Black/dark streak in Moretti 216 Grass Green?

[lootcorp]

Hi guys -

Complete newcomer here, so please bear with me. Working with a Fireworks torch (I know, saving up for a replacement) which came with my Fireworks starter kit (ugh). Anyway, I've been progressing at a good clip, finally making some almost-symmetrical beads and even some florals, so I ordered a bunch of glass off of someone @ eBay - a whole mess of different Moretti colors, figuring I could mess around a bit.

My question - I've been trying to use the Grass Green #216 (that's what the rod is labeled) and I noticed when I melt my dots in, the very outer rim is black. Also, there are swirly black streaks in some of the dots. I suspected working too close to the torch, so I backed off and turned the flame down, but the results did not change. Then I took a look at the rod, and sure enough, it has a dark line running down the side.

Not being familiar with Moretti glass and lampworking in general, I'm confused - when I pick up a rod of grass green, I don't expect black swirlies. Did I get a bum rod? Is the glass mislabeled? Am I doing something wrong, or is this indeed how this color is supposed to react? Pics of bead and rod below.

Thanks in advance for the help - it won't be my last question by a long shot! :roll:

Here's the rod:
170682

Here's the dot on the bead - sorry for slightly fuzzy pic:
170683

[designsbykurato]

That's normal for that green.

[NMLinda]

Looks like you applied it to dk ivory. Certain colors like the blues and greens will form a dark line where they touch dk ivory and chemically react with it. It's one of many fun and interesting color reactions between certain colors. Nice looking bead, by the way

Linda

[anniepants]

The black line around the edge of the dot is a reaction between the green and the ivory glass. That will happen with colors in the green and blue family as well as other colors. Looks like a nice bead! Good luck with this new addiction called Lampwork :)

[yellowbird]

yes , but that doesn't explain the black line on the rod?

[simvet02]

It's like Kathie said that color is one that is know for it's streaky look. There are lots of other glasses like that, some of them have lines in the rod, some don't. Opaque purple is another one that is kind of streaky. Makes for an interesting bead. Petroleum green is another one that is kind of streaky or marbled.

[PerfectDeb]

mine have a dark streak in them too - i just figured thats the way it was

if you want a nice clean green go for petroleum 218 or even pea green 212 (darker than it looks in the sample)

check out this link http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2542335&postcount=1

brilliant colour chart for moretti

[blr2449]

Very pretty bead!! Welcome to torching

[Pat]

That's a nice looking newbie bead. Round good puckers. You are doing very well. :)

[Scraphappy]

I just had the same thing happen to me the other day..ivory base and I picked up a turgoise rod and when I saw it in the morning it had a black ring so loved it...so then when I got home from work started playing with other color rods to see if I could get the same affect with other colors...only to be told only some do it and they are reactive colors...I just love them...nice green...

[Elizabeth Beads]

The stripe is common in turquoise too, which also reacts with ivory, which most consider one of the joys of lampwork (reactivity). For the most part, you won't notice the stripe in a solid color bead but some striations add interest I think. Good luck and happy torching!

[lootcorp]

Wow, thanks for all the great replies!! (and the compliments on the bead! \\:D/)

Very cool stuff - I certainly don't mind the reaction and thought it looked pretty cool - I just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong. I have another bead I will post a pic of when I get home - tried to use a sky blue which resulted in a crazy dot which looked like a bloodshot eye! That one I did torch a bit much so not sure if it is reactive colors or just newb torch skills.

Wow, I knew learning to work the torch, glass rods, and mandrels would be a bit challenging. I completely ignored the other skills, such as learning how colors work with each other. Thanks for the great color chart, guess it's back to the torch to try and come up with some new combos!

This is really a great community, thanks for the kind words and taking the time to help out a newcomer. It is *much* appreciated!

-Jim

[NMLinda]

Hi Jim - if you got a 'bloodshot eye' effect using sky blue, it sounds like your flame was a little too reducing. The opaque blues/turquoises will do that if you don't have a neutral to slightly oxidizing flame (a little more 02 than you might currently be using), or sometimes if you over-cook them. Bringing out that coppery-red can be a great effect - another fun part of learning what the different colors will do. There's a great thread someone started a while back on different color effects and reactions. Hopefully someone else remembers it and can post a link for you.

Welcome to the additiction!
Linda

[designsbykurato]

Here's a color reaction thread: http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16102&highlight=reactions