Crack expanders, leave on or off when curing?

[shermfiddle]

I've tried looking at the old posts but have not found an answer to my question. "Do you cure with or without the crack expander's on?" In eight years I have never cured with them ON....I have always removed them before the cure. I have not had a problem but have had some question what is right?

Thanks

"I still love this business"

[Sneck]

I suppose curing before or after removing crack expanders could be debatable like many other procedures. I personally have not used crack expanders too much, but when I have used them in the past, I cured after removing the expanders because I think the glass needs to be in a natural state prior to curing.

We'll see what other techs have to say about their experiences.

[GlassStarz]

off you can see if you got all the air out then cook it

[repare-brise]

I too agre that crack expanders are too be used sparingly, and curing should definatly be done without them, in order to lessen the possibility of distortion. I have a crack expander in my kit but it gets used on only about 1 in 60 cracks.

Merci