View Full Interactive Version Of This Page : Who has the "clearest glass" of them all?
Tutti-frutti
2009-01-05, 11:48am
I am running out of my old fashioned clear that I mostly use under expensive colors.
For the past years I have heard about "New" clears be it cristall or whatever .
This time I want to finish with the clear on top, does anyone have favorites and is it worth the extra buck?
Katja
nagibeads
2009-01-05, 2:54pm
the best one I have used and liked that is currently being sold is Diamond Clear....
expensive but wonderful.
If you can find some of the old Vetro crystal clear, it was nice, and so was the first batch of Moretti Super Clear(I don't know how the later batches are because I haven't bought any.....)
Now of the ones that currently aren't being sold but Frantz had for a bit was DoubleHelix Aether.....that for me is hands down the most amazing scum free clear.
Diamond Clear...worth every penny!
Don't forget about the new batches of Lauscha!
Paula
Double Helix Aether Clear is hands down the best clear EVER . . . just wish it was available!
Diamond Clear is hit or miss . . . I have had great batches, and I have had not so good batches (and not counting the one Abe replaced) . . .
I did get some Reformulated Lauscha from Paula . . . only use it a bit. It's a gorgeous clear but does leave a few bubbles. You can see the bubbles forming as you melt the rod that it's IN the rod and not the person doing the encasing! lol!
If you don't plan on using it over silver glass, the CIM Clear is great too. I am not sure if Kathy has fixed the compatibility issue with silver glass tho.
The latest batch of Vetrofond Crystal Clear I got from Frantz is pretty icky! I use it exclusively as a core.
Hope this helps.
zany artist
2009-01-05, 6:49pm
Diamond Clear. Also great with silver glasses. I have not had any of it be a bad batch, including when Abe replaced it for people. Good Luck, I suppose......
Schott clear (of course, can be used with BE, but not 104)
Carolyn M
2009-01-05, 8:58pm
Another vote for diamond clear
Laurie L
2009-01-05, 10:20pm
So there were problems with CIM clear and silver glass....UGH....thats all I have been using. So far I have not had any issues and I have some beads that are a few weeks old. Guess I am going to have to hang onto them for a while to see what happens.
twiggyinaz
2009-01-06, 7:45am
Are you pulling stringers with your clear? I have found the thicker rods to be better than the skinny ones, fewer scratches and less scum. I usually get them about 10mm.
I thought I was the only one that thought vetro crystal clear had dropped in quality. When it first came out it was wonderful, now I can't tell the difference between the new and old clear, except maybe the old original regular clear might be better now.
nagibeads
2009-01-06, 8:42am
Schott clear (of course, can be used with BE, but not 104)
:-D YES!
I pulled stringer from the S-8 pucks and they make awesome clear for 104--I think the COE is 109... Not all colors can be encased. I had cracking with Lauscha and with silver(glass and leaf/foil)....but wow, it is a nice clear...
nagibeads
2009-01-06, 8:52am
I thought I was the only one that thought vetro crystal clear had dropped in quality. When it first came out it was wonderful, now I can't tell the difference between the new and old clear, except maybe the old original regular clear might be better now.
oh, that is sad to hear....
mikefrantz
2009-01-06, 9:28am
I was not aware of any recent problems with Messy Clear by CIM?
Mike Frantz
GlassyEyedGirl
2009-01-06, 9:36am
Ok, I know I must be a loser if I can scum up Diamond clear, but I have had problems with it.... am I just getting it too hot and boiling it? It does seem to melt faster than the 5 yr. old Lausha I was using. But it's not just the end of the rod, I get bubbly scum anywhere I put it on the bead. Thanks in advance if anyone has any advice!!!
I am kind of stuck with the Bullseye clear. I do not like Schott it is stiff and I have had compatibility issues.
For the last several years the Bullseye clear is very shocky. I have not been too happy about the bubbles in the 2mm stringers and the normal sized rods. The 1mm stringers are pretty much bubble free. I like the wider rods, but pulling stringers is a time consumer I do not like.
wolfotter
2009-01-06, 9:58am
Double Helix!
nagibeads
2009-01-06, 11:12am
Ok, I know I must be a loser if I can scum up Diamond clear, but I have had problems with it.... am I just getting it too hot and boiling it? It does seem to melt faster than the 5 yr. old Lausha I was using. But it's not just the end of the rod, I get bubbly scum anywhere I put it on the bead. Thanks in advance if anyone has any advice!!!
when did you buy your Diamond Clear? There was a bad batch out there that was scummy.....
bead-licious
2009-01-06, 5:38pm
Diamond clear is nassssttttyyyy! Scums and bubbles all thru my rods. I only got it delivered a couple of months ago. The Super clear is much better compared to Diamond Clear...IMO.
GlassyEyedGirl
2009-01-07, 6:38am
Nagi, I just checked and it was actually Effetre Super Clear ordered in November. Does anyone have problems with that? Maybe I should follow this thread and try something else. Sorry about the mis-information!
