Frit-Happens !

Lampwork => COE 104 => Topic started by: Ness on February 22, 2009, 11:25:16 AM

Title: Dark copper ruby frit- arghhhh!
Post by: Ness on February 22, 2009, 11:25:16 AM
When I bought my starter kit I got a couple of tubs of frit to play with.  One is dark copper ruby. 
I have had one success with this frit, and several failures.  I know it's a striking frit now (I didn't when I had my one and only success), so what am I doing wrong?  ??? It just looks black..  help!

and another question - am I going to have this problem with many frits?  I ordered a few from beadysam, it would be heartbreaking if this happens alot.

Thanks, Ness

edited to correct spelling!!
Title: Re: Dark copper ruby frit- arghhhh!
Post by: Margram on February 22, 2009, 11:39:48 AM
What base colour did you use?

Marg x
Title: Re: Dark copper ruby frit- arghhhh!
Post by: Mary on February 22, 2009, 11:42:22 AM
Copper ruby is a funny one, the one I have recommends kiln striking, and it can be fussy. Did it stay black once cold? Reds do look black when they are hot.

A lot of frit goes bleh on ivory, and some go grey when reduced, but you should be fine. You just started with a fussy one!
Title: Re: Dark copper ruby frit- arghhhh!
Post by: Stacy on February 22, 2009, 11:57:57 AM
Oh I'll give that a go Mary... mine always looks nasty too!
Title: Re: Dark copper ruby frit- arghhhh!
Post by: LesleyMac on February 22, 2009, 02:39:48 PM
Hi Ness, Copper Ruby is prone to overstriking, I would recommend that if you are using it, to make the beads last of the day so its not in the kiln too long.  Light copper ruby is much easier apparently but I haven't tried it yet.
Title: Re: Dark copper ruby frit- arghhhh!
Post by: Maria Louisa on February 22, 2009, 08:40:44 PM
Ness, you have to use very very little of copper ruby frit.
Title: Re: Dark copper ruby frit- arghhhh!
Post by: Ness on February 23, 2009, 01:35:30 PM
Thanks for your help, I'll give it another go sometime!!

Marg - base was white effetre

Mary - the colour started to 'bloom' when I blew on it, by the time I got it near the kiln it already looked very dark. It was black when I got it out of the kiln.

Can I now ask how you kiln-strike?
Title: Re: Dark copper ruby frit- arghhhh!
Post by: Mary on February 23, 2009, 02:44:49 PM
Put it in the kiln pale or colourless. It will strike during your soak. That's the theory anyway!
Title: Re: Dark copper ruby frit- arghhhh!
Post by: Margram on February 23, 2009, 04:59:22 PM
Mary - does that mean we should only melt the frit in gently and
just flame anneal for a very short time, so the bead doesn't cool
too much?  :-\

Marg x