Frit-Happens !

Lampwork => Other COE Glass => Topic started by: Blue Box Studio on November 09, 2010, 06:49:04 PM

Title: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Blue Box Studio on November 09, 2010, 06:49:04 PM
I can't work out where to ask this so here goes.  I want to make some beads from a Bombay Sapphire bottle.  I was given a bottle, about 10 years old apparently (part full and left over from a party - for 10 years?  Wouldn't happen in my house.) but having soaked it to remove the label, the blue is definitely sprayed on, you can scrape it off with a finger nail and it's clearly plastic.  So I've ditched that bottle.  I don't drink gin quick enough to get through a bottle in a few weeks and wanted to make these beads for a fair I'm doing early December (fair trade, Eco, handmade etc) so, before I go off and find another bottle, is there any clue why some bottles are solid blue glass and some are sprayed on?  What defines which?  I don't think I'd be welcome in Tesco testing the bottles for scrape-ability - and the first one wasn't obvious until it was soaked (which it needed after 10 years in a cupboard).

Any clues, before I turn into a gin addict (wouldn't be hard).

Any other pretty coloured bottles that you know of?  Husband's Belgian beer collection is too brown and the Bristol blue of Harvey's is a bit overdone in Bristol.

Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: firedinglass on November 09, 2010, 07:21:42 PM
When i used to make things from recycled bottles, a couple of years ago, there  was a type of water that came in  a blue bottle that  worked really well, it was a gorgeous royal blue.  Sorry i can't remember it's name but it must have come from Sainsbury's or waitrose! :)
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Carol on November 09, 2010, 08:04:25 PM
Quote from: firedinglass on November 09, 2010, 07:21:42 PM
there  was a type of water that came in  a blue bottle that  worked really well, it was a gorgeous royal blue

Aldi's mineral water  ;)
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: ARBeads on November 09, 2010, 09:29:10 PM
Never had a Bombay Sapphire that wasn't glass, though they have been a modern variety - you need to discard the etched bits of the side as they go all black and scummy.

Not much help am I, search out the ancient Harveys Bristol cream from the christmas stash, beautiful dark blue.
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: stuwaudby on November 09, 2010, 09:49:45 PM
Blue Nun - but find someone else to drink it for you!
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Blue Box Studio on November 09, 2010, 10:39:56 PM
Thanks.  I can afford a bottle of water, cheaper than gin!  My gin bottle was definitely clear glass underneath, perhaps the newer versions are solid glass.  There was another thread on here where someone had said she thought the colour was sprayed on.
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Flyingcheesetoastie on November 09, 2010, 11:01:57 PM
Was it a duty free bottle?  When I went to Turkey we were experimenting with bottles that had been....um... emptied quite shortly after purchase on the way over, anyway we were kiln-joining them and vacuum pumping and making them glow, irrelevant, but most of them lost the colour in the firing as it was a plastic layer on clear glass.
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Redhotsal on November 09, 2010, 11:06:13 PM
Wow - perhaps the sprayed bottles were counterfeit?
The "real" Bombay gin does have a blue glass.
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Donna@Rockin' Beads on November 10, 2010, 07:31:05 AM
The only beads I've ever made from a recycled bottle were from a bottle of Bombay Sapphire. I didn't realise about the scummy etching but the glass was blue all the way through.... Lovely. That was last year. Maybe the newer bottles are blue and the older ones just sprayed.
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Trudi on November 10, 2010, 08:41:47 AM
It is a gorgeous blue, the Bombay Sapphire Gin, but be warned it is a lot stiffer than your normal 104 glass!

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4853684443_9a40628045.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitteringprize/4853684443/)
Sapphire Fizz (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitteringprize/4853684443/) by Glittering Prize - Trudi (http://www.flickr.com/people/glitteringprize/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5051450977_7ee6516de4.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitteringprize/5051450977/)
Bombay Sapphire (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitteringprize/5051450977/) by Glittering Prize - Trudi (http://www.flickr.com/people/glitteringprize/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Mand on November 10, 2010, 08:59:03 AM
I made some beads yesterday with a lemon juice bottle  -lovely and green. I have also made Bombay Sapphire ones, took an age but it was worth it (AND it was on a HH - I must have been mad!)

