can any one help me ive recently purchased an SC2 with a bead door and i have two concerns( they are gonna seem real silly!)
1. can the bead door close fully when placing a bead still on the mandrel?
2. i have purchased a mandrel rest from martin that fits inside the SC2 kilns (has anyone else got one?) is it best to be used for batch annealing (ie i load it up with mandrels or is it to be used when using the bead door)
basically what i am worried about is using the bead door and the mandrel rest without causing damage to the inside of the kiln
please help!!!
Hiya,
The door can't be 'fully' closed with mandrels sticking out of it, I use the rest from martin that goes inside the kiln, I've found that the further back in the kiln you place it the lower the mandrels rest and the easier it it to get the door as closed as possible. I took off the mandrel rest that is outside the kiln, the one that comes with it because it prevents you closing the door sufficiently when you've got mandrels resting on that too. When I'm done I shove the door closed with my mashers, this has caused some errosion of the insulating material inside the bead door but there's no other way I've found to close it without doing this other than batch annealing with the beads off the mandrels.
Also in my experience I have had issues with annaealing beads that are too close to the door inside the kiln, in that they haven't annealed properly because the temperature isn't consistent inside your kiln when the door is slightly open.
I haven't used the rest your referring too for batch annealing, I've heard some people pile them up on a fibre sheet (i've never done that) I've also heard that people put them in a pyrex dish again never tried it too worried about beads sticking together. I prefer to batch anneal with the beads 'not touching' I used some mesh from B&Q which I cut to fit insude the kiln and made bead kebabs from cut mandrels which I rest between the holes in the mesh, there's a pic somewhere on here that someone posted I'l go find it.
hth :) Kate xxx
You may find this thread helpful http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=859.0 it also has pics of the bead kebabs I mentioned. :)
Another thread that shows a pic of Julie (lush's) VERY full kiln ;D you can see from the pic that there's no way the door will close fully, I remember seeing this pic and it made me feel reasuured that I was doing ti right :) http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8572.0 :)
In the pic the outside rod rest is on the kiln, I as I say I took this off it just got in my way, either way it's personal preference.
No - the door doesn't fully close!!
When I batch anneal I take the beads off the mandrels and I place them on a tile - if there are lots you can prop a second tile up on posts - so lots of space! I don't let mine touch either - but really if they're not rubino they should be ok!
Trudi x
When I had my SC2 the beads went onto the ceramic tile that came with the kiln. I didn't use a rack. When the beads had been in there for a half hour or so I could pile them up to one side and make more room.The door didn't shut but it never caused me any problems.
once the beads have been in there a short while they're quite tough!
And the mandrels are very hot when you move them, so watch out for your fingers.
thank you so much everyone especially sublime kate for your many posts. i have just checked out the threads you suggested. i have just batch annealed for the 1st time last night using a pyrex dish and they all came out fine. i was so scared as i was afraid i would blow up my house as it was left on through the night! but all is well. :D
just looked at the picture with the kiln jam packed i cant stop laughing again ;D ;D ;D