Bead release & low humidity?

[rainygrrl]

I have researched online - some others have attributed breaking bead release to low humidity, but there doesn't seem to be a clear solution. I have some ideas but I'm looking for additional suggestions. Or at least moral support.

I'm having problems with bead release cracking in my new studio. I don't think that user error is the main culprit, since I've been making beads off and on for about 25 years. Even when I've restarted after a couple of years it's been rare for me to break the release. Now it's happening probably 1/3 of the time, sometimes when I begin to wrap glass on and other times much later during decoration. I'm not sure but it may have been less of a problem before the weather warmed up. Very frustrating!

What I know has changed:
- move from minnesota to montana = much lower humidity. Typically 20-25% in the studio, has been as low as 14% at some point.
- higher altitude, but I'm still below 5000 feet.
- I had been using a mix of at least 3 types of BR for years, not in particular proportions so the mix varied over time but always worked well.
- Weather has been toasty lately, so temps in the studio have been around 90F (uninsulated garage). I previously had AC. I've been aiming a small fan at my butt to be more comfortable.

I started with new bottles of BR just a couple months ago: FF (smooth & tuff I think), fusion, and CG. I have used FF and fusion routinely over the years. I noted that the Fusion was much thinner than I remembered.



I mix by shaking with wonkies, at least as long as I ever did. And I scrape the drier stuff into the mix.


I'm air drying. I suspect that flame drying would make things worse if anything, but I haven't tried it.

Things I plan to try, based on my online research:
- Thin with distilled water slightly more than I ordinarily would. They thicken up pretty darned quickly, even though I store the bottles upside down.
- Scrub my mandrels before dipping. I haven't done that in a long while, but that's how I roll.
- Try a mix of the 3 BRs.
- Maybe start storing in the house, or even refrig to slow down evaporation?


Other ideas? TIA!

[FosterFire]

Lemme know if you need my phone number and I'm sure we can figure it out. I can offer this info - I used to make and use FosterFire in Arizona at (sometimes) 2-3% humidity. My bead release doesn't need humidity to work. Can you post picture of freshly dipped mandrel? It would also help if I knew which of my formulas you're using!

[rainygrrl]

Thanks Robin. I'll do that. Maybe it is user error after all.

[rainygrrl]

I’m having technical issues uploading the pic. Hope to get it worked out soon.
BTW, just to be clear, I’m certain that none of these 3 high quality BRs are causing my problem. It’s something situational.

[rainygrrl]

Okay. I scrubbed my mandrels thoroughly with Dawn, rinsed, then air dried. Thinned and mixed each BR. Then dipped a few mandrels. The pic shows FF on the right, last dipped. This took only a few minutes but you can see how quickly the others dried, especially the one on the left. I also mixed the three and dipped a few mandrels. I’m letting everything dry overnight, probably close to 23 hours. Temp 85F and humidity 23% when I did it.

[KJohn]

Ok -perhaps you want to work on your timing as well. You have to heat the mandrels in the spot before you touch down the glass, not tug at all, and keep it all warmed enough or you'll hear that dreaded *tink*
It's like a little dance in the fire LOL but the timing is usually the first thing you forget. You are going too fast or not enough heat, etc. so it might just take a few days and some patience?
Also the water may have changed? The temp that the bead release is held at might matter, but i don't know if colder is better.
I used to use a mix until I somehow screwed it up and it was breaking on me no matter what I did. I had to start over *sob* but it was much better then.
You could also check your torch. Your ratio of propane to oxy might have changed and you will need to adjust your torch.
It might just all be a part of settling back in. I hope you are otherwise enjoying it!

[rainygrrl]

Thanks Kristin,
I use distilled water and always adjust my flame at the torch, so I don't think those are factors. I do heat the mandrels but I'll pay more attention to my timing.

[KJohn]

Sometimes I have that flaking release and it drives me nuts. It seems to be something different each time so I have a list LOL.

If you have checked all that, then humidity might be a factor? I run a dehumidifier in my studio, and ours tends to be low anyway. So I'm no expert on that but I always thought higher humidity was worse? Fingers crossed, I hope this time is the charm for you. You should pop into the gallery Show & Tell. we would love to see your new studio! And your new beads

[Woonasty]

Bead release breaking when youre making beads means your glass is too cold and its tugging at the release.
Atleast thats my experience.

If its just cracking on its own, as part of the drying process, then definitely try thinning it out, mixing releases, etc until you find a way that works.

When i was using devardi and fireworks releases they always dried looking like a cracked river bed. Now that i switched to fosterfire regular they dry perfectly smooth every time and i can just pull the beads off with my hands, dont even need pliers anymore. So i highly recommend that stuff!

I roast the living crap out of my mandrel before any glass goes on, get the whole bead release covered area glowing (even the parts i dont need, to just strengthen it as a whole unit). ive seen people barely run it through the flame at all, so maybe that doesnt really matter, but it works for me.

[rainygrrl]

Thanks Woo! It's not while drying on the mandrel. I don't think my glass is too cold when I touch down but I'll be paying very close attention now. As it turns out, I was talking with Robin Foster (creator and maker of FosterFire releases) yesterday. I've got her FF smooth & tuff, and yeah -- she makes good stuff. She commented that the amount of heat you need to put on the mandrel can depend on which bead release you use. I hadn't really thought about that before. But, I'm with you -- if your method(s) are working keep doing what you're doing!

Kristin, I never would have thought to use a dehumidifier in AZ!! And I hadn't thought about the show & tell either. I'm going to try out my newly coated mandrels today, so wish me luck. And also do a big batch annealing, so I'll look for a few that might be show-and-tell-worthy.

[KJohn]

My dehumidifier (the good one) is currently in the studio and man it has been busy. I emptied it out last night in fact, it was almost completely full in two days. The rain that they have been promising us hasn't really come, just all those really high winds. So there's a lot of moisture in the air right now. I should get another one for the house.

And yeah, Robin sent me an emergency supply too when that was happening to me recently. I find a lot of little lumps, I need to get a whisk or something to help with that. Definitely better than my mystery mix. I really scewed that up with something. Plus it's soooo old. Reminds me of the story of 100 year old soup. You know, where they just add some fresh stuff in the morning. haha

Come & post some pics

[rainygrrl]

Well, as one might imagine, all 4 BRs worked perfectly. I had cleaned my mandrels and thinned down all BRs more than I usually would.

I hear ya, Kristin. No pics = didn't happen. Coming soon.

[KJohn]

well that's good anyway!

[Woonasty]

Well im glad your bead release is behaving now. Sometimes basic things just want to give you a hard time for no damn good reason.

[rainygrrl]

Originally Posted by Woonasty

Sometimes basic things just want to give you a hard time for no damn good reason.

Well said!