PROFESSIONAL MINI GLASS BEAD ANNEALER

 

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ALL NEW MUCH LARGER STOVE. CERAMIC LINED FOR BETTER HEAT CONTROL

NOW ANNEALS BORO TOO

 FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY
OVER 7000 UNITS SOLD

 

Watch Video 1   Watch Video 2  videos are of the old style. New videos will be on the way soon.

 

This mini stove (kiln) has been designed specifically for glass annealing (rather than for hair tools). The opening measures 2 INCHES HIGH X 4 INCHES WIDE x 4.5 inches deep.

THIS MINI ANNEALER WORKS EXCELLENT FOR ANNEALING SMALL SCALE COE 104 GLASS ITEMS AND NOW BORO COE 33. WE GUARANTEE SATISFACTION OR YOUR MONEY BACK.

We have thoroughly tested this mini annealer. We tested temperature consistency, ramp down consistency and glass bounce test where the hardness of the annealed beads is tested. All our tests proved excellent. We are very happy with the results. We have received many, many emails from our customers who are also very pleased with the results of this annealer.

 This annealer can also be used as a rod warmer. Just turn the thermostat down a few clicks. You will also need the floor plate sold below to rest the rods on. You can also rest them on the rack in the back if you prefer. This rack comes with the annealer.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ WHAT CORNING GLASS HAS TO SAY ABOUT ANNEALING GLASS. There is also a link to some videos on this page by Corning Glass. Our mini annealer follows precisely what Corning Glass states is required to anneal glass. Corning Glass is considered to be the world's leading expert in glass.

 

 

 

Below is a view from the front with a few beads annealing. The bead rack inside comes with the unit.

 

 

So how does this annealer work?

 

1. Plug the unit  into a standard 110 volt outlet for USA models or 240 volt for European models.

 

2. Once the unit is plugged in, PRESS the GREEN switch on the ELECTRICAL CORD.

3. Turn the thermostat knob clockwise all the way until it stops.

 

This annealer will reach a temperature of 950 - 970 degrees F for soft glass and 1040 - 1060 degrees F for boro in about 30 minutes when the thermostat knob is turned clockwise to its maximum position. The annealer will not exceed the appropriate temperature. The annealer is designed to reach the correct temperature as a maximum. (There will be very minor fluctuations of temperature at its maximum. This is normal and will not affect the annealing process. All kilns have minor fluctuations from their set temperatures.)

 

4. Wait approximately 30 minutes. This is a sufficient amount of time for the unit to reach the correct temperature.

 

5. As you make your beads, slide the end of the mandrel with the bead into the annealer and rest it on the rack provided as pictured above. Rest the other end of the mandrel that you handle on the outside bar provided.

 
6. Once you have made your beads you are ready to begin the annealing process. Boro glass requires a higher annealing temperature than soft glass. Therefore, to anneal boro at the proper temperature, an aluminum heat control bar must be inserted at the entrance of the annealer as in the picture below. This small bar will hold enough heat inside to raise the annealing temperature required by boro glass. This bar is sold separately below. This boro bar is not needed to anneal soft glass. For boro annealing, place the bar at the entrance of the annealer under your mandrels as in the picture below. Please use some long nosed pliers to do this to avoid burns.
 
 
FOR BORO GLASS ANNEALING
 
 
 

 

7. After at least 2 hours soaking time, you are ready to begin ramping down the temperature. Turn the thermostat knob counterclockwise slowly until you hear the thermostat click. Stop when you hear this click. If you do not hear this click, you can use 10 minute intervals on the dial. (turn the knob about 1/6 of a full circle counterclockwise). This turns the stove off and will allow the stove to begin cooling down. Wait approximately 15 - 20 minutes. More time is ok. Less is not. Be sure to wait at least 15 minutes. If the thermostat fluctuates again, this is ok. Your bead temperature will not fluctuate.  Only the air temperature in the annealer will.

8. After 15 - 20 minutes, turn the thermostat knob counterclockwise again, slowly, until you hear the click again. Each time you turn the thermostat down until you hear a click, this will allow the unit to cool another 50 degrees or so over a period of about 15 - 20 minutes. Continue to do this every 15 - 20 minutes until you have reached the "stop" in the thermostat knob that prevents you from turning it any further counterclockwise. At this point, turn off the green switch and allow the unit to cool naturally to room temperature. You can cover the annealer at this point with a ceramic fiber blanket if you wish. This is actually best. I also put a small piece above and below the mandrels to cover the opening. Just be sure to NEVER cover this annealer when it is in the "on" position.

 

You are done. :)

 

SPECIAL NOTE: Be sure to not place orange/red hot beads in the annealer. This can result in beads sagging or sticking to each other. Only slightly red, or less, is proper. Never cover the opening of the annealer in the "on" position. This will ruin the annealer and could cause an unsafe condition.

Always test your first batch by annealing some test beads.

 

BATCH ANNEALING: This Mini Annealer can also be used as a batch annealer from a cool position. With the annealer at room temperature, stack your beads on bare mandrels and carefully slide them inside the annealer, hanging the mandrel end on the rack provided inside the annealer and the other end on the outside bar. The beads can touch each other on the mandrels. They will not stick at 950 - 970 degrees F. However, it is best to leave a slight space between all beads. Add the appropriate aluminum heat control bar to the annealer opening for boro glass only, as shown in the picture above. Press the Green switch on the electrical cord. Move the thermostat knob counterclockwise as far as it will go to turn off the annealer. Then, slowly move the thermostat knob clockwise until you hear a click. This means the stove is warming up. Wait about 10 minutes. Turn the thermostat knob clockwise again until it clicks. Repeat this until you have reached the end of the clockwise position of the thermostat knob. Ramping up time can be done much quicker than ramping down. Once you have reached the maximum position clockwise on the thermostat knob, follow the annealing directions above.

