Bought my starter kit from Tuffnels at Natwich bead fair.

Got set up and made first beads this week - some have come out quite nice...

Three beads have cracked in half already.

I have been doing some net research - I saw on someones site a bit of a tutorial about annealing she recommended using a CROCK POT on its highest setting with vermiculite in it to put beads in straight after firing.... then getting them to a kiln for annealing....

As anyone used a slow cooker with vermiculite? Does it sound a good idea.. .

And more importantly can anyone spare some kiln time - Im in Colne - Lancashire....

Would love to meet some local lampworkers for fun and tips

Maz

Hello Maz, I'm up t'road in Accrington. I should have a kiln soon, you'll be welcome to pop your beads in it. I'm new to lampworking too, and so is Claire (Clasicat) who lives in Bolton. Piccys please

Many lampworkers will offer to anneal beads for newbies if you are not able to get a kiln straight away. If you ever want to sell your beads though they will need to be annealed really.

If your beads are cracking now, it probably means they are cooling down too quickly. So either you are not getting them into the vermiculite quickly enough, there is not enough vermiculite around them or you are taking them out too quickly. I think this is just one of those practice things and you will soon get an instinct for heat control.

Have fun and good luck and don't forget to post your newbie beads here! We love to see people's work, and their progress too.

Emma

Hiya Maz,

A slow cooker won't anneal your beads but it will stop so many breaking in half, that is so disappointing isnt it?

Fill it up with vermiculite and turn it on a while before you start working so its nice and hot.

When you are making your beads make sure they have cooled enough before you put them into the vermiculite, if they go in while they are too hot they will end up with marks all over them.

Dont let them get too cool or they will crack, I put mine under the table where it is a little darker to see how much of a glow they have.

And Caroline's beads are beeeeeautiful

awwww thank you

And Im in Lancaster! Ive got a kiln and my starter kit came yesterday so Im in the same boat!