphite marver, or use a crunch press.

[flowerjasper]

i thought about mashers,never got round to getting any!
i just use my marver and flatten one side at a time, then heat off the marks,
you soon get to know when a bead is even enough to flatten,
martin has some, are you near newmarket?
if you are there is a bead fair there tomorrow and he will be there,
sandy

[LittleHen]

I've just come down from my studio after having loads of fun with my mashers, once the wonky beads cool down I'll possibly regret squashing some of the fairly tube shaped beads I've made!!
mine are from Q of glassworks but I really want a crunch press at the moment, to do more sqashing but with a bit more style 
Jessie

[saffie]

Martin should have some, so should Q.  I either use my stump shaper to press the bead on my graphite marver, or use a crunch press.

man i am being dim but what is a crunch press!!!

[LittleHen]

http://www.cattwalk.com/crunches.htm?tp=CONTINUE+SHOPPING
also available at http://www.beadpress.nl/stempelwinkel/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=7
Mmmm how much I want one of these!!
Jessie

[turnedlight]

When I started I got a lentil press on the end of some mashers.. I didn't get on with that style of press, so my dad converted it into a press with a handle on top. He made the masher part that was left over into a crunch style masher by curving the ends into a sort of shallow bridge shape. They're pretty good actually, although you don't have a guide for your mandrel, it's not hard to get used to getting it central. If I was buying a masher I would prob try and get one of the parallel style ones.

[Pat from Canvey]

Before I got my masher from Martin, I used a tea bag squasher, about £1.99 each from a local cheap shop. I folded some thin copper sheet over the holes and still use it occasionally when I want a 1 inch masher.

[♥♥Tan♥♥]

Sandie at spheres of glass does a good masher, nice even press every time

[mad bunny]

I got my mashers from martin.  I think they were £5.  I usually flatten once and then spin the mandrel round and mash again.  Seems to work ok.   

[June]

Virginia,  yes, me too.  Don't use them a great deal, but they work fine when I do