Cost of Paragon SC2?

[sparrow]

And if you batch anneal, do you just thread loads of beads onto each mandrel? (sorry about the many silly questions!)

[Mary]

I don't batch anneal, but yes, that's how I used to do it. Bead kebabs! I trimmed some bent mandrels to fit in the chamber with the bead door closed (I usually have it ajar with the mandrels sticking out).

[Carrie-Jane]

Probably a stupid question......

but if you thread loads of beads onto one mandrel then I am assuming that you have to get the mandrels perfectly level using your metal bracket holder thingy when loading otherwise the beads will just slide into each other and stick together?

[Carrie-Jane]

Thanks in advance Q, piccies would be a great help.
I appreciate you posting them, especially with your busy schedule!

I found the following site with all the kilns listed including the BLuebird XL.
http://www.paragonweb.com/Glass_Kilns.cfm

I notice on the Bluebird XL the max temp is shown as 926^oC as opposed to 1093^oC
Would that extra bit of temperature up to 1093 make much difference when doing other stuff apart from bead annealing?
The Bluebird XL is hotter at 926 than the old one (648).

[Mary]

Carrie-Jane, I don't batch anneal now, but when I did I used to use my shelf supports to prop my mandrels on. You can supposedly just pile them on the floor, or in a pan of vermiculite, they shouldn't stick at annealing temps. Just watch rubino and some frits, I'm told they can leave "kiss" marks.