[Sue in Maine]

If your clear is getting sooty, you are working too close to the head of the torch. Move your glass further out. Slow it down, cool it off and you will have much better results. Also watch where you hold your bead within the flames. If you're "normal," you will see that you keep moving the bead closer to the flames. It's an experience thing and involves the dreaded "ppp," which means "practice, practice, practice." You need to train yourself to keep the bead further out in the flames. It's funny how the bead wants to migrate on its own closer to the torchhead, as in "it can't be me that's doing that!"

Just my thoughts.

Sue