I made these beads yesterday ... I'm still not totally sure I know exactly what reducing glass and striking glass means (I feel its a bit like the off side rule... i think i know what im talking about, but cant always make it make sense) but I know i have managed to reduce this Psyche, I work on a hothead, and I wrapped tin foil around the holes to reduce the glass... but when I have pulled the beads out of the kiln after annealing they have comes out different, and when i actually reduced the glass, it was alot lighter in colour. Don't get me wrong I love the beads, but am wondering whether I need to start having a play around with the kiln temperatures at the mo, I am on a basic setting at 520* degrees. Any suggestions?
here is the photo
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2628/3704457542_7e010ee48e.jpg?v=0)
can you see how some have come out a dark royal blue and some a turquoise outline?
Vicki xxx
I'm interested too, as I have just started batch annealing and have some silver glass to do. I read that you should create a reducing atmosphere by adding activated carbon / charcoal to the kiln?
??? :-[ :-\ that sounds so confusing... i hope someone can help us with their wisdom!
Not as confusing as the amount of Vicki's spelled the same way on this forum! ;D
To reduce, you use less oxygen, right? I guess the charcoal absorbs some of the oxygen from the kiln, creating a reducing atmosphere ???
I dunno, someone wiser will be along soon, I hope :D
Hi Vicki & Vicki
Try this thread (http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1717.0)which has lots of helpful hints about reducing and striking.
There is also a thread about putting charcoal in your kiln to create a reducing atmosphere but I can't find it quickly - its worth a search 'though.
I think what is happening with your beads is that the silver in the psyche is reacting with your base glass which is why you are getting the funky lines. I suspect that the effect varies because the time you spent on each bead is different which is also why the psyche is a different colour in some beads. I often reduce and oxidise several times to get a reaction as well as a reduction. Its part of the fun of silver glass. :)
And if you are getting blues from psyche then you have a reduction effect.
Sarah
xxx
Psyche is lovely.. ;D
Thanks Sarah!
Just found this from Red Hot Sal:
"If you anneal in an oxidising atmosphere inside the kiln you will start to lose the silver effect.
Put a lump of carbon (you can get them from jewellery suppliers) in with your beads. That will absorb the extra oxygen leaving you with a reducing atmosphere which will preserve your reduced glass."
I wonder if the stuff you use in fish tank filters would work?
a lump of carbon ay? that sounds cool... will effect the other beads if they arn't silver glass?
Thank you Sarah, that thread is a good one, I have read it over and over but still can't say I get it 100%... I think i'm one of those people who learn through seeing something done... you know? which means I better save up for a lesson :D hehe
A lot of silver glass likes lower temperatures - but to compensate, you'll need a longer soak time. This is what I use for my SC2 annealing as you go ....
Ramp 1 - 700
Temp 1 487°C (910°F)
Hold 12 hours - I set this long and skip when I'm done!
Ramp 2 78
Temp 2 493°C (920°F)
Hold 2 hours
Ramp 3 78
Temp 148°C (300°F)
Hold 0
Ramp 0
Really must put this on wiki ......
http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/wiki/Annealing
Vicki,
I can see distinct iridescence on your beads thus your kiln didn't erase the reduction effect. The halo lines are indicative of a lot of silver glass - depending on how much your reduce it.
I wrote about annealing silver glass, as well as other information and tutorials on reducing and striking silver glass, on my blog if you are interested.
http://envisionsf.blogspot.com/2009/04/silver-glass-101-annealing-temperature.html
http://envisionsf.blogspot.com/search/label/Silver%20glass%20101
I would recommend lowering your annealing temperature to 500C and soak longer (e.g. instead of half an hour, soak for an hour).
Hope this helps.
Hayley
From looking at my schedule above could I reduce my soak time down to an hour? Is 2 hours a bit overkill?
Thanks
Trudi
Of course I am interested! you guys are amazing! I read your blog and have a couple of your silver glass ebooks, though like I have said, don't totally understand all about reducing, thank you so so so much for the links, I'm gunna get up early and have a read and a practice before I am forced to go to work ;D ;D ;D
Thank you Hayley, Thank you Trudi!!!!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
xxxxxxx
You are very welcome, Vicki!
Trudi - that depends on the thickness of you largest beads. I anneal at 920F/494C for 1.5 hours since sometimes I do have beads that are about 18mm thick. Also is your ramp down number 78 in celsius or fahrenheit? If it's in celsius, then you are ramping down too fast. It should be about 70F which is 21C.
Hope this helps!