can i ask a really stupid question?

[dragonfly designs 56]

is boro just another type of glass that you need a bigger torch for. do people use boro because of the different colors? just curious, i love the look of boro beads, have only done soft glass.

[StOrM]

I only do soft glass but as far as i know Boro is a harder glass and it takes more heat to melt it. Hence why you need a bigger torch. Bpro gives different effects than soft glass does when it comes to color. and it also does not fracture from heat/cold shock like soft glass does.

[Karen Hardy]

I've done boro easily on the same type of torch I use for
soft glass. Boro is a LOT harder to melt, it takes more
time - BUT this means you can be a lot harder on it. You
can leave it out, it doesn't spit at you when you put it in
the flames.

Also, boro is a lot more ethereal colorwise (IMHO) and
you can get some incredible effects that you can't get
with soft (although some of the silver colors come close!).
It's a whole other animal - more organic for me anyway.
You can't really control the color aspects of it sometimes,
and that makes it more of a challenge - but it is SOOOO
worth it!

Go take a look at the boro galleries and compare them to
the regular galleries and you'll see the difference.

[TAKnight]

I have been in love with everything kinari, 104, Bullseye, and Boro. Mostly I work Boro now for beads. I use a Lynx and many people use this torch for soft glass.

I like to encase so I find the Boro clear to be very clear and easy to work with. I also enjoy not having to preheat rods. I can make 8-10 spacer beads on one mandrel and they don't break. The colors are incredable and the silver colors are fun to learn to control.

The disadvantage is with Boro you can't get the super details and ornate little flowers without making murini - boro does not flow like soft glass. The sculpting with soft glass can get more smaller sharp details. You also have a lot more 104 colors that are predictable colors. Boro is not always predictable or controlable.

I keep the BE arround for doing the encased painted beads because the clear sheet is easier to get and work with then the 104 sheet. I also like a number of the colors.

It's all fun.

[Shrimp]

TAKnight, I'd love to see some of your encased painted beads!

[dragonfly designs 56]

thank you so much. maybe this would be something i would enjoy, as I am not very good at the decorating part, I love the look of Boro....

[constant flow]

I use boro because i like the color better and it can take a beating, i work it hot and fast, and dont worry to much about cracking/shocking. When it is done/cooled it is pretty tuff stuff. Mainly I love the striking colors, the blues and purples.