I just need help. I know how to make flowers do dots etc. but how do you get everything done without either loosing the shape of the bead and melting stuff in too much, If I want to do a bead that had lots of detail on , dots bumps, flowers etc how can you get all of this without the bead cracking too????????
Any tips would be great.
Thanks
Vicky P
My first tip would be to plan the bead carefully - for example, if you are making a flower bead and you want some double layer petals and some single layer petals lay down the single ones at the same time as you put the second layer of the double ones. Does that make sense? Quite difficult to explain.
Secondly, try making encased stringers - small ball of your main colour, encase in clear or a transparent colour, then pull out into a stringer. The transparent will go some way to protect the colour inside.
Thirdly, get in the habit of adding a little detail, then warming the bead through gently. I would maybe make half a dozen dots, and then I'd give the bead a bit of a bath in the top of the flame. Not enough to melt everything in, but enough to keep the bead from cracking. Then when finished flame anneal very slowly before putting in the kiln or vermiculite.
Have fun!
Oh thanks Shirley yes that makes sense I think I need to plan my designs better for sure. I will give it a go.
Vicky
x
Get into the habit of holding your bead up in the top of the flame where the flame temperature will be around 500 degs. This will keep the bead warm so it won't crack but won't melt it (as it's pretty much the same temp as the anneal temp).
You can then figure out what you need need to do in your design - gives you some breathing space. Can't remember if you are on a HH or a bigger torch but you can find out where your "holding area" of your torch is by just experimenting. Hold you hot bead (glow just disappeared) right at the top of the flame - you should be able to hold the bead there indefinitely without anything melting but without it cracking either. To really "fine tune" this point in the flame try holding a stringer at this point. You should be able to hold the stringer and JUST get it to glow slightly. This is the right place. BUT it's also the best place in the flame to apply stringer aswell.
HTH :)
Great tips there Sally. Thanks ;)