Problems with Ring Toppers

[Sarah9959]

Where am I going wrong?

I have read Sabine's advice about using the mandrel and nuts, but still find that about 50% of those I make break.

I have tried heating the nut very hot - but think that makes the metal expand and they break when it contracts.
I have tried not so hot, but still they break
I try to ensure I heat the bead evenly before putting in the annealing bubbles and have experimented with various thicknesses - all to no avail.

Do they only really work with small toppers? 

I am trying to make larger ones as I like big rings - is this where I am going wrong?

HELP

Sarah

[JKC]

I haven't had any break, but I don't use bubbles, maybe that is the problem. Janet

[Trudi]

Do you warm underneath where the nut is before putting in the bubbles. The metal will loose heat faster than the glass so it is a weak point.

[MadelineBunyan]

I make big ones that dont always break.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/3571170 I consider this one pretty large.

but mine go straight into a kiln after a very thorough warming.

[jammie]

I make quite big too but straight in the kiln for me as well!

[sparrow]

I think the annealing bubble might be the problem - my roses are anything but small, but yes, they go in the kiln, too. One way around it would be to glue the nut in afterwards - loads of people do that in Germany. You could either dip the nut in bead release, make it on the nut, then take it off, clean the hole & nut and glue the nut back in, or you can make them on the end of a 4mm or 5mm mandrel, and glue the nut in afterwards...does that help? 

[Sarah9959]

Thanks everyone.

Think I will try warming the nut again before putting it in the bubbles and also trying to make them on the end of a mandrel and glue the nut in afterwards.

Not going to garage quite yet as prefer to batch anneal if possible.

Many thanks again

Sarah

[MangoBeads]

Sadly they really don't like the annealing bubble

[sarah t]

if you want to make anything bigger than a basic bead i think you will have to bite the garaging bullet .....it opens up so many more possibilities in your bead making and increases the chances of survival

[jammie]

I think so too, I garage everything and don't have problems with cracking! Probably better than the disappointment of losing something you've worked on. You could always just make ring tops at a sitting and garage them then batch anneal everything else as usual.   That's assuming you have a kiln of course! 

[micpru]

I have had trouble with bubbles I'm afraid too......

[crissi]

 IDIOT ALERT>>>>> ok being a newbie making ring toppers with nuts what is that can someone tell me please and what does the term garaging meen 

[Pat from Canvey]

Crissi, did I show you my ring with the screw on tops when I saw you at the market? If not, come round and I'll show you how they're made.

[crissi]

yes pat you did show me your gorgeous ring you made, but i still dont get it will have to make a date with you

[sarah t]

garaging is putting beads etc straight into the kiln when made then running the annealing program when the kiln is full or you have finished making for the day (batch annealing is cooling the beads in bubbles /vermiculite then annealing from cold in one big batch )

re ring toppers check out sabrine's (sparow) web site