Bubbles in long beads - Help?

[noora]

When I try to make barrels, bicones and similar long beads in dark ivory, I keep getting bubbles in the glass. They simply surface from within the bead and pop to create huge craters I haven't made that many long beads in other colours, but my impression is that I mainly have this problem with dark ivory. What am I doing wrong? Does the dark ivory scum easily, or am I trapping air when I'm winding the glass?

[Kalorlo]

It sounds like you're trapping air - try keeping the first wrap hot while you put on the second, and kind of push the second towards the first as you wrap it on. They'll melt together right away and that should stop air getting trapped between them.

[Redhotsal]

This happens to me constantly, as one of the bad habits I have developed over the years is not heating my mandrel sufficiently before applying the glass.Plus I make LOTS of ivory beads.

To minimise the bubbles make sure your bead release is really well heated along the whole length of the coated section, heat it 'til it glows orange. The bubbles are coming from the gases which are trapped in the bead release. Ivory is so soft and floppy that it covers the bead release before it can "vent" out the the bubbles. Try heating the mandrel quite strongly along the entire length which is to be covered before you lay on the glass. Bet you it makes a huge difference!  

[noora]

Oh, thank you, I didn't think about how I heat the mandrel. I'll give that a try :-) And I'll try to be more careful about not trapping air between the wraps.

[Veebee]

I always make a base core of (rubbish) clear to wrap the ivory onto, the ivory isn't so gloopy and prone to bubbles then....

[Betty the Chook]

I had this problem too when I first started. And Redhotsal has exactly the solution that worked for me...... again.

[noora]

I always make a base core of (rubbish) clear to wrap the ivory onto, the ivory isn't so gloopy and prone to bubbles then....

Oh, that sounds like a good idea too! Thanks I've read about using a base core several times, but I never get around to trying it.

[beadammed]

I had the same problem last night.  I'm going to try Sal's advice next time I get to the shed.

[kaatje]

You may also try to marver the first thin setup very firmly. That way you squeeze out the air relatively easy.