Looking to hire a batch annealer....for just in case!

Lisi · #1 2011-08-03, 6:56pm

Okay, I'll go ahead and explain my situation, and in doing that I sure hope I won't jinx myself by bringing this up! My kiln is 9 years old and has been run at least twice a week since I first fired it up. I never took a break from beadmaking...never longer than a week vacation! So you can imagine, how lucky am I that no parts have given out on me....yet??! I'm also asking this because I'm pretty technically challenged and so is DH when it comes to electrical stuff. We are going to have to fix it ourselves and who know if problems may come up then. I don't know what to expect...because I haven't had to unscrew the back and tamper with this 80lb bulky thing yet.

The inevitable will happen and I don't know when, but I want to be prepared for a kiln emergency. I make a lot of beads and can't afford to be without the use if the kiln for 2 weeks or more. My beads are small like 12-13mm and I would probably need to send 100-200 of them to be annealed at a time. If you have a deep enough kiln, I can line 10-12 beads up on a 6 inch mandrels, and these can be propped up on one end on a rack at the back of the kiln. The beads can touch each other as there are no enamels being used. Or however you find is best to do it for your particular kiln.

Of course, I would pay the shipping to and from and if you want to charge something for the job, that's fine by me of course. I'm in Florida, but it doesn't matter to me where you are as long as you are in the USA.

glassymom · #2 2011-08-03, 6:59pm

is there a reason to leave them on the mandrels? I used to batch anneal mine till I got my other kiln and I used to take off mandrels and clean until I could have a full kiln.
just curious..........
sue

Lisi · #3 2011-08-03, 7:09pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by glassymom

is there a reason to leave them on the mandrels? I used to batch anneal mine till I got my other kiln and I used to take off mandrels and clean until I could have a full kiln.
just curious..........
sue

No, not leaving them on the mandrels, they are taken off but not cleaned. I meant lining 10-12 up on a short mandrel like a shish kabob for support off the kiln floor by propping one end up on a rack.

On cleaning bead holes - I wouldn't want to clean them until after annealing because of the vibration from the Dremel bit. I don't trust that. I rub the mandrel back and forth under water some to get most of the release out.

glassymom · #4 2011-08-03, 7:24pm

ah, I see.........gotcha

Lisi · #5 2011-08-03, 9:50pm

Seriously, I don't know of anyone around here that has a kiln so I'm stuck if I should get into this situation, so I need to know that I will have one or two people I can PM and say, "It happened, I'll need your help if you can!" There is one option that some people would suggest and no, it's not a good idea! I don't want the ceramic shop to melt my beads (and that would be a LOT of 'em!) so as you can see, I will only trust another beadmaker. lol

I just have a strange feeling that my luck with my kiln after all these years is about to run out. I mean, I'm going to go and turn that thing on and get something like ----- or whatever. Another reason I really need to have a back-up kiln. I think everyone who needs to make beads in order to eat and pay the bills should have an extra one. This fall I'm planning on getting a small kiln from The Glass Hive. Then no more worries!

purpledragonfly · #6 2011-08-04, 6:23am

Lisi

I live in New Orleans and could batch anneal for you. I have a paragon sc-2 so its not that big, so not sure if I could batch anneal all 100-200, but could do them in batches. I would just need to know what program you wanted to run so that they are annealed to your specifications...i.e exactly how you wanted them done. Plus I have never batch annealed so am not familiar with any programs for batch annealing but have no problem in programming any specific program you want.

Autumn

Lisi · #7 2011-08-04, 2:42pm

Thanks Autumn!

I could make a quickie rack out of wire to fit the inside of the kiln and the mandrels even shorter so it will be this little thing-a-ma-jig that you can just slide inside with the beads already set up on it. Much easier for you.

I will have to check on the measurements of the model to make the rack small enough so it clears 3/4" on the sides, the front, and the top.

purpledragonfly · #8 2011-08-04, 3:10pm

lisi, if i am not mistaken the rack should be something like 6 1/4 in (front to back) by 6 1/2 inches(side to side).

The actual dimensions are 8'Wx7.75"Dx5.75"H. my DH just made me a mandrel holder for it out of firebrick and he cut it 6.25" because the corners of the walls are curved.....if that makes sense.

VivianLampwork · #9 2011-08-04, 8:32pm

I don't have a problem annealing for you either.

Eileen · #10 2011-08-04, 9:31pm

What area of FL? We really cover a lot of area in this state as you know, I'm just north of Tampa.

Lisi · #11 2011-08-05, 8:57am

Great! I'll keep all of you in mind for when that dreaded day comes! As soon as I can I'm going to order a complete parts kit from Paragon so I'll have it. As long as I own the kiln, those parts will eventually get used. I did find out that to replace the controller it would be about $250, so that part I will get only if needed. Hopefully not for a while!

Batch annealing for me would be easy: slow ramp to 968 over 1 hour, anneal at 968 for 1 hour, then ramp down full to 840 and hold for 30 min, then ramp down to 700 and shut off at that temp if it is a brick kiln. For the Chili Pepper, I suppose the final ramp down could be 100 degrees an hour to 300 and then shut down.