Help with red!

[FantM Designs]

I haven't participated on the forums in ages, and now I'm in need of some help, but hopefully somone has some tips for me.

I have had the worst luck working with red glass. It seems to scorch so easily, so I try to work it cool, but still, it all turns a dark brownish red or the color comes right out of it. I've got just about all the Moretti reds, a Lauscha red (semi transparent), carrot red, etc etc, but they all come out looking like junk. I need a true, red red, and it's driving me insane. Is it me? Is it the glass? Is there a new kind I should try? I recently tried some Bullseye but didn't check for reds. I'm on a Minor. I'm stumped, and frustrated, and have an order for some "Americana" style red, white & blue beads and the red ones just aren't usable. Any suggestions? I'll be back at the torch tomorrow, trying yet again...

thanks in advance!
Deb

[loco]

You may want to try Dark Purple Red Mopretti # 438. It's a yummy dark red and work well for 4th of July style beads. It will brown if over heated.

[Lenda]

The "semi transparent" Lauscha is actually transparent and I had a hard time with it at first. I was told to heat the SNOT out of it, you'll see the transparency come out when it's super heated. It then stays that way and is an amazing color red when you're done. But don't feel bad, I posted a thread once about having the opaque reds turn darker or streaky on me too. I'm on a Lynx. So I don't make that many red beads, but I have conquered the Lauscha red and love it!

[misfit]

When I tried working reds with propane they darkened to browns for me. :( I moved to mapp gas ( harder to find in the huge bulk tanks but worth it) This no longer happens.

A.

[LAG]

As a rule, most reds, I find, need a clean burning flame meaning more oxygen helps. Turn up oxygen some and work further out in the flame as red can burn easy.... Vetrofond has a new striking red and it is awesome. A beautiful transparent..
Perhaps someone else will chime in here with more tips....

[FantM Designs]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I've had success with the Lauscha red before, but forgot it needs to be super-hot. Will try that again. I always dread when I get a special order for red beads because I can't always get the results I (or the customer) wants. I had some luck with one of my opaque reds yesterday but only as a stringer decoration, not melted it, which means it got very little heat. Hmmm. I'll keep at it. Thanks again!

Deb

[Lynn Larson]

Opaque reds don't like a lot of heat! I found that out making red hats. There is a light red that will get darker if worked too long, but it is pretty consistant.

[FantM Designs]

Has anyone tried the Bullseye opaque red? Does it have the same issues as Moretti? Just wondering if I should pick some up to try, or stick with what I have.

[Lynn Larson]

It is Moretti 428

2381

and the roof

5624

[alexm]

The Vetrofond transparent reds behave well for me and I'm on a Lynx. I run an oxidizing flame and work about 3" out from the nozzles.

[Kalera]

Has anyone tried the Bullseye opaque red? Does it have the same issues as Moretti? Just wondering if I should pick some up to try, or stick with what I have.

I really like the Bullseye opaque red, but it can get grey streaks if worked too hot. Other than that it seems to stay mostly true, as do both the Uroboros reds.

[rverk47]

i use a hothead and mapp gas and have never had an issue with red..seems to work beautifully..i think i have used all the moretti reds with success..hope that helps..