Cracked Clear Encased Bead

[Kathaleen]

Good Morning:

I am so disgusted with myself. Another day of beads ruined. I try and make large focal beads and encase them, only to find them the next day cracked and have to clean up the glass in my kiln. I set the kiln according to instructions. My small encased beads come out find. My large focal beads that are not encased come out find.

What am I doing wrong? HELP

[shawnette]

Cracked how? Do you have photos?

[Kathaleen]

Hi, Shawnette:

The bead is cracked to pieces. What left on the mandrel, I just knock off in pieces.

Thanks.
Kathaleen

[shawnette]

That's a compatibilty issue. What clear are you using to encase? What base?

[Kathaleen]

Actually, I use the same clear casing on my other smaller beads and they don't crack. This is really cracking me up.
Kathaleen

[shawnette]

Actually, I use the same clear casing on my other smaller beads and they don't crack. This is really cracking me up.
Kathaleen

They're smaller, so the incompatibilty of the encasing glass isn't as much of an issue for now. There's a good probability that they'll crack eventually, since the bigger ones are cracking now.

[Toni Lutman]

What colors are you encasing?

Some colors don't like to be encased (for example Effetre Special colors: red/orange/yellow/brown). If you're using those colors as your core, then try making a clear core, then a thin layer of your color, then encase.

[Kathaleen]

Toni:
Thanks for the info. Was nice seeing you Saturday at the expo. One question, if the beads are large do you still wait for the glow to go from the bead or stick it into the kiln?

Take care.
Kathaleen

[Carolyn M]

I never wait for the glow to leave the bead, almost all my beads are put into the kiln with a dull orange glow.

[Toni Lutman]

I never wait for the glow to leave the bead, almost all my beads are put into the kiln with a dull orange glow.

Me too. Mine always have a fairly good glow to them when they go into the kiln. I only wait long enough to be sure the glass won't continue to move.

[Kathaleen]

Thanks!
Everyone have a nice evening.
Kathaleen