A little raku frit advice? Experts?

[Kevan]

Ok, so I just started trying this raku frit and this is my 3rd bead. The first two...let's not go there..

I'm liking the way this came out -

9875

But it looks like this on the back and I don't like this.(Back? why is this side the back lol) What am I doing wrong?

9876

[rosiescreations]

I try to heat the S*%t out of it then cool it in a press or blow on it. Lots of folks have different ways. I'm sure they will chime it.

[Antoñio]

Wow! That is a fantastic bead for only your third try!!

Love ya,

Antonio

[Kevan]

Oh shut up! lol He's very supportive.

[River Horse Studio]

what kind of torch are you using first? I use to do that on my hothead.
I could be wrong, but i think it might be soot.

You need to cook the crap out of raku but not burn it. Its really all about playing and practice. I still have trouble with Raku sometimes but I love the stuff!

[Flame Crazy]

Great color on the first side for sure! I am no Raku expert but I usually get good color by extreme heating & cooling several times. I keep my graphite marver on ice. I heat the crap out of the raku I then immediately use the cold marver then back in the flame-marver-flame marver. You can usually see the colors pop after the 3rd or 4th time.

[Jude Rose]

Kevan, you are very close. That dark amber color is the one of the steps before some great blues. Turn your oxy up full blast and bring the bead down close to the candles. Play with that a bit and you should see some great color.

Good luck!

[Kevan]

Thanks. I will try these suggestions. I'm using a Minor burner. I thought the "back side" was getting burned or something.

It's tricky stuff!

[dragonfly designs 56]

How Do You Get That Swirl Effect?

[dragonfly designs 56]

Also, are you rolling your raku in, or using stringer to put it on?

[Kevan]

I rolled it in the large chunks. The swirls are from the swirl technique where you swirl with a stringer and then break it off.