Do crockpots really work?

[Cracked Baubble]

I mean, I understand that it's not fully aniled etc... but crockpots don't get above like 300 degrees do they? I'm curious as to how well a crockpot full of vermiculite (sp) or what's the name of that other stuff... perl something... anyway how well can it work to anile (I'm probably spelling that wrong too) if it only gets to about 300 (isn't that about 1/3 of the aniling temp used in the kiln?) which makes me wonder even more about fiber blankets.... can someone explain in little words the science behind how this work?

[Dale M.]

I mean, I understand that it's not fully aniled etc... but crockpots don't get above like 300 degrees do they? I'm curious as to how well a crockpot full of vermiculite (sp) or what's the name of that other stuff... perl something... anyway how well can it work to anile (I'm probably spelling that wrong too) if it only gets to about 300 (isn't that about 1/3 of the aniling temp used in the kiln?) which makes me wonder even more about fiber blankets.... can someone explain in little words the science behind how this work?

Some claim a heated crock pot helps slow cool beads in vermiculite or perlite...

I have never seen it proven that a hot crock pot does anything but run up electric bill....

At the temperatures a crock pot can maintain you are almost at bottom of cooling ramp and its just a few degrees from where you can pull beads out and look at them...

I personally cool beads in a coffee can half full of vermiculite. I have lost a few to thermal shock... maybe 10-15 in over 600 beads made...

I personally think the HOT crock pot is either a myth or urban legend...

Dale

[Dale M.]

oops...Double post...

Edited to nothing...

Dale

[Megan]

Hi Camie,

I use a crock pot with vermiculite. It definitely works, not to anneal but to cool the beads slowly. Most people use it that batch anneal their beads in the kiln. I live in a very warm place and my house tends to get very hot and keeping a kiln and a torch going at once would make the house like 100 degrees.. So I just turn on the crock pot on high and let it get really warm, then turn it to low.. When I get done with a bead, I dunk it in there. when I am threw for the evening, i turn the crock pot off and let it cool down to room temperature. Then taken them off the mandrel, clean them, and when I have a bunch, batch anneal them. I tried a fiber blanket at one point but had too many cracked beads with it. Have been using a crock pot method for about a month and have only had one bead crack and it was because I peaked.

They say that it doesn't work the greatest for large beads but I don't make humongous beads, so it works.

Megan

[cghipp]

I did just fine with a terra cotta pot full of vermiculite. I wouldn't bother with the crock pot myself. Cool your beads slowly in the flame (heat to glowing, then to less glowing, etc., pulling further and further away from the torch) and stick them in the vermiculite. They'll be fine (as long as they're not huge).

Courtney