Lampwork Etc.
 
AKDesign

LE Live Chat

Enter Live Chat

No users in chat




Beads of Courage


 

Go Back   Lampwork Etc. > Library > Tips, Techniques, and Questions

Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 2015-05-24, 1:57pm
ccaronn's Avatar
ccaronn ccaronn is offline
Christine
 
Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
Default Newbie - questions about glass & safety glasses

Hi, I am just starting out and purchased a sample pack of COE 104 glass rods and using MAP gas for now. My round beads are bad but I'm willing to put the time in to make them better. Here are my questions and your reply/expertise is highly appreciated: with my (proper) eyewear (the lenses are purple), I find that I can't see the flame all that well. Is this something others experience? Then, the COE 104 color "purple premium opal" gets messed up easily - it gets kind of burnished or dull and white looking. Does that mean I burned the bead too hot? Sorry for my crude descriptions. I've been at this only 2 days.
Thanks in advance!!
Christine
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2015-05-24, 2:19pm
Eileen's Avatar
Eileen Eileen is offline
Loving learning
 
Join Date: Oct 11, 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 11,650
Default

Some of the glass will get kind of a chalky look to it, called divitrification (divit). That happens to some glass that doesn't like going in and out of the flame. After you finish the bead, before you put it in the kiln, heat it gently so that the just the outer glass gets a red glow and you can see it getting shiny again, then take it out & rotate it till it loses the glow and do NOT put it back in the flame.

Oh, and you could try putting something dark behind your work space so it is behind the flame, that might help. But you do learn with practice.
__________________
My current "hot" fantasy involves a senior discount on glass & tools!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2015-05-24, 2:36pm
Katia Katia is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015
Location: Moscow, Russia
Posts: 131
Default

It seems you've just discovered EDP. You'll find a lot about this glass, but right now you do not need it - getting devitrified beads in addition to "not so round" can bring more disappointment you really want at this point It is pretty expensive as well. If you want friendly purple, you can try CIM Crocus - nice colour and very friendly. Also not very cheap but no surprises. Colours like white, ivory, periwinkle, green pea (very soft, sometimes called soupy) are good to train dimpled ends and round form (if you are using HH - you need less gas and time to get them soft enough to make your base bead and the softness of the glass is a good thing to practice) Of course, it is my personal opinion, I'm also very new. And if propane (blue cans) is cheaper - you can switch to them, I found no difference from MAP.

You'll need to adapt your vision to the lenses - even if HH manual says you do not need DDs - you need. It is not so easy to repair eyes and completely impossible to replace them (well, it is possible to get glass ones but it is impossible to torch with them). You'll get used in a month or so.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 2015-05-24, 3:26pm
ccaronn's Avatar
ccaronn ccaronn is offline
Christine
 
Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
Default

Thanks so much, Ladies!!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 2015-05-24, 3:32pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

Los of folks use very foul language when melting purple. EDP stands for Evil Devitrifying Purple.

That particular color gives even the most experienced lampworkers major headaches.

You will want to get lots of light over your torch and some folks use a dark background with lighter lines in a 1 inch grid on the bench behind the flame to help with getting evenness and size habits started.

Welcome to the addiction!
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 2015-05-24, 7:34pm
ccaronn's Avatar
ccaronn ccaronn is offline
Christine
 
Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
Default

Thanks, Speedslug!!,
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 1:12pm.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Your IP: 44.204.24.82