GinnyHampton
2009-01-07, 7:58am
I just use the 8 - 10mm effetre clear rods for encasing. I've tried alot of others and always come back to that :)
I was not aware of any recent problems with Messy Clear by CIM?
Mike Frantz
I used messy clear to encase this weekend, and i must say i experienced some shockiness. but when it didn't shock, it was very creamy
I've had problems with everything except BE clear. That doesn't exactly solve my problems with 104, does it. I haven't tried the new Lauscha yet. I have so much of the old to use up and the problem with that is cracking with the silvers. I have to say that it doesn't scum though.
PolychromeBeads
2009-01-07, 10:52am
I got 5 pounds of Vetrofond Crystal Clear back in November - and it is pretty crummy (or I should say scummy!). I've had so much better batches!!!
Diamond Clear is pretty good, but it's too expensive for regular use. I go through a lot of clear, it would be great to find one that is really clear (and consistantly so).
Aimee
33293
deirdreschaneman
2009-01-22, 4:18pm
Even if it means eating ramen for a week, I'll always buy the Diamond Clear. It's really nice to work with.
PolychromeBeads
2009-01-22, 6:33pm
You know, right after I posted I had a whole bunch of beads ruined by the scummy clear. I went and bought 2 pounds of Diamond Clear immediately and I'm not looking back.
I wonder if I can get a discount if I buy a lot of it?
Aimee
122084
Sylvie D.
2009-01-23, 5:16am
I don't like the CIM clear at all. I would gladly give it away to anyone interested but unfortunately I live in Switzerland and it would be too expensive to ship it.
I've tried every clear on the market (except the new batch of Effetre super clear and the test batch from DH) and my favourite is the new soft lauscha clear. I love it... I'm still concerned about compatibility issue, but I've been using it for a month now, and except for one little set, no problems so far. I've encased silver glasses no problems.
It's a beautiful clear: I didn't get any scum or bubbles, except for two rods that had a hole running throuhg the whole length of the rod. I guess if the new batch of effetre super clear doesn't top or match that, I'll consider myself a Lauscha addict from now on...
Ashtonjewels
2009-01-23, 6:13am
I love Diamond Clear too. Luckily, I've only had one bad batch of it and I've been using it for about a year. Reichenbach 104 crystal is pretty awesome too but it's a bit stiff and takes some getting used to.
LoriBird
2009-01-23, 6:15am
Even if it means eating ramen for a week, I'll always buy the Diamond Clear. It's really nice to work with.
I agree!! I love the stuff. :love:
Troll Lover
2009-01-23, 6:29am
I love the Diamond Clear and not to forget, the TAG clear!
I also tried some new clears, including Kugler and GTG clear.
At first, I didn't like them, but I actually like them both now. A bit stiffer than my Diamond clear but good for encasing silver glasses. These are made with the Kugler clear:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/3218454412_417b0e6cc3.jpg?v=1232646944
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/3217599339_c3a6e2ba8d.jpg?v=1232646716
Almost no bubbles!
tluvs2create
2009-01-23, 7:36am
I was not impressed with the diamond clear that I got a while back, it had quite a few bubbles in it and needed to be worked way out in the flame to keep from further bubbling/scumming. I prefer thicker rods to work with too. I hated the Vetrofond that I tried a while back, it was so scummy that I only use it for a base or if I am etching. I've not tried the new Lauscha or the super clear effetre but think I will give those a try. The CIM is okay, but again the rod diameter is too small and it too scums up if I work it too hot, too quick. I prefer working with 8-10mm for encasing. I usually use Lauscha and I've done a lot of encasing of frits. I had compatibilty issues once for a while until I discovered (thanks to help here) that I needed to put my beads into the kiln while still glowing and I should have my kiln temperature up to 975 or so. Since then, I've had no problems. However, I've not used the silver glasses, so I don't know how it works with that. I tried boro for a while, what I wouldn't give to have a beautiful clear like that in soft glass.
I love the reichenbach 104 clear. No bubbles or scum.
Terryl
Vicki B.
2009-01-23, 9:11am
Is the diamond clear a Precision product? Have you had any compatibility problems with it?
PaulaD
2009-01-23, 10:40am
I don't like the CIM clear at all. I would gladly give it away to anyone interested but unfortunately I live in Switzerland and it would be too expensive to ship it.
I've tried every clear on the market (except the new batch of Effetre super clear and the test batch from DH) and my favourite is the new soft lauscha clear. I love it... I'm still concerned about compatibility issue, but I've been using it for a month now, and except for one little set, no problems so far. I've encased silver glasses no problems.
It's a beautiful clear: I didn't get any scum or bubbles, except for two rods that had a hole running throuhg the whole length of the rod. I guess if the new batch of effetre super clear doesn't top or match that, I'll consider myself a Lauscha addict from now on...
Sylvie, I am glad the temperature adjustment worked for you. It's such a little thing but it can mean so much! I still have never been able to get that glass to boil and I can boil anything!
Paula
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