Pinks Cracking

[ShinySnail]

I had a pink session last night, and made a few beads using Gold Violet, Gold Ruby and Pink Lady.

When I peeked into my bubbles this morning pretty much everything had cracked!
I was mainly using them over white, adding a little decoration and not encasing.
I should be getting a kiln soon, will this be the answer to all my pink problems?

While I'm here, I was treating the Gold Violet and Gold Ruby as I would Rubino... (because of the 'gold' bit!)
Do I need to?

Thanks,
Anna

[Trudi]

There shouldn't be any reason at all.

Did you let them cool too much before you put them on the bubbles? What were the crack like? Straight down the holes?

[ShinySnail]

Hi Trudi,
I don't normally have this problem with other colours, the cracks are straight up the sides as though they could break in half.

I didn't really hang about before putting them into the bubbles, but I'm not very experienced so perhaps I was working them too cool using my Rubino theory... I have only ever used Rubino once before and though I got a lovely colour that bead broke in half too.

hmmm maybe that's it, perhaps I need to be a bit less scared of getting the pink glass too hot!

[Trudi]

Hi

This does sound like a thermal crack. Rubino doesn't like a reduction flame - it works better in an oxidising one. So if you're on a hot head you're better working further out in the flame. But you should be able to give them a good heat (not cook!).

NB - that all being the rule, I did have a batch of Rubino that when heated more gave a more golden/brown colour. But with these fancy glass's they will vary from batch to batch sometimes!

Hope that helps!

Trudi x

[ShinySnail]

Ok thanks, I think it deff sounds like I'm doing something wrong here then!
Will have a play and see how it goes - I'm using a minor but have been working far out in the flame to try to keep the bead as cool as poss so perhaps this is why

Thanks for you help   

[Trudi]

No worries - don't be afraid of the glass, and just control the flame by adjusting either the oxygen or propane!