Broken beads to cabs

[Lakelady]

I am loath to bin my beautiful disaster beads so thought I would have a go at turning them into cabs.  I found this link:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148189&highlight=beads+cabs

I wondered if anyone does this and has anything to add.  I will be using a Prometheus kiln and won't be able to see what is happening through the spy hole - what to other people do?

Thanks,
Jo x

[Hotglass28]

Start at a low temp and make your way up to see what the temp does to the bead half.  you may like them slightly slumped or you may like the totally melted.

Get experimenting and make lots of notes on what you do. and photos too 

If you happy to open the door and take a peek then do so, but be careful of you eyeballs and eyebrows 

[Lakelady]

Thanks, I will!  Thinking slightly slumped.......would quite like to keep my eyeballs, so it will be a quick peek, rather than a full on ogle!! 

[Hotglass28]

I've ruined a pair of contact lens by peeking in too close. I'm now careful 

[Blue Box Studio]

I put mine on kiln paper and use a slumping schedule I found on here.  If I'm lucky I get a matching pair for cufflinks.  I've an SC2.

[dangerousbead]

I've done broken beads at a fusing temp but they never come out exactly matching in size.

[Lakelady]

I put mine on kiln paper and use a slumping schedule I found on here.  If I'm lucky I get a matching pair for cufflinks.  I've an SC2.

Cufflinks is what I was thinking - would it be really cheeky if I asked which schedule you use?

I've done broken beads at a fusing temp but they never come out exactly matching in size.

I guess that will be an issue.  Still, if I don't get matching sizes, I will set them into silver clay and make pendants!

I've ruined a pair of contact lens by peeking in too close. I'm now careful 

Eek!  That must have been scary...

[Pat from Canvey]

I use 785 deg cent in my big ceramic kiln. No controller except temperature dial and soak switch so I heat up fast, hold for an hour and shut off kiln to cool. It takes about 12 hours. I use fibre paper on the shelf. Makes very good cabochons. Failed marbles work too.

[Lakelady]

Thanks Pat!  I will give it a go. 

[Blue Box Studio]

I put mine on kiln paper and use a slumping schedule I found on here.  If I'm lucky I get a matching pair for cufflinks.  I've an SC2.

Cufflinks is what I was thinking - would it be really cheeky if I asked which schedule you use?

Not sure, it must have been on here somewhere.  I'll be down there later this morning (waiting in for gas man - boiler died yet again) and will write down the numbers for you.  Bear with me and remind me if I don't let you know by tonight!!

[Lakelady]

Thanks Sue.  Much appreciated.   

[Blue Box Studio]

According to my SC2 ...

Ramp 1 220
Temp 1 677
Hold 1 30
Ramp 2 333
Temp 2 816
Hold 2 10
Ramp 3 full
temp 3 516
Hold 3 30
Ramp 4 83
Temp 4 317
Hold 4 0000
Ramp 5 full
Temp 5 80
Hold 5 0000
Ramp 6 0000

If someone else has a better programme I'll try it.  But this seems to work for me.

[Lakelady]

Thanks Sue.  Will post the results of my experiments doing it both ways!  Someone else might find it useful.