What's your favorite black (soft) glass and why?

[Solana]

I've been meaning to ask this question for a while since I'd like to know what black everyone likes most especially since we have several choices out there. :)

I have Moretti, Vetrofond and Lauscha black and have recently used them all. I use a minor torch on a single oxygen concentrator, which may be helpful to know when reading what I think of each black below.

Since Moretti's black is actually a really dark transparent purple, I only use it as a base bead for applying stringer since I don't like how it can bleed purple onto other colors when it's used as decoration. Using this black as a base bead really works great with melted in stringer decoration in other colors, and I also think it takes encasing really well.

I mainly use Vetrofond black in twisties and as stringer decoration since it's more true to a real black. I don't like to use it as a base bead since it can tend to spark and create pits on the surface of the bead when heated. This glass also occasionally reacts with some colors to create fine, silver-colored outlines where the two colors meet. (i.e., moretti new violet, white) This can sometimes be a plus to the overall bead's design, but I find it's very easy to overheat the black glass to where it starts sparking. (Has anyone else experienced this?)

Vetrofond black can also get cloudy when it's encased in clear. I'm not sure what causes this, but I only encase using Lauscha. It's just a weird thing happens every so often.

I've only used the Lauscha black once, and don't know the specifics on if it's a super, dark transparent purple or blue, or if it's truly opaque, but it melts smoothly and works well as both a base bead or as stringer decoration. If anyone has more experience with this glass, please share! :)

Lastly, I haven't used Moretti's super dense black, as I know a lot of it goes a long way and is typically used as stringer. Also, it doesn't help that it's $60/pound!

So, in short, I don't really have a favorite black glass, but if I had to choose one, I'd probably go with the Lauscha.

What are everyone else's thoughts? I'm curious to know! :)

[CorriDawn]

Moving this to tips techniques and questions area to hopefully get more response and make it easier to search later!

[Solana]

Oh...thanks Corri! :)

[Cosmo]

For bases, I use plain old Moretti black. It's thick enough that it doesn't show its true color. For times when I need real "black" I use intense black.

[DawnT]

I have the same problem with Vetrofond black burning and pitting and I have this problem when using it as a base bead or making twisties. Usually I use it anyway as I've learned to be very careful with it and it's not noticeable. If on a given day I'm having real problems with it I will switch over to Moretti.

I haven't used the Lauscha black, I will have to check into it sounds like it might be a better alternative! ;-)

[cghipp]

My un-favorite is the Vetrofond black (more like deVitrofond). I prefer the Moretti for base beads and the Moretti Intense for stringer and such. Haven't tried the Lauscha.

Courtney

[Moth]

I like vetrofond for decoration as it does't bleed purple. I like effetre for bases, but I still find that it gets cloudy if the encasement is much hotter than the base.

The key to avoid the fog is to let the encasement cool just a hair, as you flash the base into the flame. Then touch the encasement to the base and proceed. It has been my experience that the fog is caused by the massive temperature difference between the layers. Once the fog is there, I haven't been able to un-do it, but the heat issue does prevent it.

I have never tried the lauscha black, but I probably should.

I like intense black as well, but will only use it toward the end of the bead, or when I deliberately want it to web.

~~Mary

[misfit]

I like the check black best. Its compatable with little but is a wonderful behaving black. always get the results from it I want. <shrug> I hate the effetre black. it never did what I wanted. even as a base bead it ended up getting purpleish smears through out my work. luckily I only had a rod of it to suffer with, and see no reason to try it again. I'm okay with the vetrofrond. I didn't have any issues with it as a base bead really. but I tend to work cooler than not. I found it okay for stringer work as well. <shrug> but not as nice as the check by any means.
I only tried a bit of the intense black with sis. hated the results I was getting. added some fine silver- didn't seem to be much improvement. So added a bunch more. thought it had gotten worse than ever. figured at that point I might as well stop and save my time. ;) results after the kiln were okay, better than the fugly they looked while working. but developed a crack after a few days ( too much fine silver?) so I'm not in any hurry to try that again. <shrug> But I like stacked up dots and spirals too much anyway. ;) and vetro will do that if I don't over heat or work it to death... ( my biggest failing- not knowing when to stop)

A.

[kimberly]

Intense Black, Effetre. I use it for everything.