I've been told, by my illustrious tutors and in lamp working books, that the Eff 006 clear is better with silver glass than the other brands.
I don't want to have to check labels when I'm torching so I bought all 006 from then on. It works well with the DH but it's nowhere near as clear and scum free as my favourite Lauscha clear. (Even when I remove te cut ends)
Is there any reason why the others don't work so well, or is it just because?
compatibility.
thats about it really. it does not like silver glass, so much so, it cracks :'( :'( :'(
there is a lauscha soft or something as well that alot of people use, but I don't know if it works with the silver glass.
personally, I use reichenbach clear for everything, especially silver glass, I love it, I tried the soft in that too, have yet to notice much difference cause I changed torches, not used to the new one yet. soon I will set up bobcat again and see.
the 006, I don't like much, I tend to use it for middles of stuff, its not super scummy, but its not great either.occasionally there are good batches which are fab, but who wants occasionally?
edit- too early cant spell.
Reichenbach 1011 crystal works well with silver glass (the soft clear, 1012, is known for micro-bubbles).
Lauscha soft clear isn't good for silver glass - compatibility problems and a higher ideal annealing temperature. Lauscha standard reformulated clear *is*, as long as you aren't annealing too low. There are quite a few people using it in Hayley's current silver glass challenge on LE.
Both the 1011 and Lauscha clear are stiffer than 006, which is why some people don't like them.
Then people say Double Helix aether is lovely, but it also changes the colour of the silver glass to more green hues rather than pinks/purples.
see, someone who knows about the lauscha!
I don't find the ordinary reichenbach clear too stiff, but I suppose it depends on your method of encasing, whether stiffer works for you or not.
I've got the reformulated Laucsha clear - and it is super clear (IMHO) and melts really easily even on my hot head. It's great for encasing and super on its own with decoration over it. I've tried it with silver glass and not had a problem yet - but that said my silver glass is still very experimental.
Also when you use silver leaf or wire in your beads, it seems to discolour the least. I was using Vetrofond for ages until I realised this. I have also tried Aether but I didn't think it any better.
Thanks all, plenty to think about.
I have noticed some brown marks when I use silver wire with some pinks.
Hi Alison,
Soz, only just seen this thread.
As wot the others have said - the Lauscha will be very problematic with the Double Helix stuff from a compatibility point of view. Another thing that Lauscha does is that it will stain in contact with silver. i.e. it'll turn your silver a brassy yellow. Effetre tends not to do that - which is principally the reason I use it. I've also never had any compatibility issues with Double Helix and Effetre 006.
Lauscha is lovely glass but there can be major compatibility things with some glass, even non-Double Helix glass - you just have to try a few test beads to see what it likes (or doesn't like). For example - I've never been able to encase "alabaster-type" pinks (like Gellys sty) with Lauscha without it cracking. And don't even think about encasing Double Helix Pandora with it.
CIM clear is a lovely glass but I've had similar sort of problems (as above) - although it's not as bad as Lauscha. CIM clear will also "stain" silver.
There are very few pinks will won't stain silver by the way - you'll always get an ugly yellow/brown stain with silver wire on pink. The Stain-free Silver and Pink bead is somewhat of a Holy Grail to most beadmakers! ;)
Echo the call for Reichenbach clear - nice glass - but a bit too rich for my pocket. That's one thing in favour for Effetre 006 - I think it's probably the cheapest out of the bunch, and when you get through it at the rate I usually do your clear glass bill can add up alarmingly fast.
Effetre 006 for me - lauscha too risky with the silver glass and silver, reichenbach OK but has a yellowy tinge to it, CIM OK but compatibility issues, Vetrofond is too scummy as is Effetre 004, Aether is nothing special for the money, Precision clear is the dog's wotsits but rare as hen's teeth and twice as expensive ;D.
With 006 I always clean it really well with glass cleaner and kitchen roll immediately before use and tweezer off the end of the rods.
From time to time I use the really pale transparents - baby blue, the pale pink, the very pale purple etc.
Kazx
006 for me, all the same reasons as above - I do have most of the clears stated as like most people, I like to see for myself. But in the end, it's always back to 006, although I do prefer Lauscha for my florals - too much work to risk any smears. Although I have only been cleaning with water - I think I may get the glass cleaner out :)
I use 006 for everything and to be honest i've never had a problem with it, and think for its price its the best on the market and would always be my first choice when ordering! oh and i always clean mine with glass cleaner as soon as it arrives and wrap it in cling film then have a cloth handy to give it a quick wipe over before use :)
I've got good results with my latest batch of CIM, .... it seems to get soft quickly, and it's not scummy, which the effetre was.
I'm another 006 girl but as Gem mentioned you have to clean it. I'm not as concientious as Gem though, I scrub a few rods under running water with a nail brush then dry them at the beginning of a session ;D
I love my Lauscha. It seems fine with some DH - have used it extensively with Psyche and Ekho. I nearly always use it for encased florals if I'm using Effetre for the rest of the bead.
I like 006, and that is becoming my clear of choice with DH glass. I've got some aether, but haven't been brave enough to try it yet!
You know I'm a 006 girl (the closest I'll ever get to being a Bond girl 8)) but I'm a lazy beadslut and favour the underarm wipe method of cleaning my rods ;D
Quote from: Lush! on April 05, 2011, 10:43:41 AM
You know I'm a 006 girl (the closest I'll ever get to being a Bond girl 8)) but I'm a lazy beadslut and favour the underarm wipe method of cleaning my rods ;D
:D :D :D I just love the idea of being a lazy beadslut! Something to aspire to ;D ;D
Okay, so I don't clean my glass, I stir my sachet coffee with a mandrel and my mug does say Bead Slut, but I'm so pleased I inspire you, Deanne ;D ;D
(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x317/Bluebottle_pics/P1100935.jpg)
Pass the biccies please :D
LOVE it !!!! ;D ;D ;D
Reminds me of this .....
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn228/flame-born-beads/n547703972_1785553_5969.jpg)
Only yours it cleaner :P
Haha, Les, that's brilliant!! Mine is my kitchen table, and it's really not that clean (I've got a rep to uphold here!)
LOL! Well you didn't show me that when I came last week ;) ;)
Ah, well I was trying to make a good impression then - but you're a Fritter now ;D
LOL . splutter ..........
You neveer know what you're gonna find on this thread!!
Perhaps we should be showing our feet not our faces!
I'm falling about laughing at you two. From glass science to socks :)
Julie I love that you dont stir your drink with any old mandrel....this isn't just any mandrel, this is a Mango Beads mandrel LOL.
Thanks all, especially Mrs Red Hot, for the advice. Now I am making more beads and going through my clear like the clappers, I think I can stand a touch of bubblyness.
And Julie - I'm all for the 'drag it along the underarm of your hoodie' approach to glass cleaning. Plus you have made me too scared to torch without a scarf, that's useful for wiping tools on :)
Two sleeps to go.... :D