 Angel
Moderator
Joined: 20/Oct/2004
Member: 17
Posts: 85
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Quote: I am a finger foiler and proud of it. It is the only way to get the foil where I want it. I tried the Glastar Hand Foilers, but every last one of them applies the foil off center because the little plastic parts are uneven. That being said, I do still have a use for the handfoilers: they are great at peeling the paper backing off the foil and keeping it from getting all entangled.
Nope...that's not my experience. I love the Hand Foilers because they DO center the foil, but you need to use them correctly. Most people hold them at a sharp angle of 45 degrees or more to the glass edge. If you hold them as parallel as possible, there's no problem with centering. I don't enjoy foiling with just fingers but I do it fast and easily with the Hand Foilers. KIDS pick up the technique in one session. The photos I have of the method on Silicon Folly are of a 13 year old girl. She's a whiz with them...and so are several of her cousins.
Can't say I'm PROUD of being a Glastar Hand Foiler aficionado. It's just a matter of doing what works best for me and wishing the same for others. We're here to pass that on and maybe describe what and why we do things in hopes of enlightening or helping others...or maybe just giving them a good laugh. 
Strange that you can't center with them, Beth, but like them for removing the foil backing. The biggest complaint from people who are learning to use Hand Foilers is that the backing doesn't always come away smoothly. Well, it does, but there's practice and a tiny bit of technique involved along with the proper threading of the foil in the tool. The only time I ever had plastic parts give me trouble was after I'd abused a foiler by doing heavy granite glass. I always keep an extra one in the 7/32" and 3/16" sizes, though they last a long time in the absence of abuse.
I have never foiled a whole project while away from it. I cut everything. Grind briefly if necessary and fit on the pattern cartoon. Sometimes it's necessary to adjust a piece while foiling. Not gonna re-foil pieces because I didn't check the fit as they are being done. SO...I'm glued to my worktable in front of a TV for foiling 
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Angel |