A couple of years ago Katiequiggle made a gorgeous set with a lovely pale greeny merlot bottle and etched - they looked stunning.  She also made some jam jar beads rolled in frit and tehy were really pretty too.

The blue mineral water bottle you're thinking of is quite a Bristol sort of blue - Ty Nant and you can get it in Waitrose.  They also do a "red" bottle but alas that is sprayed on.

Mand x
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Steampunkglass on November 10, 2010, 11:25:05 AM
Quote from: Flyingcheesetoastie on November 09, 2010, 11:01:57 PM
Was it a duty free bottle?  When I went to Turkey we were experimenting with bottles that had been....um... emptied quite shortly after purchase on the way over, anyway we were kiln-joining them and vacuum pumping and making them glow, irrelevant, but most of them lost the colour in the firing as it was a plastic layer on clear glass.
Now that sound like sooo much fun!!!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Hotglass28 on November 10, 2010, 12:12:09 PM

You could use the blue nun as drain cleaner ;D

I used to use black tower too in my fusings at uni.  Blut thats black, not blue.  ::)

Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: arachnia on November 10, 2010, 04:38:54 PM
Was the mineral water perrier or nyant or somat like that blue ked or similar?

I like the bombay colour its lush.

Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: mariag on November 10, 2010, 04:57:07 PM
I made this bracelet for a college project on jewellery using recycled or found materials. I used a Harvey's Bristol Cream bottle & a Spanish mineral water bottle & rolled some of the beads in BeadySam's Monet frit & left some plain.
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l27/mariag64/P1090664.jpg)
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: chipperpottery on November 10, 2010, 05:03:00 PM
I have got a spare empty bottle of Bombay gin, if you would like it.

I can post it tomorrow.

Rita

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/5164110377_93284b1632.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51048389@N02/5164110377/)
S6300781 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/51048389@N02/5164110377/) by Avalon Beads (http://www.flickr.com/people/51048389@N02/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Redhotsal on November 10, 2010, 05:25:24 PM
Just offering a service really - I'm happy to dispose of the contents of any Bombay Sapphire bottle for those who dont' drink gin but fancy making blue beads...... ;) ;D

Beautiful looking jewellery on this thread, everyone!
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: DragonflyLynne on November 10, 2010, 07:11:26 PM
Quote from: Redhotsal on November 10, 2010, 05:25:24 PM
Just offering a service really - I'm happy to dispose of the contents of any Bombay Sapphire bottle for those who dont' drink gin but fancy making blue beads...... ;) ;D

;D ;D ;D

Lovely beads everyone  ;D
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Blue Box Studio on November 10, 2010, 07:15:36 PM
Quote from: mariag on November 10, 2010, 04:57:07 PM
I made this bracelet for a college project on jewellery using recycled or found materials. I used a Harvey's Bristol Cream bottle & a Spanish mineral water bottle & rolled some of the beads in BeadySam's Monet frit & left some plain.
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l27/mariag64/P1090664.jpg)

No idea about the origins of the bottle I had but ... bought some of Tan's frit destash and there's 'Money' in it so for once I have something that someone mentions.
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Blue Box Studio on November 10, 2010, 07:19:31 PM
Quote from: chipperpottery on November 10, 2010, 05:03:00 PM
I have got a spare empty bottle of Bombay gin, if you would like it.

I can post it tomorrow.

Rita


Rita, I've PM'd you.  Thanks.  Sue.
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: DI on November 28, 2010, 05:06:25 PM
Hi Sue
I've used Bombay Sapphire quite a bit - I can make enough jewellery out of one £14.00 bottle to get me over £100.00 back especially if I add a little bit of gold leaf here and there plus it goes a lot further in hollow beads. ;)
The old ones used to be plastic coated but I think they are all solid blue now - look at the thick bit at the bottom and see if it looks suitably deeper in colour. I've not had any problem with the etched bits at all but any scum could be picked out as you go.
It's beautiful glass - good for sculptural and hollow things as it's a bit stiffer/higher melting and more short working than Effetre as most bottle glass seems to be. I like to fume it too and reduction frits work well on it plus foil and leaf. (Won't work very well on a hot head)
I just decant the gin into another bottle if necessary and drink it at leisure plus I've got friends saving their bottles - you could get the local pub to save you theirs. It's a real selling point for the work to say it's Bombay Sapphire Gin bottle glass too. ;D
x
Di
PS
Tynant water bottles are very good

