I haven’t counted. The metal will swell up the first time. I just replace rods if they get too wonky. They can be found cheap if you’re willing to look. I’m still on my first box.
Do you think i could use a bisqued piece of clay rolled out to the right size of a wire? I would probably have to clean the inside of the bead a bit but the clay bodiee inside of the beed and clay wire would they fuse together in glaze fireing?
Metals that vaporize can be a problem... Steel melts at higher temperatures than I fire, so I have not had a problem, and likewise have not explored any other options.
You will want to run tests. Normally, beads don’t weigh a lot. The shorter the span, the more weight this set up can support. I have used racks like this for simple beads, textured glaze test strips and cookie sized Christmas ornaments (2 to a side).
Maybe about twice the diameter. It depends to some degree on your final cone. If you are concerned, you may want to prefire them and let them swell before you use them.
This is a great idea, and was a public service to make and publish. Thanks.
Excellent video, thanks for taking the time to share
Thankyou for this video. Simple to make.
Great video! How many times can you fire the bead rack?
I haven’t counted. The metal will swell up the first time. I just replace rods if they get too wonky. They can be found cheap if you’re willing to look. I’m still on my first box.
How many uses can you use these for? I read they don’t last long ? I was about to buy a rack the other day but it was soo expensive 🙃
I don’t use it much, but the rods I use are cheap. I get maybe a dozen uses out of each. A well built rack will last a lot longer than the rods.
What kind of clay do you use for the bead rack vs the work you fire on it? Do you have to use a high cone for the bead rack, or the same?
Same. I normally use a cone 6 buff clay. It keeps it simple.
Hi. So what did you use as your bead holder? Was it a welding rod?
Yes
With the flux removed.
I wanna make this! Someone told me though that the metal can harm the kiln or something is that true? I wish there was another way instead of wire.
Do you think i could use a bisqued piece of clay rolled out to the right size of a wire? I would probably have to clean the inside of the bead a bit but the clay bodiee inside of the beed and clay wire would they fuse together in glaze fireing?
Metals that vaporize can be a problem... Steel melts at higher temperatures than I fire, so I have not had a problem, and likewise have not explored any other options.
How much weight can I put on each rod?
You will want to run tests. Normally, beads don’t weigh a lot. The shorter the span, the more weight this set up can support. I have used racks like this for simple beads, textured glaze test strips and cookie sized Christmas ornaments (2 to a side).
How big do the rods swell to?
Maybe about twice the diameter. It depends to some degree on your final cone. If you are concerned, you may want to prefire them and let them swell before you use them.
What are the rods you use?
At about 5 min into the video I use an old pair of pliers to clean the flux coating off of some welding rods. They’re about 3/32 inches in diameter.