Lampwork bead repair?

Can lampworked beads be repaired... say if a thin stringer came off an area... or if a dot/bump came off the bead when the bead was dropped? TIA. :)

poop... :(

But thanks for answering, Cheryl! :))))))

No - but sometimes sellers will remake a bead for you at no cost if one breaks. They shouldn't break under normal circumstances, but stuff happens. :)

Someone gave the name of a glue that works reasonably well. It was quite a while ago, maybe 6 mo or more, and I wish I could remember the name too.

Tina

Someone gave the name of a glue that works reasonably well. It was quite a while ago, maybe 6 mo or more, and I wish I could remember the name too.

Tina>

not any of the superglues

if you can get hold of one of the UV curing adhesives for glass - they work well - but ONLY if you can really get a good UV exposure. I've tried using sun

- and it doesn't cut it.... they really need the special UV curing lamps. if you are in "good " with your dentist - that funny light gun they use to set your resin fillings - that's a UV source. Get some UV glue - and ask your dentist if he will zap your part back on... LOL

Wale sells the UV glue as I recall - yep

Sometimes the really thin stringer isn't anchored as thoroughly as we think it is, and it will spontaneously just kinda pop off. As will dots that have an 'undercut', or aren't melted in enough. That's a design/technique issue, and as a lampworker I would be happy to replace the bead.

If the bead was dropped... well, that's another issue. Yes, lampwork that has been properly annealed is pretty darn sturdy, but it's still glass. The more surface decoration a bead has, the more chance that being dropped will knock something off, even if the bead is well annealed.

I certainly don't mean to speak for other lampworkers, but I would replace a bead damaged by dropping, as well. I would just ask that the customer pay for shipping. I like going the extra yard for clients, even if I'm sometimes excruciatingly slow at getting things finished.

Yes, this is what I almost remembered. Thanks.

Tina

I've repaired beads, but it can be tricky. If you put it in the kiln and take it up slowly to annealing temp, and then *carefully* introduce the bead into the flame so as not to shock it, it can be done. I've had better luck with smaller beads, but have managed some big ones too. It gets more risky with things like fish, with fins, because it's alot easier to shock and break a part a bead like that.

If I remember right, when I was in Pati Walton's class, she said she takes her beads up to 1000 degrees to do a repair, but I've never gone that high, figuring the bead would start to slump. I've just gone up to annealing temp.

Jerri

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bead damaged by dropping, as well. I would just ask that the customer pay for shipping. I like going the extra yard for clients, even if I'm sometimes excruciatingly slow at getting things finished>

Tink spoke well enough for me, the whole message. Things happen in applying decoration, things happen in normal wear. Replacement is a good thing, if it's not one of those wildly unique beads.

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

Yep, me too - exactly. :)

Thank you everyone for your replies. :)))))

Unfortunately, the bead is 'wildly decorated' and one of a very unique set. When the bracelet broke... (the wire broke in the middle of the bracelet on Softflex size 10! - she must have really caught it very hard on something!)... one of the dots applied towards the edge of one bead broke off. It's really hardly noticable - just a tiny depression where the dot used to be.

I'll point it out when I return the repaired bracelet to the purchaser and offer her a bracelet exchange. It wouldn't be 'prudent' cost-wise to have the original lampworker make me another bead to match, as I also repair or replace my jewelry creations at no charge to the customer. Good PR, that.

Thanks again! :))))))))

Ohhh :( I'm sad for the bead and for you! I am sure the owner of the bracelet will be okay with it as long as the "dent" isn't very noticeable.

That's it exactly, Kandice! "Sad for the bead..." exactly what I feel over any of my broken beads, but up until this point in time, they've only been crystals or Czech, etc... never had an artisan made lampworked bead break on me yet! I guess that says something for their 'bouncability"!

Just think on this for a miunte... the lampworked beads you're making now are going to outlive you for hundreds of years! >boggle< :)

Yeah, who knows...in a couple thousand years time once we start living off-planet people might dig up "ARTifacts". Your beads. Ok ok, I've been reading too much lately haven't it?

Valerie Website:

Yeah - I was thinking about this last week - in hundreds of years - thousands if I am lucky, people of this planet (if we're still here that is) will be digging up the beads made now and wondering about the culture that made them. This is such a deep and cool thought.

No such thing as reading too much!! :)

Yeah. And they will probably debate whether or not we annealed. LOL!

I agree, but some people think so...a lot of people I know think that when you read you are being lazy. I completely disagree, your MIND isn't being lazy. :-)

Valerie Website:

Sigh. Silly people. For me books are like beads - you can't have too many (well until you move - then you can have too many!!)