Flower making tools
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bridget Early -
I would love to hear feedback as well. I currently use different sizes and shapes of spoons heated on a candle warmer which relates to hand held, but also find myself using things like curling irons left behind by my daughters. I can't afford to invest in the professional tools for flower making yet, but would like to some day.
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Permalink Reply by Elaine Mergard
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I was trained with heating tools on metho stove but I now heat tools using soldering iron . Best brand is a Heller soldering iron and try to get one with a heat regulator so you can lower heat from 60 watt to 30 watt when needed.
I always use white cotton gloves in case I touch part of Soldering iron by accident but it is a much quicker way of tooling flowers as you do not need to pause to reheat. I also have a petal cutter that I take to a guy with clicking press & he cuts out petals in a jiff. To make $$ we need to find quickest & most effective way. Some milliners prefer the metho stove heating & that gives good outcomes so that is all that is important.
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Permalink Reply by Roz Willmott-Dalton
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Hi Elaine
a couple of questions...
-With the traditional flower making tools, is there any other option for heating them, rather than using a meth burner and open flame?
-Is there any chance you may be able to stock electric iron and tool sets in the Hat Academy Store?
Many thanks
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We are trying to source these at the right price for students
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Permalink Reply by Megan Beverley
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I use the old brass tools, they've served me well. I've not used the electronic ones, but from what I've seen they look great (especially in Japanese flower making)
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Permalink Reply by Dianne Graham
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I bought the electric ones and lost them when I moved house. Thinking I would find them and not wanting to spend $$ I went to the hardware store and purchased a $15.00 electric soldering iron with the little blade type attachments, and a brass kitchen cabinet door knob with a screw that would fit into the iron. Works perfect
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Excellent solution, Dianne. Brass is essential as no residue on metal when it heats plus Brass retains heat longer.
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Permalink Reply by Bridget Early
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That sounds like a wonderful solution. I may see if I can find something similar.
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Permalink Reply by Cassy Hill
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What a great idea, I think I will have to have a go at that.
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Permalink Reply by Dianne Graham
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I forgot one thing, when you get your brass knob, the screw that fits it will need to have its head cut off so it will fit into the soldering iron. My husband did mine in 2 min with a hack saw. They might do this for you at the hardware store.
Another tool that you might want to get is a rheostat to control the temp. Mine worked great with the heavy silks, it was too hot on anything with a little synthetic material, and it just melted tulle, chiffon or anything really lightweight without the rheostat.
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Permalink Reply by Bridget Early
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Thanks for the tips!
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Permalink Reply by Roz Willmott-Dalton
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oooh, I like this thread. I've been doing the same sort of research lately too. The only thing I have seen that may work on the electric side, is a clover mini iron with attachments, but there is only one half ball that relates to traditional looking flower tools. Has anyone used this?
Any chance people might share pictures of their less traditional tools, especially the soldering irons?
Thanks very muchly
