Imcompatability?

[helenfc]

i shall indeed, the plan is in action! fingers crossed the others survive tonight in the kiln. if not live and learn

[Les]

Never mind ... I've learned the hard way too

[silverlemon]

Aw, sorry to hear this.

It doesn't sound like thermal shock if it goes horizontal to the hole and unfortunately if they are cracked but survived you won't be able to heal them in the kiln on your anneal cycle as the annealing temp isn't high enough to melt the glass and heal a crack back together.

Are you pressing the beads? Flatter beads are harder to cool in vermiculite as they cool unevenly.