Personally, I like SLUDGE for bead release. It works great both for soft and boro. Get a small inexpensive crock pot and fill it with vermiculite (can be found at gardening places) or you can use annealing bubbles. After working, leave the beads (on the mandrel!) in the crock pot until they are cool. Ultimately, you will want to purchase a kiln. Look for sales with some of the vendors (I like Wale or ABR Imagery; Frantz is also very good) or even on craigslist. But the vermiculite and annealing bubbles will get you thru until you both decide this is what you want to do.
|