what is striking

[bob]

Good morning everyone
I was reading Brents tutorial on his hearts and in one of the threads someone asked Brent about colors and he mentioned layering and striking. Can anyone tell me what striking is.
Thanks
Bob Proulx:-k

[Carolyn M]

Some colours need to be struck to achieve their colour, they may be clear in rod form, for example striking yellow or red. Heat the glass, remove from the flame and allow to cool, sometimes slightly, sometimes until you think the bead will crack, it depends on the type of glass. Back into the flame, and the colour will develop. Some types of glass need repeated cycles of heating and cooling to get the colour where you want it - some silver glass colours are good examples of this. Some colours can be kiln struck. I have a TAG black cherry colour that develops all it's colour in the kiln, and you have to time when you put it in to get the colour you want.

[bob]

Thanks Carolyn:
That helps
Bob Proulx

[TeresaRB]

Carolyn, Are those rods usually labeled? I have a red striker rod. Havent' used it yet, but it is labeled. And by types of glass, do you mean Moretti vs. Luschia vs. vetrofond? Or is it the COE, or something all together different?

Also...and hopefully someone will see this question on this thread. I used my mashers to flatten a bead last night, actually did several of them. I would prefer only running my kiln once a week...batch annealing, so I use a fiber blanket to warm them down and then when ready put them all in the kiln. This morning everyone looked just fine...but then one of the flattened ones broke in half (was my best one too! :sad:). So I'm wondering if it's because I didn't put it in the kiln right away or if it's because maybe it was too thin? Or maybe that's the nature of this beast? I've had other beads break in half that were not flattened. I guess out of about 200 beads that I've made so far I've only have 3 of them break before going into the kiln is good? I'm just nervous that they will break after annealing.

[Hayley]

Is it a clean break along the mandrel? When you mash a bead, you create more stress along the mandrel where the glass is thinner. If you don't reheat that spot well, it may break. Also the thinner glass cools at the different temperature from the thicker glass around, thus creating thermal shock when you put it in the fiber blanket.

Try keeping the mashed beads thicker and reheating along the mandrel line well . . . or better yet, garage anneal instead of batch anneal those type of beads.

Hope this helps.

[Carolyn M]

Teresa, by types of glass I really mean the silver glass striking colours, some of which need repeated heating and cooling to get the colours. The Moretti striking red and yellow are easy to strike. Some of the Moretti pinks (tongue pink?) are more difficult. I don't use these much so I'm not a real authority on them.

To add to the confusion, some glass colours while not striking colours will change colour or opacity the more you work with them. It really is a question of playing with the glass to see how to work it.

[TeresaRB]

Yes...a clean break along the mandrel. What is garage anneal? Put bead in kiln right away while I'm working on other beads? I'm going to have to learn how to program my kiln for that sort of thing. I have only gotten as far as batch annealing! lol And that was like trying to decipher Greek! lol I'll get there one day! Thank you though for your info. Twas helpful. And it's funny because I didn't manipulate that bead with the mashers nearly as much as I did the other ones that did not break. Ho Hum...:poke:

[CelesteK]

When I make beads I turn on the kiln when I first start. It is usually up to temperature by the time I have made my first bead. Then I just pop my beads in the kiln as I make them. I used to lose the beads that I cooled in the ceramic blanket, but since I've been sticking everything straight in the kiln as I make I haven't lost any beads. I think garage anneal is anneal as you go...Oh, yeah, some colors seem to be more prone to thermal cracking than others.

Celeste

[TeresaRB]

Thanks everyone...I guess I should consider breaking out my kiln book and figure out how to "garage" anneal. And...get to know my glass. C-ya
:waving: