Can shards be blown using dichro?

[rosebud101]

I love using shards. I'm not good with dichro. I'm wondering if shards can be made using dichro glass? Would the dichro melt and disappear if blown into shards? Is it worth the effort? Thanks in advance.

[Teri.p]

Hey Mallory!

Joe/Avenue Beads tried that some time back during one of his demos, and he said it was a waste of time and dichro because after being blown, the dichro was just not showing up.

[Carolyn M]

Ask Carol O (Crystalflipz) She just sent me some awesome looking dichro shards. Haven't used them yet, I'm skeered!

[Cosmo]

Well, I haven't done any shards with dichroic, but I have done blown pieces with dichroic, and it does tend to disappear when blown out. What I do is layer 3 or 4 strips of dichroic on top of each other and then when you blow it out it looks like it should.

[crystalflipz]

Yes, shards can be blown from dichro! It's a multi-step process to get the dichro where it can be blown without scumming, but it looks pretty cool. Here are a couple of beads and a pix of the shards - my camera sucks at catching the sparkle!
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/crystalflipz/dichroshardstube3.jpg http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/crystalflipz/009-2.jpg
Posted this in the gallery tonight
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/crystalflipz/layeredlemongrasswithdichroshards.jpg
and here are some shards
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/crystalflipz/dichroshards.jpg
The shards have tons of separate sparkles, and they are double/triple encased so I've not had any problems with burning. I've sent samples to a few people and am waiting for feedback before listing them in my Etsy shop.

[rosebud101]

Carol, I might just wait until you list them in your etsy store. That might just be a lot easier! Let me know.

[Carolyn M]

Yes, shards can be blown from dichro! It's a multi-step process to get the dichro where it can be blown without scumming, but it looks pretty cool. Here are a couple of beads and a pix of the shards - my camera sucks at catching the sparkle!
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/crystalflipz/dichroshardstube3.jpg http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/crystalflipz/009-2.jpg
Posted this in the gallery tonight
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/crystalflipz/layeredlemongrasswithdichroshards.jpg
and here are some shards
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/crystalflipz/dichroshards.jpg
The shards have tons of separate sparkles, and they are double/triple encased so I've not had any problems with burning. I've sent samples to a few people and am waiting for feedback before listing them in my Etsy shop.

OMG does that mean I have to use them tomorrow?

[crystalflipz]

No Carolyn, just play with them whenever you have a minute. There are a couple of folks who have used them and I'm waiting to hear but please don't feel like you have to use them. I always like to put extra goodies in my packages - a little extra "thank you" from me.

[Moth]

Yes, you can make dichroic shards. I do it all the time because I like to mix different colors of dichroic together, then blow them out. Sorry no pics.

The splintery dichroic is especially fun if you have any of that give it a go and remember, the same amount of dichroic will now be spread thinner so if you want maximum sparkle, you need to use multi-layers of dichroic so that when it is blown out it still has lots of shine.

Good luck.