Brass Frit Tutorial - Page 2

playswithfire104 · #31 2009-09-22, 7:11am

I tried the red and gold thing too. I encased the red in clear then added the brass - I'm using very thin wire - but I think it still looks, actually kinda grey. Maybe I cooked it too much to get bubbles, maybe my encasing (that need improvement) wasn't thick enough and the red bleed through. But I'm thinking that would be the way to go.

Canyon Echoes · #32 2009-09-23, 8:52am

Thanks for sharing Dawn. I got some brass frit and took samples to last nights Bead Cluster meeting along with your instructions. Everyone will bring a bead they tried it on to next months meeting and I'll get some pics! We all thank you.

Mustang Dawn · #33 2009-09-24, 5:09am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icarus Beads

Well, I have my beads with brass frit (bouth from Mike's) also cracking.
I did encase in Precision Diamond Clear, if that makes any difference ...

Judith I made a few encased with diamond clear 2 days ago (Pandora type) and they did not crack. I'll post pictures when I get my camera out. I tend to use my garbage clear because of all the bubbles, but the diamond clear sure does sparkle

.

I did also use the brass mesh that I got from our local group meeting this past Saturday. It works great but IMHO takes a little more heat to get the bubbles to form. I just cut a really skinny piece of brass and wound it around the bead. These beads did not crack.

I tried the red glass but must of used the wrong red. I'll try again later.

Dawn

Mustang Dawn · #34 2009-09-24, 5:12am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canyon Echoes

Thanks for sharing Dawn. I got some brass frit and took samples to last nights Bead Cluster meeting along with your instructions. Everyone will bring a bead they tried it on to next months meeting and I'll get some pics! We all thank you.

Thanks Johanna

Looking forward to seeing some pictures.

Dawn

Cherine Perrin · #35 2009-09-24, 5:19am

I got my brass frit a few days ago and my first attempt was not to successful. My fault though, I used too much and heated too much. Will keep trying today though.

fritobsessed · #36 2009-10-02, 3:13pm

Just thought I'd pop in with a question for those who have had beads crack - what are you annealing at? If you are annealing at a lower temperature because you are also using silver glass in the bead or are making silver glass beads in the same sitting, that could also be a factor. Just something to consider. I haven't tried this yet, but I know I pretty much just use my lower temp longer annealing time schedule for almost everything anymore because I use silver glass so often, so that's what made me think of this.

Dawn - could you post your annealing schedule?

Mustang Dawn · #37 2009-10-02, 5:18pm

Hi MJ!

Happy to see you posting

I anneal at 960 with the standard ramp down. I gave this a good work out last week just to test out using different clears and had no problems with cracking at all. I really love the diamond clear with brass frit because it just adds that extra sparkle.

Side note

I had pure copper chain that I bought at Micheals last week and gave it a try in a bead. It turned out pretty cool.

What do you anneal your silver glass at. I'm at 960 for that too. I have not noticed a difference but if they come out even sweeter with a lower temp I will give it a try.

Hugs, Dawn

Louise · #38 2009-10-04, 7:41am

I love this technique and thank you for sharing the info. I have a question, since Mike's Brass for Glass can't ship to Canada does anyone know where I can get some here.
Thank you

Mustang Dawn · #39 2009-10-04, 9:03am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louise

I love this technique and thank you for sharing the info. I have a question, since Mike's Brass for Glass can't ship to Canada does anyone know where I can get some here.
Thank you

Hi Louise,

Mike and Deb can and will ship to Canada

Just send them an email asking for the brass frit. I know they just sent a bunch over to Germany. They have to charge for shipping when it goes out of the country so they need to invoice you.

Dawn

Louise · #40 2009-10-04, 9:29am

Thank you Dawn, I was on their site and it said they couldn't and I was so disappointed, but now I am going back to check it out.
Thanks again

Mustang Dawn · #41 2009-10-04, 9:35am

Glad I could hep

Mustang Dawn · #42 2009-10-05, 12:34pm

Here are my large hole test beads using Diamond Clear to encase the brass frit. I did not experience any cracking. Sorry about the reflections I did not use my photo tent, my bad...

Dawn

playswithfire104 · #43 2009-10-08, 5:53pm

Your red and gold one looks pretty good!

Mustang Dawn · #44 2009-10-09, 12:12pm

Thanks Nancy

playswithfire104 · #45 2009-10-09, 12:59pm

Actually they all look good! But since we had been talking about that color combination I thought I'd mention it. I tried encasing a red base, then adding brass then more clear. That bead didn't look very good and ended up cracking.

mini · #46 2009-10-09, 9:37pm

I love this use for the scrap that come out of making something else!! It's a bonus.

Do you have a picture of the bead with the copper chain posted? I'd love to see that.

