Boro white suggestions?

[AmorphousDesigns]

hi guys,

I've searched the forum and found some information comparing boro whites, but it was back in 2006. I'm about to place an order and would love to hear some opinions about good brands of whites.

I've done mostly soft beads, and am just starting small off-mandrel boro stuff.

thanks in advance for any suggestions

[UrbanGoddessDesigns]

My personal opinion is limited but I love Star White from Northstar. It comes out pretty smooth and boils less for me then the others I have worked with. They only other two I have tried are Egyptian White Sand (which is not quite a true white but close) and Stag White by TAG (Trautman Art Glass - it is okay if you like the look - slightly transparent with what I call white grit in it). Hope that helps a little.

~Misty

[dweezil]

I have to agree with Misty. I love the Northstar Star White. It is a firm glass and I find that I don't boil it. It smoothes out nicely as well.

[Bashi]

I use Roger Parramore's "New Color Company" White. It's smooth and does not boil. Looks good encased and not encased. Great stuff

[BellaBean]

I mostly use white for implosions... so I love Asian White (VERY dense!). You've got to smoosh and swirl it around a bit before you pull stringers from it. NOTE: Don't use it for beads unless you make a clear core first or they will crack.

[Mr. Smiley]

Star white... used to be the world's worst white and now it's my favorite!

[Three Muses Glass]

Another vote for China White.

[menty666]

borostix white for a rich warm white, but it has to be mixed first.

[AmorphousDesigns]

You guys rock! Is china white the same as Asian white?

[JesterGlass]

Borostix White is the best IMO, even allowing for remixing. I've banned all other whites from the studio. Cheap, too.

[lillip]

Originally Posted by menty666

borostix white for a rich warm white, but it has to be mixed first.

What do you mean when you say it has to be "mixed" first?

[Three Muses Glass]

Originally Posted by PracticalMagicGlass

You guys rock! Is china white the same as Asian white?

Yes, same.

[deb tarry]

I would like to know also what it means 'to mix the color'.

[BellaBean]

Originally Posted by deb tarry

I would like to know also what it means 'to mix the color'.

Smoosh and swirl it around a bit in the flame.

[Firebrand Beads]

FWIW, the Stag white is no longer as gritty as it used to be.

[Rodger]

Another vote for Parramore white, it's amazingly boil resistant, even compared to borostix. It isn't very dense though, and will look kinda grainy when pulled really thin. I have some borostix as well in case I need some dense white. A tip for avoiding boiling white (borostix white at least) is it doesn't glow as bright as other colours when it's soft, so you don't need to get it really bright before you can work it. If it's getting bright, it's close to boiling.

[menty666]

Originally Posted by BellaBean

Smoosh and swirl it around a bit in the flame.

Yup, mix it into a gather and pull it back out into a rod. It helps make sure you get the air out of it and pull it into something more manageable in the bargain.

[TheNovice]

Where's the best place for a pound of each companies white? ABR? MGA? Trev?

[kirrakat123]

I like Parramore white best because it doesn't boil.

[ginkgoglass]

I use Parramore white too.
Egyptian White Sands when I want more of a cream color.

[Ed_Slawson]

Borostix white... hands down the best ( I haven't tried the Parramore white though). The asian white works very nicely for implosions and compressions, and works well with color cased over for nice shading in flower petals, etc. The asian white is not so good for sculptures and pendants... looks good if you work it quick, but tends to devitrify badly when worked really hot (not boiling), or whenever you manipulate it after one or two heats.

[mkultra23]

Parramore white is my favorite to work with.

[cheng076]

White Tiger or Borostix

[Cornbread]

the asian/china white bleeds with the asian black. i have not tested it against any other black, but that has kept me from using it for anything besides stringer work for a rake or something.

I really like star white because it's a good quality white that you can buy from NS in odds for cheap...and if you catch a sale, usually REALLY cheap. egyptian white sands is also good to work with in the flame, but as mentioned above, it more of an off white or cream. i buy about 5lbs of star white at a time when the sales come. the odds are great because sometimes you get the fat rods like 1/2 inch. makes quick work for getting a gather to encase in a silver striking color like AP's or passions or rubys..etc.

i have not tried any other whites because i really have no complaints about star white. it works for me and i have not needed to find another one for anything else...though it does kind of go transparent in stringer work (which is why i stick to asian white for stringer)

good luck!

[Otter's Flame]

Another vote for Star White by Northstar here. I have tried most every white out there. TAG's Stag White is my second go to white. I am pretty lazy and impatient, I do not like to have to finish the job of mixing or getting the air out of a glass that, in my unhumble opinion the glass company should have done before they pull it. So I tend to stay away from any of those whites I have to do that to.

[menty666]

have any of you run into a "burnt" look near the mandrel using china white? Near the mandrel it looks like burnt marshmallow, but on the outside of my bead it's a lovely white

[deb tarry]

The only time I used to get that burnt look by the mandrel hole was when I worked with soft glass and it was from soaking in the water overnight. If I soaked them and took them off the mandrel within a couple of hours I didn't get the burnt look.

[glassshack]

Parramore period

[pierces*designs]

Parramore for me too!

[Cornbread]

im going to have to try that paramore white...pic of bleeding affect coming soon..stay tuned