Lampwork FAQs
Dec 27th, 2009 by Andrea
What is the SRA? What is the ISGB?
SRA; Self Representing Artists
ISGB: International Society of Glass Beadmakers
When you say your beads are annealed, what does that mean?
Glass contracts as it is heated and expands as it cools, the opposite of ice. You know how when you take ice cubes out of the freezer they make a CRACKing sound? They are contracting too fast, and the stress cracks the ice cube. Glass expands, and if it cools down too fast, it will also crack. Therefore to be strong it has to spend time sitting at certain temperatures to help even out any stress left in it because of its melting and cooling, and then it has to be cooled down in a controlled fashion, very slowly. I let my glass cool down overnight. Digital controlling means that the kiln program of controlled cooling is more precise and uniform than if I adjusted the temperature manually.
When you say you clean your beads, what does that mean?
Beads also have to be cleaned, to remove the white gunk in the holes. That is bead release, and it keeps each bead from sticking to the mandrel (in theory; ask me about my collection of plant stakes sometime!). It should be as thoroughly removed as possible. Some scratching in the hole and some cloudiness is normal.