Need help definetly confused

[toosassee]

I use a HH and would like to understand reduction and silvered glass better. Can you get results normally with a HH? I'm trying to use propane with the HH but have varying results sometimes it is as though things burn or get too hot. I'm pretty much self taught on the HH and just don't understand its true abilities. Can someone help with some basic facts and glasses(both plain and wonderful) that will work. Any advise is appreciated.

[Hothead Beads]

50+ views and nobody has answered you. I started on a HH, like you with no classes, so I will try to help. Reduction colors (kronos) likes to be cooled after it's worked and then flashed in a reduction (propane rich) flame. The HH has a reduction flame, so you should be able to get color from the reduction glasses. Striking colors (terra) like to be worked in a neutral flame, cooled and then flashed in an oxygen rich flame.
When I worked on a HH, I had trouble with glass that needed an oxy rich flame. You may be working too close to the torch head, which will burn your glass.
There are a lot of great beadmakers on this forum that do fabulous things with their HH, hopefully they will be able to answer better.

[jaci]

when you say that it is getting 'burnt' do you mean that you have brown/grey streaks in your beads?
If so, you are working too close to the torch head, move up higher. You are actually collecting soot in your beads. With propane and a HH I would not think you would be able to 'burn' any glass.

As for reduction, you need to cover the holes on the torch with foil, and turn your flame down (trust me).


http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72387
this thread has a lot of good knowledge on HH reduction flame.
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62330&highlight=reducing+flame
I can't find the step by tep foil pics but you can see it on my torch in the second link. when I want to reduce something I bring the foil up over the holes.


PM me if you have any more questions!
jaci

[ROC]

You may also want to think about MAPP gas if you're using the 1 lb canisters. I found that it burns cleaner than propane on a HH and didn't have a problem with scum in the beads (that's just my experience - others will disagree). One thing that helped me A LOT was actually seeing a photo of a flame and how far out to hold the bead. You should be about 1 inch away from the larger blue flame. (from torch head: small dark blue, bigger light blue, biggest yellow/orange).

Also, do a search in the tips/techniques posts and you'll find a ton of helpful information. I always try to do this before I post a question. Either I find my answer and don't need to post, or I can at least ask my questions from the most informed place possible.

I haven't been torching a year yet, so I'm still a newb on a HH too, but I hope this helps!

[perlienne]

hello toosassee
I work on a HH with propane for over two years now. I had the same problem of instable conditions... untill I bought a good adjustable manometer (? sorry I am not speaking english usually) to "fix/adjust my flame" properly... so I noticed: I had to change the pression according to the weather or air pressure or humidity, (whatever), and this could differ within hours of the same day. since I'm doing this, I get constant results. the worst or best colour for "indication" for the state of things was simple white of effetre. when the flame was not well adjusted, it did just turn grey or bubble...
hope this could help you.
I wish you lots of good results, I did work all 104 glass and some of reichenbach, but never managed to pimp my raku on the HH. maybe with more PPP??:-k
fabienne

[toosassee]

I wanted to thank all of you that took the time to help me understand more about my HH. I will just fine tuning all that I have learned and keep reading,gathering and practicing. Thanks to everyone for all the great information that flows through these forums.

[lampworker1]

You might want to email sarah@hotheadsource.com. She is an authority on the hothead and helped me so much when I was setting up my hothead. Her telephone number is 314-963-1790. Best of Luck!!!!