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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2012-01-15, 12:41am
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Lover of Life
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Join Date: Dec 31, 2007
Location: Edmonton AB Canada
Posts: 1,671
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Where to buy super sparkly goldstone
I need to make more goldstone stringer. I had some super sparkly chunks at one point, and don't know where they came from. These ones made gorgeous stringer I purchased a bunch of goldstone beads from an etsy shop a short time later, and they are dull and brown. Slightly more sparkly once cracked open, but they cook and dull much too easily, and my stringer is gross...
I also purchased some blue and a tiny bit of green goldstone from this seller. My main problem with these ones is that they pull into very lumpy stringer, even after a reasonably thick encasement... Anyone tried pulling their own blue or green goldstone stringer? How did it go?
Thanks peeps!
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2012-01-15, 7:43am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 01, 2008
Location: North Central Arkansas
Posts: 578
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Becky,
I purchased aventurine chunks, both gold and green, from Frantz. They both pull out into very sparkly stringer. Here's a link if you are interested.
http://www.frantzartglass.com/index....sort=1a&page=3
Beth
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Beth W. ----- Lynx and two 10 lpm oxycons
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2012-01-15, 7:55am
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Sheila Davis Designs
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Join Date: May 23, 2009
Location: Olympia
Posts: 3,351
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I fet mine from Frantz too, the big chunks. After attaching to the clear, warm it up and squish it with mashers, then kinds form it into a "rod" then encase and pull. You'll get nice intense goldstone. I found the green to be very brittle though.
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2012-01-15, 7:37pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 11, 2009
Location: Massachusetts...I95 south...before Rhode Island
Posts: 2,006
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Another one for Frantz! I purchased both gold and blue last summer. The gold aventurine I received was super sparkly and the blue was even more amazing
Duane
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ETSY SHOP IS NOW OPEN
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2012-01-15, 7:54pm
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Entropy increasing....
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Join Date: Nov 12, 2005
Location: In a box of paints
Posts: 25,098
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I get my goldstone from Shipwreck beads. Luckily I live close enough to go pick out the ones I want. I buy the big donuts. Sometimes there are ones that look kind of like dusty, like they are shimmery eyeshadow and not like glitter. I like the glitter ones.
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2012-01-15, 8:12pm
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Mar 12, 2006
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 26
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I've gotten my best goldstone and bluestone from small lapidary businesses on the web, both slab and rough pieces were more dense and had more sparkle for me than from glass suppliers . Never been successful in pulling smooth greenstone.
Keep out of direct flame until fully encased in a thin layer of clear or it will burn and be muddy.
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2012-01-15, 9:01pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 27, 2009
Posts: 418
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I got some brilliantly sparkly goldstone stringer from Devardi. It was not the traditional, clear-cored goldstone stringer. These are pulled from chunks.
Some of the stringers are a little thicker so I pull them down nice and thin. The outer layer is not thickly encased so if the goldstone will be worked a lot it is best to encase with clear stringer (then you can pull it down thin) to help protect it from burning in the flame and becoming dull.
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Handmade Murrini Chips, Glass Beads, & Lampwork Tutorials
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2012-01-15, 11:15pm
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Lover of Life
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Join Date: Dec 31, 2007
Location: Edmonton AB Canada
Posts: 1,671
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Thanks for all the input everyone! Time to start my hunt! I've wanted to order from Frantz in the past, but if I remember right, they use UPS or Fedex to ship to Canada and that ends up costing a lot more than USPS in my experience... I will have to check into that again...
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2012-01-16, 4:43am
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BeadsonCypress
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Join Date: Jan 05, 2007
Location: Jersey Shore - by AC
Posts: 2,662
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Also ABR has some goldstone ribbon that is nice dense adventurine that can be pulled down to some nice stringer...
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Beads on Cypress (Susan Boyce)
7+ years and growing - Mini-CC and O2 generator
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2012-01-16, 7:39am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 21, 2006
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 2,807
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I've had the best luck with Kugler
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Lynda
Cheetah, 5 lpm and 7lpm conc/generator (8-9 psi), natural gas (booster), started 11/06
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2012-01-16, 4:35pm
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Peerless Thread Killer
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Join Date: Jul 20, 2007
Location: Mt. Chokula
Posts: 1,148
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I got slabs of goldstone from greatrough.com.
It's a cool mineral site, and I got some seriously sparkly stuff!
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2012-01-16, 4:43pm
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SCIENCE Teacher!
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Join Date: Jul 19, 2005
Location: Wylie, TX
Posts: 2,140
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I haven't gotten my green to be smooth either, but I use it only rarely. And another vote for good goldstone from Frantz, both in frit and in chunks.
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Yes, I am FosterFire Bead Release.
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2012-01-16, 5:14pm
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Millionaire in Training
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Join Date: Jun 26, 2009
Location: Hottest Place on Earth - aka Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 186
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I've pulled green chunks into stringer, and my stringer does not look like the commercially available stuff, but it's still stringer. I really do need to start using the stringer to decorate. So far, I've just used it to twist frit on the surface. It seems uneven in its disbursement throughout the stringer rod. It is very green inside the stringer, so I think the color is still there. These chunks were in a baggie I got from Arrow Springs one year at the Tucson Gem Show. It was a surprise. I love it when I shop at home!!
