Help with Adventurine please

[Oldhippiechic]

I used, for the first time, blue adventurine rod. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but no matter what I did it spit off little pieces. The biggest piece I ended up with from the whole rod was about 1/4" long. I thought it was the heat so I tried to heat it under the flame, at the very top of the flame and everyplace in between. It just kept spitting off pieces and I could only use it as if it were large frit pieces.
What am I doing wrong? How do you deal with Adventurine?
Thanks for the help.

[shawnette]

It's not you. Aventurine rod is very shocky and should be preheated.

[Oldhippiechic]

Would it be right to put it in the kiln as it's heating up?
I've never preheated anything before...could you give me some guidance on that?
Thanks

[HONEYBUNNY72_99]

I preheat my rods in the bead door of my kiln as it heats up.Just be careful when you take the rod out of the kiln cause the heat will travel up the rod and it gets Hot.
Tina