Just finished first batch anneal - now what?

[Fruddy]

Okay, I've just finished my first batch annealing programme and have switched off my kiln.

Had a little peek and it seems that all the beads have survived - managed not to nuke them into soup!!  I piled them up into a Pyrex dish and none of them seem to have stuck together.

I actually want to go in to do some torching now and garage the beads that I make, but I am a bit worried about taking the dish of beads that I have just batch annealed out of the kiln - do I need to leave them in there with the door shut until the kiln gradually reaches room temp - which will be a long time.  Is it okay to take them out now?   The kiln temp at the moment is 350 degrees.

Thanks very much.

[helbels]

Hi Fruddy

Don't take them out yet, that's too hot!

Mine switches off at about 250C and gradually cools down.  When it gets to about 65C I crack open the door and normally take them out when they get to about 40C.

If you take them out too early they will crack.

Helen x

[Zeldazog]

Oh, no you mustn't take them out yet!  They could crack from thermal shock if they cool down to quickly.

At about 100 degrees centigrade, you can crack open the door a little bit, so they cool down a bit quicker.  I've taken fusing out (with gloves on!) at about 60 ish, with no detriment, but I know some people don't even open the door until around 70.

[Zeldazog]

oops, cross posted!

If you open the door at around 100, make sure it's only a tiny bit!

[Fruddy]

Ah, thanks chaps!

Good job I asked then!!  This forum is wonderful for advice like this - I would have just hauled the dish out had I not thought to ask and they would have cracked into smithereens!!

Guess its back to the annealing bubbles for tonight then!!!

[Pat from Canvey]

If the kiln is at 350C and you want to start beading again, just restart the program and garage the new beads as you make them once the kiln has reached 520C.

[Fruddy]

If the kiln is at 350C and you want to start beading again, just restart the program and garage the new beads as you make them once the kiln has reached 520C.

Excellent!!!!  Pat - you're a star!!!!