glass with metals??? what are they talking about?

[sleekbeads]

When people say "use glass with a lot of metals in it"...
What are they talking about?
I've heard it, probably ignored it... and now I want to know.
Is there a list of glass that has metals in it?
Just dorky ol' me asking a question again.

Joanna

[Lynn Larson]

Most glass has various metals in it...that is where the colors come from. Some have more than others. I'm guessing the ones that reduce easily have more.

[DesertDreamer]

Yup, most glass has metals or metal oxides. Generally, when referring to glass with high metal concentrations, most folks are referring to boro formulations. Many of the reactive colors have a LOT of silver in them, some have other metals as well or instead of the silver. Getting the metals to the correct temperature is what gets them to grow crystals and to strike in varieties of colors.

[sleekbeads]

Yep, makes perfectly good sense to me.... the article I was thinking of in fact was about boro.... makes sense!
Just didn't know if I was missing out on something 'new' that I didn't know of... THANKS.
Joanna

[Mr. Smiley]

Some boro has so much metal, you can get it to batch state and it will pool. it looks like air bubbles, but it's not... one color that comes to ming is Amazon Brinze... love messing with that color! I've gone through about 2 pounds and haven't made anything to sell yet! :lol: It's really cool stuff though. ;)

[RSimmons]

Lead is a very common component in most of the softer glasses. Many of the metal effects from reduction glasses are tiny lead droplets forming on the surface. You'll find antimony in a lot of white glass. Cobalt, iron and arsenic are also fairly common.

Robert

[Cosmo]

Some boro has so much metal, you can get it to batch state and it will pool. it looks like air bubbles, but it's not... one color that comes to ming is Amazon Brinze... love messing with that color! I've gone through about 2 pounds and haven't made anything to sell yet! :lol: It's really cool stuff though. ;)

GA Blush does the same thing. I made some stuff with it recently, and once it was cool, there were all these metallic spots on the surface...