Couple questions for lampworkers

I love bubbles, too :-)

I'm on my way to bed, so I'm just going to say that it's highly unlikely that anything like that would happen. You *do* want to make sure you buy annealed beads. When glass is heated, it builds up stress in the glass. The beads have to be cooled slowly in a controlled environment to eliminate as much of the stress as possible.

Air bubbles are a commonly used inclusion in all sorts of glass work, including beads, marbles and paperweights. Like so:

KLUNK!!

Wow is that also faceted/cut? Fantastic.

Tina

"Tink" wrote

No faceting. Just handshaping... Here is Prairieson's take on this technique, which is a Dominic Labino thing. This was his first attempt whatsoever at hot glass:

Gorgeous.

Tina

Bubbles, either accidental or deliberate, are not a factor in stability of the bead. BTW, I do take requests.

Bubbles most certainly can exist in beads. I make a bead design with (counting toes) 18 small bubbles deliberately introduced. They're annealed slowly so the stress is removed.

I want to say that large bubbles are more of a problem, but I had a cool paperweight (my ex got them for me, then took them with him when he moved out) with one very large teardrop-shaped bubble rising up through the center, and surrounded by another bubble ring. Now maybe it's doomed, but it survived 17 years so far. I believe the thickness of the encasing glass and proper annealing are what keep it "alive."

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

I take custom orders and requests at my web site in my sig. :) I'd be happy to create beads based on your cloud pics. As for bubbles - I agree with those who have posted - as long as the bead is annealed, you should not have any problems. I am not sure you would have any problems even if the bead isn't annealed (although I would not recommend buying un-annealed beads). Annealing reduces the stress in the glass by cooling it slowly - any formations, including bubbles, become stable. The only time an explosion would occur is if you introduced a bead quickly into a very hot flame after it has been cooled down. Anyway - good luck! :)

Would you sing the Muppet Show theme song? Diana

What would happen if you dropped a very hot bead into a bucket of ice water? Diana... curious about the most mundane things... that is.. I think I know .. but hey, lets ask the experts!

Diana... curious about the most mundane things... that is.. I think I know .. but hey, lets ask the experts!<

Think "explosive decompression". Or, for those who are FX inclined.....*zing* *pop* *pow* *hiss*!!!!!!!

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 10:12:22 -0500, Diana Curtis wrote (in message ):

It¹s time to play the music. It¹s time to light the lights It¹s time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight.

It¹s time to put on makeup. It¹s time to dress up right It¹s time to raise the curtain on the Muppet Show tonight.

Why do we always come here I guess we¹ll never know It¹s like a kind of torture To have to watch the show

And now let¹s get things started Why don¹t you get things started It¹s time to get things started On the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational This is what we call the Muppet Show!

(Gonzo blows his trumpet - or at least attempts to.)

Kathy N-V

I would say that you only have to worry about air bubbles if they are really large in comparison to the bead they are in (this doesn't include hollow beads since there are already holes on two sides), but even then there might not be a problem. It all depends on how well the the bead was annealed. Typically the bubbles you see in beads are much smaller than they appear. This is because the transparent glass that is over them tends to magnify them.

There are lots of beadmakers who take requests. I would suggest that you go to one of the lampworking forums and ask if anyone makes what you are looking for, or would be willing to. Be sure to post a picture if you can. I would expect you would get more than a couple of responses.

It would shatter immediately. :)

Carol in SLC My latest creation (11/10):

That's my favorite combo, too!! It really is a gorgeous paperweight... I need to take a new picture of it.

He then proceeded to "warn" me not to buy beads like that, because if they get hot, they will explode! Heh Well, this disturbs me, since I love beads with bubbles. So, last question, does this EVER happen?

not very likely--- the bead would have to be pretty damn hot -- hot enough your clothes would be on fire.... and you'd be screaming HOT HOT HOT

lol

Cheryl of DRAGON BEADS Flameworked beads and glass

No faceting. Just handshaping... Here is Prairieson's take on this technique, which is a Dominic Labino thing. This was his first attempt whatsoever at hot glass:

OH SHIT! I love the colors!

Cheryl of DRAGON BEADS Flameworked beads and glass

What would happen if you dropped a very hot bead into a bucket of ice water? Diana... curious about the most mundane things... that is.. I think I know .. but hey, lets ask the experts!>

You get crackle glass..... LOL

that is how they made "crackle marbles" back in the 60's and how they make "crackle beads" today

Cheryl of DRAGON BEADS Flameworked beads and glass

I just read in a magazine last night that that is a popular way of making frit. Since I am not a lampworker, I have no clue what frit is, but I remembered the technique, because I thought it would be kinda fun to watch a bead shatter like that;o) LOL They said the other way is to put beads in something and whack 'em with a hammer.