I've also checked out that www.greatrough.com site and the prices were incredibly low compared to Frantz. Believe me, I shop around. As to quality, the stuff is in huge chunks that can be broken up. There's no comparison when it comes to pricing between Frantz and Greatrough.com. Great Rough is about 1/20 the price of Frantz. I'm hoping they're at the Tucson Gem Show this year, as they're in Tucson and I'm in Tempe. A hop, skip and a jump from here. Then I could even save on shipping.
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Minor with two 5 lpm oxycons. Sometimes I use both of them...
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2012-01-17, 11:13am
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Lover of Life
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Join Date: Dec 31, 2007
Location: Edmonton AB Canada
Posts: 1,671
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Sweeeeeeeeeet! Still shopping
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2012-01-17, 11:54am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 17, 2008
Location: NH
Posts: 126
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Another vote for greatrough.com!!
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Cricket w/ 5 lpm Oxycon
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2012-01-17, 1:29pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 19, 2006
Location: Orland Park, Illinois
Posts: 729
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greatrough.com is where I buy mine for nearly 6 years now....love it!
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Kathie
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2012-01-17, 11:14pm
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Lover of Life
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Join Date: Dec 31, 2007
Location: Edmonton AB Canada
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Greatrough it is. Thanks everyone!
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2012-01-18, 5:07am
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burnin' glass just becuz
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Join Date: Apr 16, 2006
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 1,251
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check my siggie for a list of Canadian suppliers. i've bought goldstone from most and been happy with it.
i pull blue aventurine stringer from beads i bought at a gemstone shop. sparkly and no issues with grittiness. i just pick the beads with the largest sparkles
i pull green aventurine stringer from Reichenbach aventurine cane - it IS always a bit gritty but i like the look. and yes, it's definitely more brittle than the other two.
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2012-01-18, 2:02pm
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Burning Fingers!
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Join Date: Dec 30, 2006
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2,255
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bexrox
Thanks for all the input everyone! Time to start my hunt! I've wanted to order from Frantz in the past, but if I remember right, they use UPS or Fedex to ship to Canada and that ends up costing a lot more than USPS in my experience... I will have to check into that again...
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I purchase from Frantz, and they use USPS to send it to me - I think you have the option in the shipping portion of the checkout. I'm in B.C.
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Jane P
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2012-01-19, 8:44pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 16, 2005
Location: Maple Valley WA
Posts: 7,064
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Olympic color Rod. I get really nice goldstone from them.
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Lara
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2012-01-20, 8:07am
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Ancient Primate
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Join Date: Jan 05, 2012
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 44
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Regarding chunk adventurine , Frantz is $70 per lb while greatrough.com is $8.50 per pound... Frantz encased stringer is $20 per ounce in a three color assortment. I believe is a fair price as it is ready to use
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2012-01-20, 6:12pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 12, 2011
Location: Western NY
Posts: 215
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Is the gold stone compatible with 104 or 96 or both?
Just curious if you can encase it and be safe.
Thanks,
Joan
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2012-01-20, 7:51pm
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Lampworkaholic!
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Join Date: Apr 22, 2008
Location: Cornelius, NC - because weather
Posts: 5,158
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I think you can buy goldstone in various coes but I use the same chips and just encase them with whatever coe of glass I am using them with. No issues except for green which does not seem to get along with any coe ...
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2012-01-20, 8:30pm
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Ancient Primate
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Join Date: Jan 05, 2012
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jconsidine11
Is the gold stone compatible with 104 or 96 or both?
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greatrough.com states it is compatible with 104. Somebody with more experience would have to answer to 96, but Myself - I wouldn't try it just because though I may look like a gorilla I'm really a chicken
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2012-01-21, 9:45am
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Peerless Thread Killer
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Join Date: Jul 20, 2007
Location: Mt. Chokula
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I did do a pull test for compatibility with the greatrough.com goldstone encased with 104 clear. It was extremely close, but did curve a slight amount. I never have a problem with it on the surface. I've never had a bead crack with the green, either. It's just lumpy when you pull it, but spreads into the most beautiful green crystals over the surface if you super heat it.
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2012-01-21, 10:59am
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Ancient Primate
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Join Date: Jan 05, 2012
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by neagle
I did do a pull test for compatibility with the greatrough.com goldstone encased with 104 clear.
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I just placed an order at greatrough.com for some slabbed green, blue and red and this is good to hear as all I use is 104. There is one place in town that sells system96 sheet. He has suggested I cut strips and use it but I have no real desire to do so.
I guess the question is if anybody has encased goldstone in 96 and doe a compatibility test with other 96?
( I suspect testing 96 with 104 would make a fine archery bow...)
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2012-01-28, 6:50pm
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Ex-lurker
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Join Date: Jun 13, 2006
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 735
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I just got some goldstone slabs from a friend of a friend. Her parents had all kinds of gems, stones, jewelry etc. and the father passed away and the mom is in a home and she just wanted to unload all of their stuff.
I cut some up and will have some in Tucson (The Best Bead Show - Feb. 1 - 5) and when I get back I will put some up here. I don't know if this makes a difference, but this stuff is 20 to 30 years old.
I will be selling an ounce for $3.99.
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Visions in Stained Glass, Inc.
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2012-01-28, 6:51pm
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I'm meeeeelting
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Join Date: May 27, 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
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I buy my rocks from Olympic Color Rod.
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2012-01-28, 7:33pm
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Lampworkaholic!
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Join Date: Apr 22, 2008
Location: Cornelius, NC - because weather
Posts: 5,158
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I have encased goldstone with Uroboros and Gaffer and with Bullseye and Schott clear. It has never been a problem whether I melt it into the bead or leave it raised.
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