You're Favorate or Strangest prop you use

[JoanFrances]

Just for fun, what is the strangest thing you have devised as a pro, or what is you're all time favorate one.

While not very imagative, I use pieces of 2 by 4's, rubber sanding pads, and huge glass vases to prop things, to keep them straight so I can solder them without the stuff running of the edges.

Now what is yours.  Please

[Alan]

An old canvas cloth bean bag - about 4"w x 2"h x 6"l - maybe 3/4 pound of dried beans inside - works great for holding the candle holders I make that are 4"wide x 4"deep x 6"high at 45° while finish soldering where the sides meet.

[Amber]

The Complete works of Edgar Allan Poe........ it was the biggest hardcover book in the house *lol.

[Alan]

The Complete works of Edgar Allan Poe........ it was the biggest hardcover book in the house *lol.

"quothe the Raven nevermore....."

[Audrey]

Amber, I love it!
I have made a little wooden holder that looks like a skinny napkin holder to set a piece in (if the glass is not too small) so it holds it up straight and I can just keep turning the piece around while I solder the top that is sitting relatively level.

[Glassic]

I was thinking of this sort of post the other day when I was using my third finger. Took the camera down forgot to take shots before I messed with the flux!
I've posted my wedgiewood before, and I also use play dough for props. I have a widgit that pumps water upwards for grinding holes with the small grinding heads and I use an old mousepad for burnishing small pieces and jewels.
Most of the pics are on the laptop and that is in the hospital.......... later!
Oh, I also use 7 count plastic canvas to cut on and shelf latex over the light box or a board to lay up on before I pin it down onto the pattern.

[ct4mom]

I was looking for something to prop a panel for soldering the edge and found 2 bricks which I covered with some old towels works great and if I get mad enough I can throw it......not..lol

[Rebecca]

Coffee cans with scrap glass in them.  Eventually I go through the scrap and sort it for wind chime and mosaic classes and throw away the too-small pieces, but the cans are nice and heavy and will hold up anything.  For small things I use wedgies.

Rebecca

[meaco]

I use a wooden tea light candle holder for doing boxes and business card holders.  It's got a pumpkin face cut out on one side.     Works great! :)  I also use cardboard boxes to solder lamps since I don't have a fancy lamp stand. 

[PiscesGlass]

LOL, this is turning out to be a fun (and informative) thread!  I have used the cardboard box and newspaper routine for propping up anything from panels to lamp shades for soldering. And I use pennies to lift a section I need to replace in a foiled panel. Otherwise, if I need a prop I'll use whatever is within reach that I think will do the job if I need more than my own two hands.

This is great..I love the bricks covered in towel idea..and gosh knows I've got plenty of scrap in coffee cans..just hadn't thought about using them as prop material!  I will in the future though.  Thanks guys.

De

[Tom]

My favorite trick would be using furniture sliders.  When cutting smaller pieces of glass, i put them on a large furniture slider, the rubber side.  Then as I cut I can turn the slider in any direction as the score progresses.  Its hard to describe, but it works real smooth.  I have the large ones, about 5 or so inches wide, and about 10 long. Even if the glass is a little bigger than the slider it still works for me, i just adjust the glass and keep going.

[Linde]

I've used a flat box, 2 inches or so deep with packing peanuts in it, to solder the backside of a dimensional panel...like sand dollars, nautilus and such...it helps to cushion the shells so they won't break.

[mona]

Tom, I like that idea!  So much easier to turn the glass.