Beginning to really hate annealing bubbles! :(

[KatheL]

I don't have a kiln myself, get my beads batch annealed at a friends workshop, so I am using vermiculite. In the beginning I used it cold and LOTs cracked - then I dug out DH's old slow-cooker that he brought from England and put the powder in there. That worked wonders, didn't take long to warm up, I just kept it on middel temp while beading.
Made some pretty big beads this way!  Unfortunately the slow-cooker died, and they are not available in DK, so now I am using an hotplate and a steel pot, but I find it difficult to control the temperature.
I have just ordered some annealing bubbles, just to try out the difference...

Kathe, Denmark

[awrylemming]

Can nobody send you one over?  Or can you buy from  here and have it shipped?  I'll have a look around for you if you like.

[KatheL]

Thanks Sue,
shipping one over would of course be an option, but I just spend ALL my pennies (including next few months pocketmoney) on a BOBCAT torch, oxyconcentrator and loads of glass - now just waiting for it to arrive, hopefully sometime next week!
But you give me an idea, I will post a wanting add under swapping - I do silver finding thingies!
Kathe, Denmark