Annealing

[Niki Gough]

Hi,

This may be a silly question but would flame annealing be enough on small beads to be able to add them to Jewellery that I make? I made my first beads into a charm bracelet and have been asked to make one for someone else but I don't have a kiln so wondered if I could just flame anneal them? I know it is nowhere near as good as kiln annealing but just thought that as the beads will be small would it be enough?

Any help/advice welcome
Thanks
Niki x

[Hamilton Taylor]

No, sorry.
Glass is either annealed, or not annealed.
It is possible to flame anneal acceptably, but takes a lot of experience, and is often un-confirmable (if that's a word...)
There are lots of lovely people on here who will happily offer you kiln space, until you get your own.
We do annealing for £10 per 100 beads, plus postage,  but many people will do it for free.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news....

Sean

[June]

There is a thread on here Niki giving names of people. I'm not sure I am on it, but I would do them too. You just need to send them off with the return postage in stamps  . Where are you based in case there is somebody nearby?

[ARBeads]

Sean missed a chance to add this link which I've shamelessly pinched from his FB  page

http://gizmodo.com/5992072/these-exploding-droplets-of-glass-are-a-bewildering-quirk-of-physics

It's extreme, but gives an idea why we should be annealing anything we expect people to wear.

[Lakelady]

Sean missed a chance to add this link which I've shamelessly pinched from his FB  page

http://gizmodo.com/5992072/these-exploding-droplets-of-glass-are-a-bewildering-quirk-of-physics

It's extreme, but gives an idea why we should be annealing anything we expect people to wear.

I am so pinching this 

[garishglobes]

Just don't pinch the glass 

[Redhotsal]

Oh gawd - the number of times I've called the wretched things Prince Alberts, too! 
Bit extreme, the old Prince Ruperts - as you haven't got the tail on beads - and it's the tail which causes the stress buildup.
I think we worked out that you had to flame anneal for about 30minutes - gradually turning the flame down to nil,  to do the job properly. As others have said - it's probably best to anneal in a kiln. Life's too short.... 

[♥♥Tan♥♥]

What about Indian and Chinese beads, I don't think they are annealed, they are carp and fall apart pretty easily but you could maybe add a disclaimer somewhere explaining the situation.

Of course, thats not the best start to your bead making career having to tell people that their beads might blow up!

[Nicknack]

Finally managed to watch it all the way through - it kept going back to the beginning .  Does it do that for anyone else, or is it just me?  Probably just me - there's always one, and I'm usually the one!

Nick

[Niki Gough]

Thanks all for the replies, will definitely be getting them kiln annealed then as want to do things properly.

June - thanks I will try to find the thread - I live in Leicestershire - Market Harborough/Corby side.

And as for that video - wow, amazing!!

[ARBeads]

You should have no problems finding someone your way to anneal them, there's quiet a few lampworkers over that direction. Here's the link to the forum thread http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1939.0

[Niki Gough]

Thank you ARBeads x

[June]

If you get stuck, Niki, pm me. I will be at Flame Off, so by all means bring them with you if you want me to anneal them for you 

[Niki Gough]

That is so kind of you June, thank you so much x x x

[Redhotsal]

What about Indian and Chinese beads, I don't think they are annealed, they are carp and fall apart pretty easily but you could maybe add a disclaimer somewhere explaining the situation.

Always thought there was something fishy about those beads.......

Di East lives in Enderby - she is a lovely person and probably would be happy to anneal. She also does great evening classes too which are really good for someone starting out (and for more intermediates too!)