Funky glass behavior

[Frostfire]

I feel newbie-dumb asking this (well, I still AM newbie), but I can't figure it out.

I was melting and winding on a bead this evening from a really pretty dark blue not-transparent Moretti rod. For starters, it didn't melt all that nicely -- stayed sort of stiffish, until it got TOO hot (I guess :??? ) and started flaring and bubbling.

Then, as I was melting the windings down to round my bead out, I started getting these really BRIGHT dot-like flares on the surface, that would maybe eventually pop. When I'd poke them, they would DEFINITELY pop. Was the glass actually boiling? It seemed that if I had it any cooler it wouldn't move at all.

Eventually the bead release broke and into the water bucket that bad, bad bead went. I tried again, working waaaayyyyyy out in the flame, and the glass still acted up (though not QUITE as bad -- at least the release didn't break). Goddess knows what it will look like when it comes out of the kiln tomorrow :sad:.

Can anyone 'splain this (preferably in English rather than Bead-ese)? :-?

Bewildered,

[Lara]

All I can think of is that is wasn't Moretti or it was alabastro or Opalino. Sounds odd.

[Shawn T]

anyway you can take a pic of this rod of glass if you don't know the color name or number for us?
It will help us to determin the problem you are having.

[Frostfire]

It has to be Moretti -- I only have a few colors of Vetrofond and Lauscha, and NOTHING that isn't (nominally) 104 COE. I guess it could be an alabastro, come to think of it. I think I inadvertently got a few alabastro colors not knowing that they could be a problem.

Shawn, I'm at work, but I'll try to get a pic of what's left of the rod (and, in fact, the sort-of-bead from it) and post it when I get home tonight.

Thanks!

[Curly Irish Girl]

Working the glass to hot (low in the flame) will actually boil the glass - then you get the bubbles that pop - if you are not getting a solid "connection" between the coils of glass, you will get air pockets - they look like bubbles in a bead and will also work to the top and pop.

The alabaster & opalino glasses are the worst culprits in my opinion.

Are you getting any color distortion in your final bead - it's not turning out the color you thought it would be - sort of mucky and scuzzy gray???? If so, that's from too much heat too fast and boiling. Hang in there - you'll get it!