Anything I make with metals, fusing or beads, comes out yucky. But I'm stubborn!! I'll 'make it work' somehow!

Mustang Dawn · #47 2009-10-10, 2:29am

Quote:

Originally Posted by mini

I love this use for the scrap that come out of making something else!! It's a bonus.

Do you have a picture of the bead with the copper chain posted? I'd love to see that.

Anything I make with metals, fusing or beads, comes out yucky. But I'm stubborn!! I'll 'make it work' somehow!

Good Morning,

Here is the copper chain bead. In order to get the chain started I had to really heat up the spot where I started the chain and plunge the chain into that spot. Then I just wrapped it around the bead and pressed it in with my marver. I did not put the chain directly into the flame, then I encased it in clear. I can't wait to play with this idea next week. I think it has possibilities

Dawn

playswithfire104 · #48 2009-10-10, 8:21am

Oh Dawn!! That is too cool!!

mini · #49 2009-10-10, 3:37pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustang Dawn

Good Morning,

Here is the copper chain bead. In order to get the chain started I had to really heat up the spot where I started the chain and plunge the chain into that spot. Then I just wrapped it around the bead and pressed it in with my marver. I did not put the chain directly into the flame, then I encased it in clear. I can't wait to play with this idea next week. I think it has possibilities

Dawn

Oooooh! That's wicked. I love it. Makes me want to keep practicing.

JanithS · #50 2009-10-15, 9:51am

Cattwalk has brass available and they do ship to Canada. I should also mention that Cattwalk has many unique presses, as well as the tried and true.

SilverRiverJewelry · #51 2009-10-15, 10:10am

I just bought some brass from Mike after seeing this thread. Can't wait to give this a try!

Fine Folly Glassworks · #52 2009-12-23, 3:25pm

Should I be able to work with brass mesh or shavings on a Hothead torch? Any advice?

Mustang Dawn · #53 2009-12-24, 6:38am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fine Folly Glassworks

Should I be able to work with brass mesh or shavings on a Hothead torch? Any advice?

The only difficult part of this tutorial is encasing in clear so if you have no problems encasing with a HH then you should good to go.

I've also punched out shapes in brass and encased them and they look really cool. I need to take a few pictures after the holiday to show everyone.

Merry Christmas!

Fine Folly Glassworks · #54 2009-12-24, 7:16am

To encase I usually pull a clear stringer and wrap the bead. Should that be okay to cover the mesh strip or pieces?

Also, can you pick up frit-sized pieces of the brass with a hot stringer and apply them where you like or does it bubble in the stringer to quickly that way?

Mustang Dawn · #55 2009-12-24, 10:11am

If you encase with stringer I would do 2 or 3 encasements. You want a thick encasement because the bubbles need room to form and rise.

I think it would be fine picking up the frit with a small grape size glob of clear and then placing them where you want them. Just picking them up with the clear will not make the bubbles form.

Fine Folly Glassworks · #56 2009-12-24, 2:57pm

Thanks so much. I look forward to giving it a try! I have brass mesh screen that I plan to snip into pieces or in wire lengths to wrap.

Does the brass wire get soft right away when it is laid against the hot bead? Would wire pieces be better or can I spiral wrap the bead with a brass wire before I encase?

sansan239s · #57 2009-12-30, 11:05pm

I too just bought some brass frit from Mike after reading this thread. I'm also going to go through my copper finding/chain to see what else I could incorporate into my beads. thanks for the great ideas!! L.E. artists rock!!

Mustang Dawn · #58 2009-12-31, 8:33am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fine Folly Glassworks

Thanks so much. I look forward to giving it a try! I have brass mesh screen that I plan to snip into pieces or in wire lengths to wrap.

Does the brass wire get soft right away when it is laid against the hot bead? Would wire pieces be better or can I spiral wrap the bead with a brass wire before I encase?

The brass does not get soft when it hits the glass. How stiff it is before you put it on is how it feels going on. You have to be careful not to hit the flame with the brass or it will spark and burn off. I bought a thin brass sheet from Hobby Lobby (I have to look up the gauge) and did punch outs and it worked great. I also cut thin strips of brass from it and wrapped it around a 1/16th mandrel creating spirals and then layed that spiral down on the glass and encased it. I need to take pictures of my test bead because it does look cool.

Happy New Year Everyone!

sansan239s · #59 2009-12-31, 9:02am

Wow Dawn..... You have just opened up a world of possibilities I didn't know existed. I wish we had a hobby lobby here..... thanks

kernheimer · #60 2010-01-01, 12:39am

just wanted to say, what a sweetie Mike is for sending this to Europe.. So cute and sweet.
And you Dawn, to let us all in to the secret(s)
thank you!!!