I made a goddess last night, must have spent too long examining her because when I took her out of the kiln this morning I see a thermal crack along the mandrel between the legs, this is just at one end about one quarter of the bead and the rest is intact. :(
I read with interest the discussion last week about reheating a cold bead in the kiln and reintroducing to the flame to correct things that were not just as wished for. I have 'mended' cracks by blast heating in the flame though it would be just immediately the crack appeared. I just wondered if anyone had mended a cracked bead this way or would it be madness to even try?
I have done this with cracked beads and it mostly works well, but I haven't done it with anything as big or complex as a goddess! But what have you got to lose by giving it a go?
You can mend them, I have, but to be honest its much easier to repair a crack at the neck than legs. You will probably need to completely remelt the legs to ensure the crack has gone and you haven't just masked it by remelting the surface. I don't bother doing it anymore it takes to much time and I'm never quite happy with the reshaped bead. But it is doable.
I agree with Samantha, I usually just sadly accept it's for the bin......
I agree with Silver Gems but another option, if you really like the top three quarters of the bead is to take it off the mandrel and grind away the legs ( thus getting rid of the crack ) on a flat lap if you have access to one.
Or melt the legs together and make a mermaid? ??? :)
Quote from: Margram on June 02, 2013, 01:24:41 PM
Or melt the legs together and make a mermaid? ??? :)
Good idea.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this. I think I wont reheat as I'm still nervous that it might ping a big bit at me. If I cant consign her to the bin I might get hubby to chop her legs off with the bandsaw as I dont have a flatlap (but maybe I might need one of those soon!) then finish with silicone carbide grit.
Probably best to just start another one!
Thanks everyone
Helen x
If you're keeping for yourself there is always the option of using superglue over the crack
Quote from: Shirley on June 02, 2013, 10:38:07 PM
If you're keeping for yourself there is always the option of using superglue over the crack
What a good idea! As she has a crack I wouldnt give her to anyone but maybe she would make a nice keyring for me. Keeper of the keys to my kingdom, slightly cracked like her mistress!