I have a couple of questions Please Help!

[sadiesmom]

Hello Everyone,

I work on a HH and have burned glass. I'm wondering how people on hotter torches make beads just fine without burning glass.

I made these beads today and the larger one has specks on the surface of the lighter color. Is this the glass or my torch? It didn't happen on the smaller fishscale bead. The color is pale emerald green handmade.

Is there a way to get these surface specks off? Coke or etching? I just feel sick that I spent 55 minutes on this bead and it is unusable.

http://www.sadiesquiltingtreasures.com/denise/061105b.jpg

http://www.sadiesquiltingtreasures.com/denise/061105d.jpg

[Craftylady]

This is just my opinion. You are working to low in the flame. This happens to me alot.

Laurie

[sadiesmom]

This is just my opinion. You are working to low in the flame. This happens to me alot.

Laurie

That could certainly be true. Working with detail, I tend to draw myself into my body.

Do you know of any way to get rid of it at this point?

Great to see you back, by the way... We really missed you through this CA.

Denise

[Craftylady]

I am glad to be back. I would try etching them. But I am not really sure if that would help. But when I did the scale beads I had that same problem. I would be dropping my hand down into the flame. I concentrate to hard yeah that is it.

Laurie

[barclayb]

pale emerald green does that to me a lot on my hothead - I'd like to know how to keep that from happening too

[coyotesfamily]

wow that is a beautiful bead! I would try etching...hehehe...i wouldn't consider it unusable! I'd happily give it a home :D LOL

[sadiesmom]

Thanks Sondra... I'll keep that in mind if the etching doesn't work. You just reminded me... it's been in the etching solution for 12 hours now.. hee hee

[alexm]

Denise, It looks like you're getting soot into the glass. I would turn down the torch and work higher up in the flame. As for oxy-propane torches, they burn perfectly cleanly, so no matter how high your set your torch, unless you are burning a reducing flame, I never get any soot in my beads. I've tried etching beads like these, but alas, the soot is trapped under the glass and no amount of etching will help.

[sadiesmom]

Alex ~ You were right on the money. The spots did not go away, even after 13 hours in etching solution.

Sondra honey, if you're sure you want it, pm me your address!

Denise

[BillBrach]

Unfortunately, getting "dirt spots" on a bead is almost a fact of life with the HH. And, to make matters worse, the longer you work a bead, the more likely that it will happen.

The chemistry of it is that there is a LOT of unburnt propane in the flame of a HH and it likes to react with the oxides in the glass, and form brown spots/areas. This is really bad with certain colors, White-204 comes to mind.

Working WAY out in the flame will minimize it but it won't totally eliminate it.

[sadiesmom]

Thanks Bill ~

Welcome to LE!! I guess I should look to upgrading. But first I need a kiln. That fiber blanket is getting pretty worn.

I hope you enjoy your time with us!!
Denise

[Jacinthe]

The only colour I have problems like this with is Moretti clear.
I don't get it with Lauscha Clear or Vertrofond clear.
I don't know why and I don't work for either company. (wish I did)

But maybe try a different clear.

Hugs,
Sarah

[Cyndi]

Sometimes if your glass is dirty or scratched it will bubble and boil in places. Be sure your glass is clean before you heat it. I usually pull a bit of the end of a new rod off when I first heat it as well- where it is cut tends to sometimes bubble. Hope this helps!

Cyndi