Exploding beads

Passionatelamper · October 08, 2010, 09:39:22 PM

Ok so I admit it, I have not had a good day today.....too long to go into.
So tonight I thought I would chill out and do beads even though I am totally exhausted.
Wrong decision!! has anyone experienced this please?
Beads kept exploding...nothing was going right, I thought I would use up some of the short ends I have left...My goodness me... I was being aimed at from all directions, can anyone explain this to me?
Nothing was going right...Could it be that the rods that were small and all in a box maybe were cracked or something?
Being a newbie I was a little worried what was going to happen next.
Maybe I should call it a day and go to bed with my Horlicks..
I am so mad at myself...I did manage to get a frog on a bead done, but even he looks sick!!
Not been at this lampwork for long I love it to bits, but maybe tonight I should have just sat down and read my 'Passing the flame' Will try again tomorrow...
I want to do all these beads and nothing was coming to me tonight.
I think the moral of the story is don't do lampworking when your knackered.
Nite all xxx

♥♥Tan♥♥ · October 08, 2010, 09:48:42 PM

Are you saying the actual beads were exploding or the shorts you were using to make the beads? I have never heard of beads exploding except when they are left to cool for too long and are put back into the flame?

Passionatelamper · October 08, 2010, 09:51:03 PM

Yes there was a loud pop and then they fell apart I was working as normal..I don't really understand it to be honest..3 times in a row it happened I was puzzled. $:-\$

Jolene · October 08, 2010, 09:58:22 PM

The beads that made a loud pop and fell apart? Maybe they were out of the flame for too long while you were selecting what shorts to use? The only time I have had a bead behave like that was, like Tan said, introducing it back in to the flame when it is too cool.

beadysam · October 08, 2010, 10:01:17 PM

Yep, the only time I've ener known it happen is when a bead is too cool. The only other thing I can think of (a very long shot!) is the warm but damp weather effecting the bead release?... $:-\$

Kaz · October 08, 2010, 10:04:15 PM

Or your propane is on its way out and the beads not hot enough in the radiant heat and therefore cooling whilst on the mandrels?
Kazx

lampworklover · October 08, 2010, 10:06:49 PM

Where is your torch? Might it be a draught?

When I first started I was in the dining room at my old house, and had to work with the patio doors wide open as ventilation. I had a hollow and a couple of discs pretty much do the same 'exploding' thing when the wind blew through if someone opened the other doors. ( I am now lucky enough to have a proper studio with proper ventilation, and it hasn't happened in there).

Passionatelamper · October 08, 2010, 10:27:29 PM

Ah I think that was it Tina as the window was open to my right behind me blowing the torch flame...it cannot be the propane as I have not had it long I think it was the draft from the window..... thank you

Passionatelamper · October 08, 2010, 10:35:54 PM

As an after thought what does everyone do with their short?

dangerousbead · October 08, 2010, 10:38:31 PM

I put them in a box and promise myself I will get a rod holder . . . one day. :-)

Lyn G · October 08, 2010, 10:41:29 PM

If you melt it onto the end of another rod of the same colour when it gets down to about 3 or 4 inches, you will never end up with lots of shorts.

Passionatelamper · October 08, 2010, 10:45:37 PM

Lyn your a GENIUS

Kalorlo · October 08, 2010, 11:21:30 PM

I've started making mine into stringer as I need it: I've got some of Maria Louisa's stainless steel chopsticks, so I melt the entirety of the short onto the end of one chopstick in a plug shape, then attach the other chopstick and pull it all out. Leave it for a minute and it'll just fall off the ends of the chopsticks as they cool. Then cut/break it into usable lengths. The ends that were on the chopsticks will have little cup shapes - you can just throw those away as they're utterly miniscule amounts of glass and probably have black stuff on the inside from where they were attached.

SilverGems89 · October 08, 2010, 11:24:41 PM

I save my shorts with the view of one day fusing them

Kaz · October 08, 2010, 11:32:19 PM

I got me one of these excellent gadgets and you end up with short of about 1/2 an inch which I chuck away!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/39026944/graceful-studios-hold-me-tight-rod?ref=sr_gallery_12&ga_search_query=rod+holder&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title
Kazx