Getting grey colors in my marbles?

MagillaGorillaX · #1 2011-01-30, 10:08am

I'm new to lampwork and marble making, only been at it for about 3 weeks or so but am loving it. With me being new i still have alot to learn. One thing i have started to notice is i'm getting grey coloring in some areas of my marbles. it's only some and sometimes. I did change from a starter torch to a hot head so not sure if i'm heating things up to fast or might be to close to the flame. Also i noticed if i wipe my mold of theres a black/grey color that comes of with that. Can i be transfering from mold to marble? Is there a correct way to clean the mold? and should i be wiping it down before every marble? heres a pic of one i made with the grey in it. Any pointers oe dos and don'ts one might have would be great. Thanks John

Dragonharper · #2 2011-01-30, 11:23am

Try working further out in the flame, it's kind of hard to see from your photos. The first one on the left looks like the white boiled, a sure sign of working too close to the torch.

RSimmons · #3 2011-01-30, 5:59pm

You're getting soot from unburned fuel in your glass. As Roy says, work farther out in the flame where the flame is closer to neutral, too close to the candles is a reducing flame and can leave soot behind in your glass.

Robert

bead-meltdown · #4 2011-01-30, 6:15pm

turn HH down and work further up in flame. nice marble