Annealing discussion:

[sleekbeads]

A thread in the bathroom intrigued me into starting this thread because I have always wondered about something.

Back in the day... I mean BACK in the day, when lampworking first came to be, and even after that... how did those people anneal their beads?
I'm sure they couldn't have known? could they?
So, did all their beads crack on them?

I have a friend anneal all my beads for me.

However, I've been told many times by some, that a fiber blanket does the job just fine as long as you don't take it out too early.
Then others insist on a kiln.
I always anneal my beads even though I don't have a kiln, I take the time to get it done from a friend.

What are your views, what do you know?

Joanna

[Mr. Smiley]

Some glass can survive for thousands of years without being annealed in a kiln. History proves this fact... anybody that wants to sell glass beads unannealed is taking a huge risk with their reputation... especially somebody new to the craft. I just don't understand why anybody would take a short cut here. Kilns are affordable and like you said, you can always have somebody anneal them for you until you get one. We aren't in the middle ages. We have the understanding and equipment to make annealing easy. Annealed glass is just a good idea. :love:

[e. mort]

I read somewhere that some of the early glass furnaces had compartments (ovens?) attached to them, so I don't think it would be too surprising too learn that finished pieces were put in there to cool down slowly. I think that we give our ancestors too little credit. Man had been working ceramics for a long time before they started in with glass, so the concepts of firing and slow cooling wouldn't have been new to them.

Eric

[sleekbeads]

I think that we give our ancestors too little credit.

I think you're right about that!

And thanks, Smiley!


Joanna

[Cosmo]

However, I've been told many times by some, that a fiber blanket does the job just fine as long as you don't take it out too early.
Then others insist on a kiln.
I always anneal my beads even though I don't have a kiln, I take the time to get it done from a friend.


A fiber blanket does do the job fine. However, the job it does is not annealing. It slows the cooling, and is very effective at it. But slow cooling and annealing is not the same thing. The only way to anneal is to hold them at temperature for a specific amount of time. Once something comes out of the flame it starts cooling, and will continue to cool in a fiber blanket or vermiculite.

[sleekbeads]

When I start boro work, is it going to be ok to keep my beads in the fiber blanket until I can get them to my friends for annealing?
I never thought of asking you that, but really need to know.
There's no sense in wasting money on glass making beads that are going to crack.
I won't have a kiln until at least next year.
:(

[Cosmo]

There's no problem not annealing them right away, but some of the colors require putting them into the kiln right after taking them out of the flame for the colors to develop properly. Well, there may be other ways to do it, but that's how I get the best results.

[hulagirl]

I used to "batch" anneal all my beads....Then I talked to someone who said that when you do delicate work such as lots of sculptural and vessels, the pieces really need to be annealed right away. Like Mr. Smiley....I don't want to take a chance. (NOT to say that putting the bead in the kiln right away is an ABSOLUTE guarantee....flame annealing is important also.) I just like knowing that I'm taking every precaution that I can with my work.

[sleekbeads]

thanks.
Ooo, I love that frog pendant!!!!
Joanna