Still breaking :( .. this time with pics.

[Kim1979]

I first want to say thanks to everyone who offered suggestions for my bead breaking problems! Though I am still getting breaks, I'm pretty sure now that its due to my letting the bead get cold. I'm including pics here, just to make sure that the break matches the diagnosis..

So.. if this is a "too cold" problem.. how do I solve it? If I'm working on multiple colors, I like to pull the bead out of the flame and let the colors start to come out (so I can see where to lay the next).. should I not do this? I get the idea of being able to flash it back in the flame and return it to a glow, but how do I know when I'm past the point of no return? Do I want to avoid seeing the "original" colors on my bead before I put in the vermiculite? .. I've had problems there also.. I was putting them in before they were no longer glowing and I found lumps of droopy glass when I went to retrieve the beads..

there's definitely a science to this that I fear I'm just not getting! Thanks again in advance for any input! Thank goodness for this forum!!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/Kim1979/Bead2.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/Kim1979/Bead1.jpg

[Phoenix]

Those are definitely thermal- so it's heat. That can be harder to work with when you are not going straight to a kiln- but not impossible - most of us started that way.

What I did was heat through well when finished, wait a few seconds, tap on the torch or a marker- if it clinked, I would put it in vermiculite - if it didn't, I'd polish out a mark if I left one and try again- I wanted to leave it in as early as I could without getting the little divot marks - At first I generally went too hot- but by the time I went to a kiln I was getting to be much better

[RyanTheNumberImp]

Too hot is better than too cold, like phoenix said, try tapping it with something to judge if it is hard enough.

[evilglass]

So.. if this is a "too cold" problem.. how do I solve it? If I'm working on multiple colors, I like to pull the bead out of the flame and let the colors start to come out (so I can see where to lay the next).. should I not do this? I get the idea of being able to flash it back in the flame and return it to a glow, but how do I know when I'm past the point of no return? Do I want to avoid seeing the "original" colors on my bead before I put in the vermiculite? .. I've had problems there also.. I was putting them in before they were no longer glowing and I found lumps of droopy glass when I went to retrieve the beads..



In a nutshell, yes you should not let the colors return before popping it into your vermiculite. I also tap my beads against the container my perlite (which also works) is in. Clink means it's good to go in-and shouldn't droop.

Or you *can* let the colors return, but you've got to put it back in the flame to heat it up again afterward.

It should *barely* have a glow when it goes in, at least that's my take. I can't see the glow above my table edge, and the colors are still heat shifted, but *under* the edge of my table, out of the light, there's a glow. I see that, tap it against the container, hear the clink, then shove it down in there.

You might try working with single (cheap) colors, just to make it a little easier on yourself while working it out.

It's funny, I can tell how well my transparent orange and red is struck, by seeing if it's brown (not struck well) or black (good, usually), and then I know it's good. You just can't let many colors return or your bead is going to be making that crack noise shortly thereafter.

[Abacus Beads]

How cold is your vermiculite when you put the bead in?I found that if I didn't leave the crock pot on 24/7 it would take hours to heat up enough not to get thermal shock. this may be part of the problem
Liz R

[Peach Blossom Beads]

Are you letting your bead cool, then bringing it back to a slight glow, and then letting it cool off a bit before before putting it in the vermiculite? You should be doing this. Also, the vermiculite does not need to be warm. Finally, do not wait to see the colors in the bead to know it's cool - I think that's your biggest problem. Especially something like coral. Once you can see that it's coral, the bead is too cold. It takes practice and getting the timing right. The idea of making single colored beads was a good one. Give that a shot.

Let it cool, wave it in the flame or roll it in the flame, just for a few seconds until it begins to glow again and the heat is even throughout, take it out of the flame and let it cool a bit, tap it on a marver or the table and listen for the "clink" and then immediately put it in the pot. Do not admire it - don't even look at it! You get to see the surprises later.

Good luck!

[WeeMary]

I used to lose a lot of pressed beads using vermiculite. Pressed beads cool unevenly because of their shape. Getting my kiln solved the problem. Not much help, sorry!