Question About Vetro Odd Lots...

[glassactcc]

I believe that Vetrofond Odd Lots are much more prone to cracking than the regular colors, or Effetre. It seems that when I use the odd lots, not all of them, that I have more incidences of cracks.

Does anyone else notice this?

[Kevan]

No, I hadn't noticed this myself.

[SuzyQ]

Not something I have noticed. Could be the kind of beads you make versus what I make.

[glassactcc]

Mmmmm, very interesting. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the odd lots consist of leftover colors that have been mixed together and then pulled into cane? I was wondering if with certain colors, it might be the fact that they are mixed and there is an unknown compatibility issue. There are certain 104 colors that don't like each other. Just a thought. Maybe it's just ME...operator error#-o

[SuzyQ]

I would like to think the Italians know their glass and aren't mixing incompatible things together. :D

[glassactcc]

Yes, I'm sure they know what they are doing. I just know that naturally, some glass of the same COE does not play nice together. Like I said, maybe it's just me and the type of sculptural work I am doing with it.

[ChurnHill]

I have noticed that problem in the orange to reddish color range. I have stopped using them in my large focal beads for that reason--which is a bummer, because some of them are just the colors I want to use. I haven't had problems using them in smaller, single color beads though.

[glassactcc]

Laura, that is what seems to be happening to me. I have noticed it in that color range too. There are a couple of the greens that give me some trouble too. Like I said, just a few, not all of them. And I also make large focal beads.

[maroli]

I am curious, Is it possible to know the names of colors that have this problem ?

[RyanTheNumberImp]

If you are talking about the fake filligrana odd lots, its completely normal (being that they are filligrana).

[Elizabeth Beads]

Some of the rods are shocky - Orange Dreamsicle is frit on a stick.

I've also given up on Lemongrass. Beautiful color but everything I make with it cracks.

[PolychromeBeads]

I have noticed that a lot of the odd lots - Vetrofond or Effetre - can't be encased. Fossil, Jupiter, Strawberry Sweet, Lemongrass, and Lemon Ice come immediately to mind. They seem to work fine (for me) if I leave them on the surface.


Aimee
30997

[SuzyQ]

I love lemongrass! I use it on it's own and as vine cane though, so that is probably why I haven't had any issues.

[echeveria]

I use lemongrass A LOT and have never had a problem that I didn't think was operator error. But I make small beads

[Dasi]

I find it frustrating too. When I do a complex beads with opaques and then do a heavy encasment, I have had problems. It is very frustrating. I am afraid to really add a bunch of colors for background.

I have tested colors too. I make a base bead but not tiny. Then I encase it with thick clear. I have a bunch of these around my studio.. With cracks. I encase beads all the time and I know how to encase but they still get cracks weeks later on just a single opaque bead encased in clear....

I also do not trust some of the glass. I took these thickly encased donut beads to Corning two years ago and put them on the polariscope. I could not see through the opaque but I certainly could see stress in the clear where it touched the opaque. These beads were large donuts with opaque bases and thick clear encasments....I thought it was really interesting. It changed my bead making designs. And scared me....

I do even out the heat before putting any bead in the kiln so I know it is not that.....

[glassactcc]

Well, it seems I'm not the only one. It takes me so long to make my beads. The encased beads too. I am very leery about using anything but Effetre or Vetro colors that are tried and true. This is why I just don't use a lot of the new glasses including the clears, silver glasses and so on. With the huge beads that I make, the failure rate is just not something I want to risk. I'm sure no one does no matter what you make.

I know that using for instance Lemon Grass in cane or surface decor is fine. That is one of my favorite colors. It looks amazing over copper green. I use it for my tiny encased leaves and don't have a problem with it. It's almost like thinking of it as the 10% rule. Just use a little.

Heather, that is very interesting. How frustrating though and I also flame anneal before putting my beads into the kiln.

[glassactcc]

Nope, not the filligrana. I'm not sure I know what the fake filligrana is:-k

If you are talking about the fake filligrana odd lots, its completely normal (being that they are filligrana).

[echeveria]

I think he means the ones that have different colored cores, like Petrified Wood or Jungle Twilight, etc.

[effemess]

Vetro odds - frit on a stick....

[neagle]

Honey Crunch thermal shocks if you look at it funny.

[glassactcc]

Oh Yeah, I know what that is.

I think he means the ones that have different colored cores, like Petrified Wood or Jungle Twilight, etc.

[glassactcc]

Don't have any of this. I think I'm glad.

Honey Crunch thermal shocks if you look at it funny.

[squid]

I have some but am scared to use it :lol:

[effemess]

I have some but am scared to use it :lol:

Don't be afeared Squiddly, I'll hold your hand :-P:-P:-P:-P

[Elizabeth Beads]

So how do you make vine cane with Lemongrass? Do you make a gather and stripe it with black? I encase my vine cane gather with clear before I pull it out That way is is already encased when I lay it down. I may have to give Lemongrass another try.

[Oenone]

I made cool vine cane for the Fugly Color Exchange by using Lemongrass, Swamp Moss and Yellow Ochre together with a little Vetrofond black. Yum.