Gaia problems

[truegem]

This is so weird. Suddenly my Gaia is not reducing. I put it over light silver plum and it makes the prettiest beads. (You should try it, it's super easy, reduces quickly.) Beautifully reduced, wonderful swirls of colors. I made like 40 of them, but lately it does not reduce. Absolutely nothing! It's Gaia, I know it is, it's the same rod. Does this stuff expire or something? I'm using the same torch, reducing the oxygen the same, everything. I've tried holding it in the reduction flame longer. This glass should only take a second to reduce, I tried keeping it in there for a couple of minutes. Nothing. It's diving me crazy, why why why??? =) Has anyone else had this problem?

[nagibeads]

that's weird.....
sorry I don't have an answer to your question, except to say that Gaia doesn't have an expiry date....

[Hayley]

Patti - did you use the exact same rod? I have had trouble with daVinci 1 that some rods reduce and others didn't do anything. With silver glass, the first pull and the last pull can be quite different so you may just have a rod or two that didn't have enough silver in it to do its thing.

[simvet02]

Maybe that's what's wrong with my Psyche. I have tried and tried to get it to do something and I'm just not having luck. I'll try another rod or two. At this rate the only thing I can do with them is use them as a base for other things. Expensive base.

[Hayley]

Jan - Psyche is usually pretty consistent as far as reducing goes . . . let me know how another rod goes. I can send you a couple of shorts that I know works and we can see if it's the glass or your setting. I have never done reducing on a Lynx or any triple mix torch.

[simvet02]

I will Hayley, it may be next weekend before I get down there again. The five day grind sure does cut into my fun.

[simvet02]

Ok Hayley, I got home early today and headed right down to the torch. I have never made so many messes in my life. I tried everything including pulling the psyche into a stringer and dotting it on. First I tried it with the pale yellow as a base, which by the way struck to a brown, who knew. Then I tried it with pale blue which I had a hard time keeping the soot out of. That makes me wonder if my oxygen wasn't turned up enough.

I have so many other questions about silvered glass but will save it for another time. I will post photos of the messes as soon as they cool. I'm sure it's not the rods but me. I think I will just go back to elektra and ghia, they reduce for me every time.

[Hayley]

Jan - instead of posting further and hijacking Patti's thread . . . why don't you post your pix and your issues on our Silver Exchange thread? This way, everyone can help you trouble shoot . . . that's what the SE thread is all about! ;-)

[truegem]

That's ok, you can hijack my thread, lol! All of the tips help. It's good to know someone is experiencing what I am. I bought 1/2 pound of Gaia and like 3 rods are doing nothing. Transparent green over light silver plum looks yucky. Here's what I had before...
119464
See? Gorgeous! I love this glass, and I don't want to give up on it. I'm just frustrated. Maybe Hayley is right, it has something to do with the amount of silver affected by the pull when the rod was made.

[Hayley]

Those are gorgeous, Patti. I understand your frustration completely! Perhaps the new batch needs more reduction? I know every batch is slightly different in all my silver glass!

Perhaps you should post the question in my Silver Exchange thread as I have suggested to Jan . . . most of the participants love playing with silver glass and may be able to help you trouble shoot!

[truegem]

I don't think it's that they need more because I have sat there for the longest time in the reduction flame just a whistiling a tune for eternity. Nothing. I may go ask in the silver thread, that might help. Thanks!