Finally playing with my pixie dust after having it sit on the shelf for ages. I've used it a few times, encased with no problems ( I can't do the surface thing yet, it just wipes off!).
I got this from the kiln this morning, cleaned it and found these curved fractures, I can feel them with my nail.
'scuse the big pics -
(http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u80/crystalNess_photos/nesssept10235.jpg)
(http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u80/crystalNess_photos/nesssept10234.jpg)
Can anyone suggest what caused it? It's not thermal and it doesn't look like any incompatibility I've seen (not seen much though).
Did I do it with the Dremel when I cleaned it? The bead is 006 clear with pixie dust encased again in 006, with Kalypso and more 006.
what a bugger looks like a lovely bead >:(
i have no idea but it looks like it comes from the hole so could be the cleaning process ???
They look like flat squished air bubbles. You sure they're cracks? X
Is it just that one area or both ends? I've had that effect with Lauscha where I've encased stuff it didn't like. You might want to try a couple of test beads and have a look through polarising filters.
Definitely cracks, at one end only. Very sad :'(
I think I'll have to get some polarising filters anyway - I've always meant to get some just to check my annealing. Thanks for reminding me of them, Sam. Will give you a shout when I have some dosh. :-*