Newbie ??? - Black Webbing in my Clear

[crimsonorchid]

Hi there. I am a newbie to lampworking and have a question about the beads I made the other day. I was using a Vetrofond clear and once the beads were made and cooled I noticed that the clear that black webbing throughout it (not intentional). Can anyone tell me what this was from? Was my glass rod dirty, did I use too hot of heat, not hot enough?
Help!
-Jenny

[Jane P]

Another newbie here. When I first started and used a HH, I would find that the transparent glass was so easily "dirtied" with unburnt gas. Quite possibly this is the same problem - if so, then you need to turn down your torch, so there isn't so much fuel coming through and therefore not so much soot forming. The amount you turn it down will just have to be a trial and error type of process - but I found that I could tell when the HH "roar" was not quite so loud, that I was at the right point.

Also, make sure that you are not too close to the torch head.

[Kalera]

It is likely that either you are getting the glass too close to the head of your torch, or that you have your propane turned up too high... depending on what kind of torch and fuel you are using. Try moving farther away from the face of the torch or turning the propane down while you are working, and see if that helps.