Prototype Bits

julieHB · July 25, 2010, 08:40:29 PM

I agree with Emma!!

fionaess · July 25, 2010, 10:21:30 PM

and me

dangerousbead · July 25, 2010, 10:26:45 PM

They're lovely stirrers. I'd put them in singly a smart presentation box, that would make a gorgeous personal gift. I'm intrigued as to how you made them 'cos I had a go at it last week and they turned out beautifully but the decorative top part cracked. I'd annealed them with some beads. Do they need a different annealing schedule to beads?

Krysia@No98 · July 26, 2010, 11:28:18 AM

(silly question time)

Everyone seems to have made theirs with Boro, is there a particular reason for this?

julieHB · July 26, 2010, 11:39:38 AM

Quote from: Krysia on July 26, 2010, 11:28:18 AM
(silly question time)

Everyone seems to have made theirs with Boro, is there a particular reason for this?

From what I have read, the reason is that boro is much more temperature resistant, i.e. when suddenly being dipped into a very cold or warm drink, or into the dishwasher at high temps. Apart from that there's no obvious reasons as far as i know. It is a bit easier to make off mandrel stuff with boro as well, as you don't have to be so careful to keep everything heated all the time without it cracking. Having said that, I have made xmas decorations in soft glass (icicles) with no problem.

garishglobes · July 26, 2010, 12:09:11 PM

I'd say that is exactly it - temperature change resistance and easier to do sculpture.
Plus of course boro is great glass

Stacy · July 26, 2010, 01:23:31 PM

Quote from: dangerousbead on July 25, 2010, 10:26:45 PM
Do they need a different annealing schedule to beads?

I used the same annealing schedule I use for largish pendants. I did think I would have to use that as a starting point and maybe amend it a bit but when they were cooked I checked them with polarising lens and there were no stress points that I could see.

My biggest worry was my kiln having a bead door. I know with fusing this can cause an issue with the kiln being different temps and I was concerned that as the stirrers were quite long they would be annealing a different temps depending on where they were laying.

Quote from: Krysia on July 26, 2010, 11:28:18 AM
(silly question time)

Everyone seems to have made theirs with Boro, is there a particular reason for this?

I can only agree with Julie and Emma on this. But for me its not really "what can make stirrers with" but "what can I make with boro"... if that makes sense?

dangerousbead · July 26, 2010, 01:34:26 PM

Hmm, I'll have to keep trying.

Krysia@No98 · July 26, 2010, 01:50:44 PM

Stacy - yeah that makes sense.

Thank you for your answers. I am on a hot head and I have heard that boro is particularly slow to melt, to the point of being painful

So I guess this idea for something for my Dads stocking will have to wait for next year. I don't think I'd get away with asking them to make cocktails at room temperature...