 

Ramping down time can take as little as 2 hours. This will safely reduce the heat at a rate that will not damage the anneal process of the glass. However, usually it takes longer only because it is usually done while you do other things. Consistently lowering the temperature at a specific rate doesn’t seem to happen when you are busy with other stuff. LOL!  But the inconsistency in ramping down time does not cause any problems with the glass annealing. So don't be alarmed if you leave the annealer in a particular ramp down setting for longer than described above. The crucial element is the amount of soaking time at the appropriate temperature, and a slow ramping down time. This is all that is necessary to maintain good glass annealing integrity, regardless of whether it is a bit inconsistent in time intervals.  As stated by Corning Glass Works, proper annealing occurs when glass temperature is slowly brought down through 450 Celsius. (About 842 degrees F). Contrary to popular belief, glass does not actually anneal at 940 - 970 degrees F. That is only a range of temperature used to make absolutely sure there is no stress on the glass. Annealing doesn't actually begin until the glass during ramp down passes very slowly through 842 degrees F.

 

This Mini Bead Annealer is for professional use only. It is not intended to be used in the home around children or pets. It gets hot on the outside and can cause burns if touched. Please keep this stove on a metal desktop or other nonflammable surface, and away from combustible materials, children and pets. Never touch the outside of the stove when it is on. This unit must be monitored at all times when it is in use.

 

Electrical Specs: 450 watts, 110 volts, 4.1 amps. Or 450 watts 240 volts, 2 amps for European models. Thermostatically controlled.

 

Here is a picture of the USA 110 volt Annealer electrical plug:

International Annealer Plug 240 Volt pictured below

 Universal adapters for different 240 receptacles. Showing both sides of one adapter. $3.99 each

Travelon Europe Travel AdapterTravelon Europe Travel Adapter
     

Purchase the Annealer

 

$87.95 Each.

 

 
USA only - Shipping is $16.95: sold

 

 
For Canada Only. 110 volt. Shipping is $44 First Class Mail: sold

 

 
For INTERNATIONAL only. 220 volt. Shipping is $58.00 First Class Mail:
Back ordered

If you're international, but use 110 volt, please notify us by email. Otherwise, we will ship you a 220 volt unit.

If you're in the USA, but prefer a 220 volt unit, please email us. Otherwise, we will ship you a 110 volt unit.


* Warranty - 6 Months from the date of purchase. Restrictions apply:

First 30 to 90 days after purchase date, free replacement of a defective unit. We pay the shipping both ways.
From 90 days to 180 days after purchase date, we will repair a defective unit free of charge. Customer pays to ship unit to us, we pay to ship the unit back to the customer.
 

Some nice feedback from our customers on the Mini Annealer:

 
 I just got the Mini Annealer and I love it. I have a ceramic kiln in my garage and its too far to go on small things, so I got a mini annealer for my in the house studio. I have used it to batch anneal and to hold while I make more and then soak and shutdown. I am very happy with it and recommend it for small batches or work. Depends on what you need it for. ~LW
 
Your Bead annealer SAVED MY LIFE!  Fantastic idea, job,product, etc.  I
cannot begin to express how much i appreciate this product!  Not to mention
that it does everything and more of what is listed.  Also, the FASTEST
shipping I have ever encountered!  Thank you Devardi!
 
I couldn't and wouldn't ever have expected the wonderful outcome! The annealed ones are almost as strong as brick-bats...lol
 

If you need to anneal items other than something that will be on a mandrel, such as marbles, pendants and other things, the rack below is necessary. This will sit on the bottom of the annealer but will allow a space between the object being annealed and the annealer floor. You cannot place a glass object directly on the annealer floor. It sill stick.

 
Above is a picture of the boro heat control bar for this annealer. This boro bar is sold separately for $2.99

Rack for annealer floor. Stainless steel heavy mesh. $5.49

 
Using the Mini Bead Annealer as a rod warmer.
 

This Mini Annealer can also be used as a rod warmer inside, and a murini warmer on top. If you intend on using it for that, the plates below will prevent glass from sticking to the stove.

 

To use the annealer as a rod warmer, first follow steps 1- 4 above for the annealing process. Once you have done this, turn your thermostat knob counterclockwise slowly until you hear it click off. Wait again for it to click back on, and then repeat this one more time. This will reduce the temperature enough to handle warming the rods. If you have difficulties at this temperature, turn the thermostat knob counterclockwise again until the desired lower temperature is reached. 

 

 

Channel plate above goes on top outside the annealer for frit and Murini. It prevents glass pieces from sticking to the warmer and offers a nice flat surface to pick up frit by rolling your bead. It is made of  aluminum.

 

 

 
The plate above goes inside the annealer and sits about a 1/4 inch above the bottom floor. It prevents the glass rods from sticking to the bottom of the annealer if you use it as a rod warmer. The plate is stainless steel.

 

 

 

Top Plate aluminum channel - $5.49 ea
 
Inside Plate 1/8 stainless 3 x 3.25 inch - $4.39 each