Goldstone Question

[Rachel Originals]

Hi all-
I hope this question doesn't smack of stupidity but I was wondering why I've never seen any beads decorated with blue goldstone?
I love the look of goldstone accents on beads (usually....depends on how it's done) and I know there's goldstone glass rods. Here comes the really dumb part of this post.....can actual goldstone be melted and used on beads??? I have no clue about it's composition.....I was just wondering about all of this because I bought some GORGEOUS blue goldstone beads today...I LOVE them...I had never seen them before and thought they'd make some awesome glass bead stringer if it can be done. Now, for all I know, this is like asking whether bubble gum can be used instead of streaky pink glass, LOL.:oops:
Thanks for humoring me. Enlighten me, please.
Rachel

[Kalera]

Yes, it can. It's a manmade glass material, usually around COE 96-98, IIRC, and can be successfully used in small amounts with Moretti and Uroboros.

[GinnyHampton]

It sure can .. . . . goldstone is actually glass. I have no idea what the COE is (maybe someone else does), but you should encase it in a transparent color and use it in your beads. I just buy cheapo goldstone beads off Ebay and melt them down.

[chrissij]

I've tried it on some beads, and I've yet to like it on anything. I guess I haven't found it's magic niche.

[CharleneN]

Rachel the short answer is yes. Heat them slowly as they will shock easily and blow apart.

I have melted gold goldstone beads and used them for stringer but I really prefer the look I get from buying the large goldstone chunks and using those. I think I get a much more glinty color out of them and you can buy them made by Effetre so you don't have to worry about compatability issues.

I like the blue also. I am not so fond of the green as it is always lumpy for me no matter what I do to it. Too bad cause the color is pretty.

This bead uses blue goldstone for the eyes of the flowers but you can't really see the glints in the picture. In person it does show up.

I hope this was helpful.

[Lara]

I love blue goldstone. You are right, you don't see it as often as gold goldstone. In this bead, all the blue you see is blue goldstone. This blue was the premade from Effetre, but I too like to melt my own goldstone. BTW, OCR has great goldstone chunks.

[Rachel Originals]

Thank you all for your replies here. Learn something new every day!! :grin:

Charlene and Lara I love your beads!

[Kevan]

The blue never seems as sparklie as the gold. The sparklieness seems to disappear quite a bit.

Tony made this bead out of it. As you can see the sparklies aren't as pronounced.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/dancingstrarbeads/aventurinetuttiefront.jpg

[DesertDreamer]

I looooove blue goldstone. I got some at a bargain about a year ago, but I guess I don't use as much as I should. Here's one of my favorite beads.....totally encased with blue goldstone stringer then dotted with clear. Love the sparkle!

[Jayne]

Here's an experimental tab I made with blue goldstone frit...
19764 19763

I agree, it's difficult to get the full sparkly effect in the photos. :love:

[Lara]

Jayne, cool wave bead.

[Jayne]

Thanks Lara! I'm loving everybody's beads here too; all with the goldstone, yet all so unique! I made another one last night; just can't help myself, haha!

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