I have just made my best bead ever, so was pleased, then took off mandrel cleaned it dried it and it has a crack all the way round :'(, but it was fine on the mandrel.
Do you think i did some thing wrong if so at which point and the crack looks like it started from a silver ball.
Thank you for any advice
:)
Hiya
Oh nooo, isn't it horrid when that happens?
If the crack is along the mandrel, then its a thermal crack and means the bead wasn't kept warm enough when you were making it (or it cooled too quickly).
I have sometimes found that beads with brass or silver in them have more tendency to crack than others, so make sure you keep flashing them in/out of the flame as you work them.
If it's any consolation, while that bead probably seems very precious right now, you will soon be making many more such lovelies, so try not to be too gutted x
Thank you for such quick answer,
I'll just try and make another tomorrow :) come to think about it the same thing has happedned to other beads that i put silver in and the encased.
is it just bad luck or do i need to encase silver differently.
Try using a bit less silver next time - they are less likely to crack that way.
Which clear are you using? I use Effetre 006 and get away with batch annealing.
Also, how are you cooling your beads?
x
Hi,
I am using a purple Maxine/Max, and coming down 50 per hour, i was also using lausher (sorry cant spell), it was not cracked when came out, i think i was a bit eager as took them out when said hot it was hot to touch, so i think i will just have to be more patient next time,
But thank you for your help :)
Ah ok. Lauscha can be a bit tempramental so it could be that. I would try them again but this time leave them in the kiln until they are totally cool, and if they don't crack, then you know Lauscha's not the issue x
Lauscha clear does not go well with silver glass in my experience - I love Lauscha, but I never use it with silver glasses any more. I use effetre 006, which does not seem to have so many compatibility issues.
I don't think it has anything to do with thermal cracking, just not compatible.
think julie could be right,
try a different clear and see if that helps,
lauscha is a lovely clear but does have compatability problems some times
usually thermal shock is one straight crack as hels said, compatability cracks can be odd and ramdom ::)
sandy
if the silver ball you mentioned is silver wire you also need to check you are not winding the wire on to tight or it can do the cheese wire thing and cause cracking ...
If you are pressing beads, remember that the press can scuk the heat out of a bead too. Be sure to give it a good warm in the flame aferwards. And if you're got decorations on the bead still give it a good warm but slightly higher up in the flame - this will warm it without melting!
HTH!