Tink: Care & Feeding of Seeded Glass Rods?

[DesertDreamer]

Hiya Tink! I'm posting here because I figured maybe I'm not the only one who could use some advice. I've given the seeded glass rods a try a few times, now, and I'm getting a lot of shocking/shattering, even if I preheat it. Any hints, please?

[pierces*designs]

I also have a question/issue. I made some pretty encased beads and every one cracked. Those I did the base of seeded then clear encasing.

I just did a set with a little barrel of clear, then seeded glass, then clear so I will hold onto them and see if they crack too.

[suzanne]

@Karen try warming them up in an almost pure propane flame and slowly add oxygen, this should work. Don;t worry about the glass turning ugly when warming it up,it will do just fine when you have reached the proper oxy level.

@Debbie try making a tiny base of regular clear ( or the same color you will use to encase, then a layer of seeded glass, and then encase.

Good luck:)

[playswithfire104]

I had the same problem with cracking in my encased seeded glass beads.

[NLC Beads]

I've never had them crack - are you letting them cool too much before putting them in the kiln?

[suzanne]

They should go in the kiln pretty quick because due to the the fact that the air in the bubbles expands when heated, but it shrinks really fast when cooling down. Try putting them in the kiln glowing red , this should do the trick. I used both lauscha and moretti for encasing and have had no problems encasing them yet.

Suzanne

[loopydo]

I'm glad someone else is having a cracking issue with encased seeded glass!!!! I thought I was a nutcake and just couldn't get it right!!!! I have three beautiful beads that just cracked for no good reason? Went in the kiln glowing-encase with moretti superclear. I guess I'll try to see if encasing with vetro or lauscha solves the problem!
Linda

[Tink]

I've never had any problems with cracking, and I've encased with Moretti, Lauscha, Vetrofond and Kugler.

As for shocking rods, Suzanne and John have it right: Pure fuel flame, then slowly add O2.

[loopydo]

I'm going to put that puppy in the kiln short of dripping!!!!!!!:fireblob: Mayhaps that'll do the deed!
Linda

[amybfromtc]

I watched Tink encase a seeded vessel in class.... she works with the piece pretty darn cool.... and it sure wasn't drippy when it went in the kiln. Twas a very think layer of encasing that I saw her do.

Amy

[playswithfire104]

[QUOTE=suzanne]@Karen try warming them up in an almost pure propane flame and slowly add oxygen, this should work.

:-k Can't do that on a HH. Any other suggestions

[shawnette]

[quote=suzanne]@Karen try warming them up in an almost pure propane flame and slowly add oxygen, this should work.

:-k Can't do that on a HH. Any other suggestions

A hotplate or kiln will work.

[playswithfire104]

I do warm my rods up on a George Forman grill. That usually works for regular rods but the seeded glass is still very shocky. I just try to waft them in and out of the flame a lot, a real lot!

[Palestrina]

I do warm my rods up on a George Forman grill. That usually works for regular rods but the seeded glass is still very shocky. I just try to waft them in and out of the flame a lot, a real lot!

Cover the air holes with a piece of aluminum foil... wrap a piece around the hoes before you turn the torch on and be sure you leave a piece sticking out so you can grab it with your tweezers to open it up a bit and then slide it down as you need to add more air. This should take care of the issue since you'll have a pretty pure propane flame to begin with. Be careful removing the foil though...it's pain in the ass. You can reduce this way, too: But don't cover every hole, let a little air in. You have to play with it to figure out the exact position. I used to have mine set up so I could slide it up or down in the middle of making a bead.

Hope this helps!