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January 17, 2004 at 8:22 pm #983871
I just bought my first pound of Moretti Avocado and I was so disappointed. Everytime I put it in the flame it would explode and shatter. I think I wasted so much of each rod. I tried warming it up first so it wouldn’t be so shocky, but then it would break further down the rod.
Any advice out there?
Maria
My Etsy Shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LepoppetLampworkJanuary 17, 2004 at 8:32 pm #1021679Well, I thought for sure you were going to say you put a whole avocado in the microwave!
I’ve had that happen to me with edp and copper green and mosaic green. I’m sorry I don’t have any solutions. It did seem like when it happened to me it was only one rod and not the whole batch.January 17, 2004 at 8:37 pm #1021672I’m with Lisa, I had visions of avocado everywhere!! Instant guacamole!!! I sometimes put my expoding glass in the kiln and run it through an annealing cycle. It helps once in a while. Sometimes, nothing helps.
The only "trick" is time and practice.
January 17, 2004 at 8:45 pm #1021681I thought it was just me! Makes me crazy. I will merrily build up a base bead, and just when I am almost done, the freaking rod shatters!!!!! What’s up with that? Are the glass gods trying to up my already sky-high blood pressure? What’s a girl to do? I end up with something looking like a decent base bead with a quarter inch stick hanging off to the side. ARGH!
Rebekah
I'd love to kiss you, but I just washed my hair...
Never lift more than you can eat... Miss Piggy
January 17, 2004 at 9:06 pm #1021671Hi:
The handmade colors are just that, handmade and thus have a lot of bubbles in them. Look at the end of your rod, you may see a hole/bubble. I have had this happen to me, infact today with me it was EDP. I just heat REALLY slow. Even slower than normal, kinda with the edge of the rod only in the flame.
Lara
PS – Super slowly heat.
It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." George W Bush
January 17, 2004 at 11:14 pm #1021677Hi Maria,
I hate when that happens! I once had a rod of the most gorgeous purple opaque, not sure which, but that thing popped to the bottom, I was so frustrated! If it is really bad, maybe you could make frit from the rest and just pull stringer from it and roll beads in it. I have also had EDP do this, but not every time, just a rod here and there.Good Luck!
Maria Perez-Bastian
Queen Glass Designs
Etsy Shop
(Benjamin Twiggs)January 17, 2004 at 11:29 pm #1021675I had the same problem, an entire rod when I bought my pound, it came in different widths. The thinner rods were usable, it’s such an awesome color when it’s not making guacamole :rolleyes: ~Leisa
January 18, 2004 at 12:04 am #1021678I’m with a couple others… I thought you were talking about food! Didn’t hurt that I had just sat down with a bowl of guacamole and some tortilla chips.
Emma
"Many had previously tried to prove the existence of God - or at any rate to bring him within the bounds of rationality. But if you content yourself with some such proof or logical argument, you suffer a loss of faith, and with it, a loss of religious passion. Because what matters is not whether Christianity is true, but whether it is true for you." Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World Chapter: Kierkegaard
January 18, 2004 at 9:48 am #1021680Well, at least I got everyone’s attention with the title. Thanks for input. I’m going to try annealing the rest of my rods this morning.
Maria
My Etsy Shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LepoppetLampworkJanuary 18, 2004 at 11:52 am #1021673Maria,
I just introduce them into the flame slowly and/or flash the tip in and out. With avocado, sage green and any of the alabasters, you have to do with or spit, spit, boing!
I have never bothered annealing them them, since I suspect that they would still do the same thing if you introduce them into a hot flame after they have cooled down.
Now a rod preheater might be worthwhile if you were doing a lot of work in that one color. Also, using smaller diameter rods or pulling stringers does cut down on the spitting.
Debbie
January 18, 2004 at 3:20 pm #1021674I started a thread quite some time ago entitled, “Shocking Avocado.” Since then I haven’t had that problem; must be the new batch. Anyway, with the old batch, I would pre-heat on a hot plate or lean it up against my mini-marver.
Hang in there, you’re right, it’s worthwhile color.Ellen Altamore, Allegan, MI
Find it - Fix it - Move on!!!
Ellen Alive BlogJanuary 18, 2004 at 4:28 pm #1021676Ellen is correct, a hot plate works wonders. Here is how you do it: Buy yourself a single burner electric hot plate. Next get yourself a piece of metal, the size can vary, no larger than 8 by 10 inches, but it can be as small as 5 by 8 inches. You want to be sure that the metal is thick enough that it will not warp or change shape when heated. I have found that one that is 1/8 inch thick works great, but smaller will work if that is what is available. I have used stainless steel and it works fine, but other metals might work as well. Now place the metal plate on the hot plate. Next find yourself a brick, that’s right a regular red brick. Anything that size will work just as good. If you are using a brick, I suggest taking a sheet of aluminum foil and wrapping the brick to make it nice and clean. Now you want to position the brick in the correct spot, and for me since I am right handed I put the brick on the right side of my torch around a foot away from the edge of the table. Then I put the hotplate with the metal plate about 6 inches further. What I am looking for is a good position for me, one that works and is comfortable. Next you lay a 13 inch glass rod so that about 4 inches of it is on the hot plate, with the other end resting on the brick. If the rod is not laying flat on the metal plate, use a piece of anything (cardboard works fine) and use it as a shim and shim up the hot plate or brick, depending upon what needs to be raised. Plug in your hot plate and I recommend it on medium. DO NOT FORGET to unplug when you are finished for the day. Not only can you put bunches of different glass rods on the hot plate, you can put goldstone and millefiori (these really like to explode)! Now you place your EXPLODING AVACODO on the hot plate and in a matter of minutes one side of the glass rod will be around 300-400 degress, while the side resting on the brick should be room temperature. By picking up your avacado at this higher temperature and then slowly begin heating in the torch you will have less problems than before. Annealling it will also help and doing all of the above will make your beadmaking more fun! And this method will save your propane and oxygen as will not any longer need to be the ‘drummer person’ or ‘band leader’, no more waving in the flame.
Mike F
Mike Frantz, President
Frantz Art Glass & Supply
130 W Corporate Road
Shelton, WA 98584 USA
Toll Free 1-800-839-6712
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