mandrel rest for my kiln

[suzanne]

Hi there,

As some of you know I am the proud owner of a kiln. Now here is the problem. I made some lovely beads last night, and each one has a tiny scratch like thing on the spot where they touched the kiln floor. What can I use as a mandrel rest to put in my kiln> can I just use one of those stainless steel rod rests and size it so it fit's my kiln? I need something where I can lay my mandrels on so my beads are not touching the floor anymore.

SUzanne

[born2snooze]

Hi Suzanne, I just got my kiln too. I go the mandrel rest from Nortel manufacturing where I buy all my stuff. I live in Canada.
Maybe your supplier have it. If not, you can buy a mandrel couch at Heritage Glass:

http://heritageglass.com/index2.htm

Go to Online Catalog and find it in 'Kiln & Accessories'.

I hope this help.
Take care!
^..^
Edna

.

[suzanne]

Thanks a lot! I'll order mine there , saves me a whole lot of searching here in The Netherlands!
Suzanne

[Jacinthe]

Suzanne
put a piece of fiber blanket in the bottom of the kiln :P
but yes you can use one of those metal rod rests or even a piece of fire brick , just something that is fire proof and will raise your beads from the floor when you rest the mandrel on it.

[suzanne]

I just cut up my fibersomething floor tile and stacked it in my kiln. Don't you have any fibers from your blanket stuck in the beads? I have never used it, but even the fiber thing gave nasty rough spots ( just tiny, but they are now unfit to sell) .

Thanks! Suzanne

[Dale M.]

I just cut up my fibersomething floor tile and stacked it in my kiln. Don't you have any fibers from your blanket stuck in the beads? I have never used it, but even the fiber thing gave nasty rough spots ( just tiny, but they are now unfit to sell) .

Thanks! Suzanne

If you get fiber sticking to your beads or marks on your beads where they touch something, your kiln may be running to hot.... The annealing temperature should be such that it allows glass to anneal, move on molecular level but not on physical level. IF kiln is to hot beads will get soft and cause the problems you describer. Also, you may be putting beads into kiln to hot if you are hot garaging them and holding them for period of time before you complete annealing process.

I agree with others, some sort of kiln/mandrel rest may be best solution to the problem.

Dale

[MikeAurelius]

Put a piece of stainless perforated metal in the back of the kiln opposite the kiln door. Stagger loading the beads so that they don't touch when you put the end of the mandrel in the perf metal.

[suzanne]

If you get fiber sticking to your beads or marks on your beads where they touch something, your kiln may be running to hot.... The annealing temperature should be such that it allows glass to anneal, move on molecular level but not on physical level. IF kiln is to hot beads will get soft and cause the problems you describer. Also, you may be putting beads into kiln to hot if you are hot garaging them and holding them for period of time before you complete annealing process.

I agree with others, some sort of kiln/mandrel rest may be best solution to the problem.

Dale

Well actually this did cross my mind. I pay very close attention that my bead is no longer glowing when it goes into the kiln. I don't know if it is running to hot, I have it set at 950 garage temp, but the temp does go up and down by about 10 degrees ( specialy after I have opened the door, then the temp goes up real fast, and then come back to 950) .This only takes about 40 seconds, but maybe I should garage at 940 or is that to cold?

Suzanne

[Jacinthe]

When I anneal my beads (batch anneal) sometimes my kiln goes all the way up to 1000 degrees and I NEVER have any problems with my beads getting fiber blanket stuck to them...
I did have one time some frit covered beads get slightly stuck together, but a gentle tap on them and they came apart no harm done to either bead....

[suzanne]

so it can not be the temp thing, either I am putting my beads in too hot, or my beads are just really sensitive ;) I'll get myself one of those metal things to put my mandrels on, and I will also get myself some fiber blanket, just to see what works best

[MikeAurelius]

Suzanne, for soft glass, set your garage temperature at 900, about half way between strain and annealing temp. Remember that at annealing point there is still some molecular movement of the glass. Also, if the temp in the kiln drops the elements will kick on - and with beads in the kiln they will soak up the heat faster than the thermocouple may - so the beads may actually be hotter than the thermocouple shows for a short period of time and cause a slight indentation or mark.

[sunnyone]

I use stainless preforated metal in my kiln too. I foound that the rod rest wasn't big enough. You can stagger a few rows with the preforated metal and then when they have soaked for awhile stack um all on the top over to one side and fill the rows again. I usually bead for 3-5 hours straight and I always get in a ton of beads that way.

crystal

[Lisi]

Suzanne,

I don't know if you have already seen this tutorial or not, but maybe this info can help you. :)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251133&page=1&pp=20

[suzanne]

Yes I did, that is the way I stack my beads... I just did not have the metal thingie yet! That is a great tut, I have it in my list of favorites
Suzanne