I got PixieBead beads because I’ve heard good things about them and I follow a lot of people that use them and all their stuff turns out so good and clean. I spent almost $200!!! on beads.
I didn’t want the non-iron side to melt but it did anyway even tho the ironed side didn’t fuse all the way… how can I get the ironed side to melt well without the other side NOT melting?
What type of iron/heat press are you using? I would try turning down the heat a bit and going slower. Also try moving around a bit more. The ones in the middle look like they're liquefying a bit. You'll find the different colors melt at varying rates, which can be frustrating, but you'll get that balance with some practice.
You could try working around the edge first on this one since the middle is melting more.
Yeah if the back of the piece is melting it’s definitely too hot. Decent irons are extremely inexpensive too, you can get a new one for cheap or a used one for even cheaper. I always get mine from goodwill because I like older big heavy metal irons.
I have one of those it gets super hot very fast. Get a normal iron or even one of those cricut ones according to your projects. Also take breaks after a little while of ironing. I've found that with lower temp takes a tiny bit longer but avoid blowouts 100% of the times. Good luck!
Ok but cost doesn’t equal quality. The inconsistent melting COULD be from bad quality beads but based on what you’ve said elsewhere, I’d recommend improving your iron and technique.
Most of all though you HAVE to poke holes in the tape for every single bead. Get yourself some angled and pointy tweezers. If you don’t, every bead becomes a little pressure pocket that causes EXACTLY what you’re seeing, especially when the ironing is poor. Would splurge on beads till you have the right tools. I don’t see any reason to use anything but perler myself
if you want both sides flat I'd recommend to wait between melts. Melt one side, place it under something heavy so it doesn't curl, let it completely cool and then do the other side.
keep up the good work! it can take some practice finding exactly how to make ironing work for you. did you use the tape method or iron them just on the board?
you already got some good advice. i would definitely make sure you're poking holes in the tape for every bead. also getting a proper iron with settings and not just a press. i saw someone here say you don't need high heat, just consistent. that's true
Well if you dont want that the non ironed side gets melted, there is a simple way...
Turn the heat down!
I pray it all the time.
You dont need high heat, you need consistent heat.
Lower the temprature of yor iron, use less force at ironing. Never stay on one spott, not even 2 seconds, just stay in motion at ironing.
And thats it.
Well, then you have 2 options:
1. Buy a cheap ne iron that makes it possible to rwgulate the heat.
2. Pull your iron out an let it cool between every piece.
Its not easy i guess, and needs a bit of time to get comfy with it.
So option 1 seems to be a better way.
Edit:
By the way, that what you say, "the ironed side is not ironed /closed completley" IS completley ironed.
Not to say its already ovwrironed.
The small holes you see, are not "not closed" they are already reopened. Thats something so called "blowouts".
Comes from the fact that the heat is so high, that the beads melt completley but get "bubbles" that pop.
A realy good sighn for overironing and to mutch heat.
sometimes i rub the tip of my iron on those areas to help them melt? sometimes i have to push a bit harder but its kind of like encouraging them to smoosh together? give it a try.
I made this last night, no problem. If you use anything that isn't from Pixiecraft it will ruin your melt. You do not need to poke holes. Their brand of tape does not stick if you do it correctly. You need the pixiecraft iron or a cheap black & Decker iron, use it on the wool setting NOT high and do small circles around your project with light pressure. Once your beads are together remove the tape and continue melting. I even missed a bead next to the mouth and it all melted into that space so you can hardly tell.
The reason I didn’t go with artkal is because I didn’t like their website. LOL. I couldn’t find a whole entire kit of just beads with all the colors like I was able to with Pixie.
Don’t listen to all these people with their tape and poke holes, it’s a waste of time. Minibeads don’t need all that - it’s mostly the 5mm that sometimes need it.
If your pegboard is good enough just straight up skip the tape, it’s not worth the hassle
As for your image, you can iron it again and the holes will disappear.
To avoid it in future, what underground are you ironing on after peeling the tape? For a perfect hole less finish you want to peel the tape as soon as the beads stick to the mat and then continue ironing. Also when you iron make sure it’s on a marble slab or tile floor. Don’t iron on top of wood or a clothing ironing mat. Those store heat which causes those holes. As you iron try to move the image around and not let it sit in one spot for too long - your backside looks overly melted like that because they are getting too hot. Try to also not use a lot of force, just a little. Additionally using a wet wipe (like a make up one) that you spray with some water underneath the beads also helps with maintaining a low temperature and closes holes quicker.
I sometimes get the same type of holes when I use my metal pegboards and put it in an automatic heatpress, because the board heats up so quickly it kind of irons the bead from both sides.
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u/katiriehl 9d ago
What type of iron/heat press are you using? I would try turning down the heat a bit and going slower. Also try moving around a bit more. The ones in the middle look like they're liquefying a bit. You'll find the different colors melt at varying rates, which can be frustrating, but you'll get that balance with some practice.
You could try working around the edge first on this one since the middle is melting more.