Batch Annealing ... Quick Question Please!

[Lush!]

I'm sure the answer is out there, but I'm in a hurry!

I'm about to run a batch anneal for a friend (waves to friend  ) and I just need to check how best to get her 3 trillion babies in the kiln at once!

Can I just pile em up on the floor (SC3) or should I put them in something?  And is a pile okay, actually its more like a mountain - it is alright for them to all be touching isn't it?

If I can put them in a bowl, what kind? Can I use an oven dish?



(I've only ever done one batch anneal before and I'd hate to get this wrong  )

[dangerousbead]

I'm def not an expert or vaguely know what I'm doing but - I've seen a pic on here or wetcanvas of an sc2 with a heap of beads annealing all piled up and touching too. 
Though I play safe and arrange them not touching on 2 shelves

[julieHB]

Hi Julie,

The annealing temperature (520 deg C) is well below the coe104 glass slumping temperature, and you can safely put the beads piled together on the floor or in a steel/copper/crockery container.  Just remember to ramp up fairly slowly.

[Mary]

Just be careful if there are enamels, rubino, or some frits, they can be sticky even at annealing temps.

[julieHB]

Thank you, Mary, I didn't know that (apologise, Julie), and shall remember that for another time. 

[beadysam]

I pop all mine on skewers like kebabs. I balance the kebabs on a broken kiln brick. Putting them all together in a big pile in a bowl or something like that probably isn't a good idea.  The glass is all clumped together and the heat won't be able to penetrate efficiently and some of the inner beads may not be sufficiently annealled.

[Lush!]

Thanks for the advice gals.

Its gonna be impossible to do this without them touching (have you seen how many there are?!!  ) but there's certainly no enamel in there, maybe a little frit.

I think I'll maybe spread one layer on the bottom of my rack, then chop down some skinny mandrels for the kebab idea - but that's gonna have to wait till tomorrow now .. I'm a teensy bit busy today 

[Katiequiggle]

Oh no I'm so sorry, i get so absorbed in it I don't know when to stop, I'm sure people do pile them up, and I promise not to be cross if anything happens to them. 

[flowerjasper]

katie,
send some to me, i have a little wire rack that i balance my bead kebabs on,
being a nosey person would love to see what you have been up to 
sandy

[Katiequiggle]

Ok thanks I'll send you the next lot    I do tend to get a bit carried away and end up with a box full, lots of them are just little beads though and of course some of them are just crap but sometimes theres a few lovlies I'm proud of in there.  I'm trying to use different people to anneal them for me each time so no one gets to fed up with me