Annealing test results for AH beads

Actually, it really depends on exactly what kind of glass was used to make the beads. Different glass has different coe's, which means a different annealing schedule. For example - Effetre, Lauscha and Vetrofond glasses have a 104 coe, and tend to be annealed for at least 45 minutes at an average of 950F, then cooled slowly to room temp over about 5 hours or so. That can vary a little, but 20 minutes is not long enough, and 920F isn't hot enough. You'd need to know what kind of glass the beads are made of to accurately anneal them, or even get them past their strain point. Beads made in China are not usually Effetre or anything like it.

Patti

what does that prove?

You annealed the beads yourself.... That doesn't prove that they were - or were NOT already annealed.

Bringing an un-annealed bead up to temperature slowly - and annealing it - is called 'batch annealing" by some.... I used to do it in the old days - with small beads - make a bunch - throw them in the kiln and batch anneal.

This does NOT prove they were - or were not- already annealed.

There is one test you can do with the beads - and that is get a polariscope and look at them - if they are not annealed - there will be signs of lots of stress.

Another test - sometimes -if you FREEZE an unannealed bead -- it will crack.....

Try that with a couple - throw them in a baggie- and into the freezer overnight. If the crack - they were most likely not annealed. Cheryl

They claim on the site that 'Most of them are made from Effetre glass' so that would mean they can survive an annealing at that kind of schedule.

-Su

Sign the petition, please!

An interesting note that if you Google 'austin hamilton' the petition is the fifth result on the first page!

Patti -- I thnk it is cool that you did this, and obviously brave of you to post it here. LOL. Good job, girl!!!

I have a question for the general public -- are these mass produced or do they also make some? Because these look a lot like Kyoto Studio's sets and not mass produced:

In other news, I am in LOVE with this set:

Sorry if I posted twice in support of Patti's post. I wrote earlier, but i am in a motel on WiFi which indiscriminately decides to kick me off the internet. I post at the whim of a service. LOL. Becki

Becki,

The first set are AH beads, and the same ones are listed on the website, so IMO they're mass-produced as they certainly aren't made individually by a named artist. And no, AH isn't a 'named artist'.

As for ObiCat's work. Yumm.

-Su

Those are mass produced. All their beads are made in Beijing China. They have just modeled their designs on current trends.

ah HA!!! Then they are getting good in china because those beads used to look a lot worse than these.

ah HA!!! Then they are getting good in china because those beads used to look a lot worse than these.

I'm amazed that she gave me the wrong information. Or, maybe I didn't remember the proper temperature, though I definitely remember the 20 minute part. I wouldn't have bothered to fire my kiln for 45 minutes for this. The beads did change shape a bit since I didn't put them on a mandrel, didn't want flying bits of glass all over my kiln, so now they have a flat back.

Not doing any more tests.

Patti

And I think the fact that the beads slumped a little at 920 shows that they weren't made from Effetre glass. No way should Effetre slump at 920.

-Ellen

Speaking of mass produced beads... What's the deal with JMoore Studios? (not to be confused with Jim Moore). They look and feel mass produced. In spite of the photo of the woodsy cabin.

Tina

Someone else thinks differently and lumps them in with AH and the rest of the sellers who conceal the origin of their beads, mentioning a seller in Las Vegas.

I so dislike people who can't be honest about the place of origin. What the hell does it matter if the beads are made in China? Why not just tell the truth? Obviously people who buy won't pay the same price for Chinese beads as for SRA beads but they deserve to be told the truth.

Once we get enough signatures it will be time to approach eBay, Google and the publishers with the information that people are mad as hell and won't take it any more.

-Su

920 ? They should not be slumping at that temp. at all. I think you may need to check the calibration of your pyrometer.

If they're COE 120, which most of the Chinese factories use, then 920 is well into their slumping range.

Anneal> 920 ? They should not be slumping at that temp. at all. I think you may

I am certain just from looking at them that they're made in China, and I would be willing to buy some and run some testing to back that up.

I have no patience for ripoff artists like this. I will write to them and obtain a statement about where the beads are made, and proceed from there.

The more frauds can be shut down, the safer the market for the buy> Speaking of mass produced beads... What's the deal with JMoore Studios?

Here's another odd claim. It says these were made by a special needs kids

And the rest of these too. Tina

Look at that feedback number too, it's depressing.

Ingrid