It is important to keep the body of the star warm, but not molten, both while you are adding the dots and when you are raking the dots. You have to heat just the area you are raking. Turning the flame down some helps this - you have to find the balance in your torch and technique - hope that helps some more. Just remember to keep returning the star to the flame, and twirling it around as you do this, so you don't get a leg chip flying off.
6)Making sure the legs are straight - if they are NOT, you have to be very careful, but you can straighten them back up. - heat the “wonky” leg up and give it a nudge, a gentle nudge, as pushing one way will make a mess in the other direction. Then you have to heat the other legs up also, again, things have to be done evenly. If you try to push the legs around and they are NOT hot enough, you will break your bead release.
7)Before raking the legs, hold each leg in the flame with the mandrel end faceing you. Let the leg get molten, then pull it out of the flame, hold for a few seconds then turn the "hot" leg to the top. Let gravity straighten out the leg for you. Turn the straightened leg to the top and heat the leg at the bottom. Continue heating opposing legs around the star. Don't forget to keep the whole bead warm.
8)Raking the legs. Hold the star in the heat so it is running up the leg, heating just the side of the leg you want to rake, and trying to not heat the body of the star. (or if you want a squishier look, heat the entire side, including the body and you get a heavier look.) I use a sharp dental pick it has a bit of a curve on the end - it makes it easier to grab the molten glass and pull it. Pull quickly and evenly, to the mandrel or to a point above the mandrel - both ways have a different look. I rake every other leg, then continue all around. It takes a bit of practice, but soon you will be getting them the same. Raking the other side is sometimes a little tricky at first, I end up with the mandrel facing completely away from me, so I can tilt the leg into the flame and heat just the leg.
It is really important at this point, to keep the star good and warm, everything will start popping off. NOT good, Not safe!!!!
8) After all the legs are raked, heat the star up really good and add either one or two dots on the ends, as the ends kind of flatten out after raking. I do the same thing I did before, heat each up a bit and bop it on it’s head a “bit!!!” You have to be a little more delicate with this last step, as you are using just a little glass. You can carefully make sure the dots are on straight. You can melt each of the dots in further and you end up with more of a compact star.
Take a look at the star from all sides, you can still straighten things out a little if things are just a bit wonky, Then flame the star a LOT, be sure its center is good and warm. I hope you have fun - God Bless - Virginia L. |
