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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2012-01-04, 7:31am
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Angie09
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Posts: 1,788
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What is the trick to a mirror finish?
I use alot of Triton and Aurae because I love the mirror finish. However, about 1 out of every 3 beads is either under-reduced or over-reduced. I have turned down my kiln to 900, put in extra lights behind me so I (supposedly) can see better, wear glasses PLUS magnifiers, only do 1 bead on a mandrel and still I don't have anywhere near great continuous results. Is there a trick to viewing the mirror reflection on a bead? How do YOU know when you've reduced it just right?
Any help would be greatly appreciated ... I've run out of ideas!!
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2012-01-04, 2:12pm
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Angie09
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Posts: 1,788
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No one? Even if it's just holding your tongue just right ... any help would be great!
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2012-01-04, 2:18pm
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Jacqueline Parkes
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Join Date: Nov 04, 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 4,497
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I turn up the torch to a reducing flame and then lightly wave it through the top part of the flame. Just for a few seconds and then pop it in the kiln. I guess I can see well because I wear magnifiers.
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2012-01-04, 2:52pm
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too many rods in the fire
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Join Date: Feb 15, 2008
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I do the same as Gems, but I have also had some of the same problems you are describing, Angie!
My experience has been that once I have over or under-reduced the bead, it is often hard for me to get back that mirror finish. If I get it on there, it immediately goes into the kiln - if I continue to mess with the bead I find I often ruin the finish and can't recover it evenly.
I know that is no help to you, but I wanted to at least commiserate! I will be interested to read others' responses to this.
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2012-01-04, 3:03pm
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Angie09
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Posts: 1,788
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You know I do the same but I just don't seem to get all the glass reduced (or over reduce)....thought maybe it was because of the reflection cuz they look shiny when they go into the kiln but come out either under/over reduced. Maybe a flash light??? I'm just groping for ideas at this point.
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2012-01-04, 3:26pm
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Rose colored glasses…√
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Join Date: Jul 22, 2005
Location: Monticello, FL
Posts: 8,259
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With Triton and Aurae I don't use a reducing flame. I twirl my bead, passing it through the bluish part of the flame, near the face of the torch, a number of times.
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2012-01-04, 3:29pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 11, 2009
Location: Massachusetts...I95 south...before Rhode Island
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I LOVE my Triton! I'll only slightly reduce my flame (if at all) then give the bead a couple of quick passes through the flame-that usually gives me that type of finish.
Duane
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2012-01-04, 3:31pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 31, 2006
Location: Knoxville, TN
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Triton and Aurae are really easy to reduce, so I think the problem would be over reducing. I get the best results with a just barely reducing flame, with a soft waving of the bead just at the bottom of the flame (as in the underside) - if I get too agressive, it gets some poopish (a technical term) spots.
And you could be losing reduction in your kiln. Check the threads that recommend charcoal in your kiln to maintain a neutral or reducing atmosphere.
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Kathy
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2012-01-04, 3:42pm
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Angie09
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
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I thought the idea of charcoal turned out to not be helpful....do you use it?
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2012-01-04, 3:44pm
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Angie09
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Posts: 1,788
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrissij
With Triton and Aurae I don't use a reducing flame. I twirl my bead, passing it through the bluish part of the flame, near the face of the torch, a number of times.
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Chrissi. ...what type of flame? Neutral?
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2012-01-04, 3:57pm
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Rose colored glasses…√
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Join Date: Jul 22, 2005
Location: Monticello, FL
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Yep, neutral...just sort of waft it through.
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2012-01-04, 4:59pm
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Angie09
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrissij
Yep, neutral...just sort of waft it through.
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Do you wait until it's totally cooled down?
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2012-01-04, 5:08pm
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da General
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Join Date: Oct 05, 2006
Location: San Francisco
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I'd suggest multiple times through a light reduction flame. Also try, as Kathy suggested, putting the part you want reduced just barely in the bottom of the reducing flame so you have control of where you are reducing.
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Hayley
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2012-01-04, 6:08pm
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Unmedicated since '62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angie09
Do you wait until it's totally cooled down?
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good lord no, why?
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2012-01-04, 7:09pm
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Senior Member
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angie09
I thought the idea of charcoal turned out to not be helpful....do you use it?
