Im working my way through the glass that I got when I bought my starter kit, trying bits to see the colours etc. This morning I tried opaque baby pink and about the first inch broke of in bits. I then warmed it gently and it was ok, is this the "shocky" ive been reading about :D and what if anything do you do with the pieces, do you bin them or is there a use.
thanks Sharon
Yes that sounds like shocky glass to me. You could pick up some of the shocked off bits on a hot gather of glass and melt them in maybe. Just make sure you are picking up the frittty bits from a heat resistant work surface before you try that though ;D
Yup, that's shocky! ;)
You can make frit out of the broken off bits, or try and pick them up on the end of your rod so you can still use them, but they can explode again if they're big.
quite frightening the first time isnt it! i remember nearly falling of my seat, i now stand up when im using glass i know is shocky! Wear a leather apron too btw! ;D dont worry your reflexes get better as u learn to dodge any low flying glass!
Makes me jump every time!
If you know a glass is going to be shocky, try pre-warming it before introducing it to the flame. When you do try to melt it, start by bringing it in from way out in the back of the flame and moove it very gradually. As soon as you see a tiny bit staring to melt, keeep it at that distance for a while and keep the part of the rod you are holding higher than the melting part, the heat should creep slowly up the rod ( heat rises ;) ) and should help to prevent shockiness.
Welcome to the addiction!!
Also...introduce all glass rods to the flame with the tip pointling away from yourself.....not sideways on.
It still gets me every time! I use a lot of the pinks and TBH I find them all to generally be the most shocky of all the colours. I can virtually guarantee that my effetre opaque pinks will shatter every time I put it into the flame.
Its when the big hot bits fly off and stick to your boobs, now thats shocky ;)
:o :o
Or when you hear it ping, but don't realise where it's gone until you smell burning!!!
And.......you smell the burning but never actually find where it is coming from ???
my neighbours got a woodburning stove....much confusion for me when melting glass with the windows open. ::)