(http://www.glass2wear.com/bombay%20sapphire.jpg)
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: firedinglass on November 28, 2010, 07:02:34 PM
That was the name of the water bottles i use to fuse with 'Tynant'  i knew someone on here would know! ;D
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Blue Box Studio on November 28, 2010, 08:12:13 PM
Thanks for the tips.  I've been so busy I've not had time to make them yet, it's on the cards for tomorrow so I can make a necklace or two in the week.  All depends on a customer actually coming when she says she is and not speding all day looking at earrings in my lounge (and then not buying?).  I don't feel I can see customers in my grotty work clothes and if I torch in something decent a bit of glass is sure to fly. 

I like the idea that drinking gin can actually pay for itself!
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: ★★Terri★★ on November 29, 2010, 08:59:08 AM
My FIL keeps giving us some seriously nasty German wines (he joined a wine club and simply cannot admit he knows nothing about wine and doesn't even drink it ::)).  Up to know I have just been giving it away - apologetically suggesting if it's not nice use it as drain cleaner ;D.

But, would I be able to melt it on my hot head?  Don't want to get all fired up about it if it gonna be a non started.  The bottles are a deep blue and a deep green.
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Curlybird on November 29, 2010, 09:17:22 AM
I've just got hold of an emply Bombay Sapphire from my local pub, and I'm going to make something for the landlady for Xmas....    I was wondering if I could use frit with it, and thanks to this thread I know the answer.   Very helpful.

Anne
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Katiequiggle on November 29, 2010, 09:21:05 AM
Quote from: Terri on November 29, 2010, 08:59:08 AM
My FIL keeps giving us some seriously nasty German wines (he joined a wine club and simply cannot admit he knows nothing about wine and doesn't even drink it ::)).  Up to know I have just been giving it away - apologetically suggesting if it's not nice use it as drain cleaner ;D.

But, would I be able to melt it on my hot head?  Don't want to get all fired up about it if it gonna be a non started.  The bottles are a deep blue and a deep green.

Hi Terri.

It takes ages melting bottles on a hot head but if you're patient you certainly can do it.  I make quite a few beads from bottles on my  hot head though I must say that it is an awful lot quicker on my Bobcat.

This bracelet is made from a jam jar and has passion frit on it and the green beads are all from wine bottles.

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a98/Katiequiggle/P1090421.jpg)

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a98/Katiequiggle/P1090365.jpg)

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a98/Katiequiggle/P1090361.jpg)

Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Curlybird on November 29, 2010, 10:35:31 AM
Do you have to use a specific annealling cycle for Bombay Sapphire, or do you use the same as for Effetre?

Anne
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Donna@Rockin' Beads on November 29, 2010, 08:14:41 PM
I just popped mine in with my coe 104 beads. No problems so far.
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Curlybird on November 29, 2010, 08:48:19 PM
Thanks Donna
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: stuwaudby on December 06, 2010, 12:59:03 PM
Quote from: Curlybird on November 29, 2010, 09:17:22 AM
I've just got hold of an emply Bombay Sapphire from my local pub, and I'm going to make something for the landlady for Xmas....    I was wondering if I could use frit with it, and thanks to this thread I know the answer.   Very helpful.

Anne

Anne, whenever I test bottle glass compatibility then bullseye always comes out more compatible than effetre. You should be safer using a COE90 frit but best to check compatibility first.

To check heat the ends of two rods, touch them so they overlap and pull a stringer which is half and half. Cut one end and hang it vertically down to cool. If it stays straight then it will be compatibile enough to use for surface detail. If the stringer bends as it cools then the glass on the iside of the bend has the higher COE.
Title: Re: Bombay Sapphire blue
Post by: Blue Box Studio on December 06, 2010, 03:20:49 PM
That's a good tip, I've not heard that before.  Thank you.