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No, I don't lose reduction in my kiln, so I haven't needed to try it. I did not ever see the part about it not helping - I have heard it so many times I just assumed it worked!
[ Hello Hayley!]
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Kathy
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2012-01-04, 7:52pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 03, 2006
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Kathy, may I ask what kind of kiln you have that doesn't lose the reduction?
I'm looking to replace my current kilns (which lose the reduction if I leave triton beads in them for any length of time. (I tried charcoal, it didn't help)).
Thanks.
Mary
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2012-01-04, 8:00pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 31, 2006
Location: Knoxville, TN
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I have a Jen Ken Chili Pepper, and a Paragon Bluebird XL. I use the Chili Pepper the most.
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Kathy
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2012-01-04, 8:30pm
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Senior Member
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Thanks for that!
Cheers
Mary
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2012-01-05, 6:10am
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Angie09
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Posts: 1,788
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PerfectDeb
good lord no, why?
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I thought that was just a general rule for DH glass ... cool before reducing. Am I wrong????
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2012-01-05, 6:33am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 20, 2007
Location: Northeast Ohio
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I'm on a HH, so that will change my results vs. your results, but I do cool the bead for 5-8 second before I roll it through the flame. I seem to pick up more reduction this way. I roll it once, then take it out for a second and then roll it again just to pick up more of the finish.
But I'm just like you- I'll make 3 spacers just to get 2 that are reduced correctly. Hope this helps- it is frustrating for sure Laura
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2012-01-05, 6:42am
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Gimme that silver glass!
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Join Date: Oct 12, 2007
Location: The Netherlands
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angie09
I thought that was just a general rule for DH glass ... cool before reducing. Am I wrong????
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Not for all glass . Aurae and Triton can be reduced while they are still warm, but also reduce well when cold. They actually are the easiest glass to reduce imho .
Pictures of the beads that you consider un- or overreduced would help in helping you . I just quickly wave my beads a few times through a reducing flame and that does the trick for me.
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2012-01-05, 7:15am
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Rose colored glasses…√
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Join Date: Jul 22, 2005
Location: Monticello, FL
Posts: 8,259
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My beads are typically smaller than average, so some cooling may occur between wafts through the flame. I basically twirl it through, hold it up and look at it, twirl it through, hold it up and look at it, lather, rinse, repeat until I have the look I want.
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2012-01-05, 9:15am
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Back to 👊 1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrissij
My beads are typically smaller than averag
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Ya think?
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2012-01-05, 4:39pm
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Angie09
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Troll Lover
Pictures of the beads that you consider un- or overreduced would help in helping you . I just quickly wave my beads a few times through a reducing flame and that does the trick for me.
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Thank you to everyone who has taken time to give me hints ... I really appreciate it. Here is a pic of one of the beads ... the circled area shows the kind of yellowish ugly finish I get often. I think it's from not reducing enough ... but I could be wrong!
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2012-01-05, 4:46pm
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Unmedicated since '62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angie09
I thought that was just a general rule for DH glass ... cool before reducing. Am I wrong????
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i get brilliant reduction and i dont conciously cool the bead, i usually work with really big and long focals so letting anything get even remotely cool is not on
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Deb
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2012-01-05, 4:47pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angie09
Thank you to everyone who has taken time to give me hints ... I really appreciate it. Here is a pic of one of the beads ... the circled area shows the kind of yellowish ugly finish I get often. I think it's from not reducing enough ... but I could be wrong!
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that looks more like over reduction to me
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Deb
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2012-01-05, 8:41pm
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Senior Member
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If that is Triton, it definitely looks like over reduction. Under reducing leaves it blue.
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Kathy
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2012-01-06, 8:05am
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Angie09
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by echeveria
If that is Triton, it definitely looks like over reduction. Under reducing leaves it blue.
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It's Aurae ... but I think you're still correct.
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2012-01-06, 8:12pm
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Life is change. Love it
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Join Date: Oct 10, 2005
Location: Ontario Canada
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I wouldn't use Aurae if you want that mirror finish, I would use Triton.
Aurae is best for getting the amazing pinks and purples. I made these a gazillion years ago, and they were reduced after cooling way, way down, and then rolled in a reduction flame continually, in and out for a while.
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2012-01-07, 4:35am
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Angie09
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
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Wow. ...those are gorgeous!!! Guess I'll try that with the aurea instead. Thanks
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