Hello, wondering if anyone else has problems with the Effetre 104 coe soft white glass rods. I recently bought a 1.4 of a kilo from Tuffnell glass and they are spitting like crazy. I cant use them, gone through two rods just trying to get one to stay still long enough to get a gather, very frustrating and spent ages clearing up my workbench this morning after my last torch session. Ive tried warming them by the torch for about five minutes before use, holding them by the flame but no good. Im on a hothead torch with bulk propane and have used Reichenbach white with no problem at all.
Afraid it's par for the course. It's also known as Anise white and it is notoriously shocky. It's not one I've ever used, so I can't offer much advice.
Thank you, glad its not something Im doing wrong, think I will stick with the Reichenbech for now :)
Be careful with the Reichenbach white, I had a big cracking issues with it a while back and I wasn't the only one!
I've had problems with the soft white too so I put the rods in the kiln to warm up to annealing temperature.
Yep I had given up with mine......drove me crazy.....great idea Pat will try that. Cheers Claire x
Normal white is usually ok. Did you get soft white for a reason? :)
I have loads of soft white that I bought whilst not concentrating.
June, I didn't really know the difference to be honest, but will try the other white if its better, thank you. Pat I don't have a kiln yet but wondered if I could warm them in the oven wrapped in a teatowel or something similar? Helbels I haven't had an issue with my stick of Reichenbach yet, but will be watchful. Thanks everyone.
The last batch I bought are all frit in a stick - I've put them in the bin! Tried warming on top of and in the kiln, made no difference (one rod exploded in the kiln and showered a few beads that were already in there so they were in the bin as well; could see the little air holes in the glass which I think is what's causing the shocking. At least it's cheap glass.
I have a bundle of this too, thought about annealing but probably not worth the effort. Bought CIM peace instead, thats playing nicely!
When I first started beading I assumed "soft" white meant it would melt easier so I bought loads of it! I soon learned my lesson. It spits all over the place! Made me jump out my seat the first time I used it!!
Is it any good as frit - smash it up and use it?
Thank you. I have contacted Tuffnells who offered to swap it for the other white but its going to cost more to send it back than its worth. Frit on a stick is a good description. Never again.
There are people who use it successfully, I believe, especially as a core over which to lay transparent glass. Personally I use silver pink if I want I more subtle core than regular white can give me. It plays very nicely :)
I do quite like soft white and some rods are shocky and some not, I have found warming them does help a bit, think it might be interesting as a frit???
Quote from: Lotti on April 07, 2014, 10:20:51 AM
I do quite like soft white and some rods are shocky and some not, I have found warming them does help a bit, think it might be interesting as a frit???
104 frit is a bit insipid though? Every rod in my last batch was shocky, could have been used as an indiscriminate weapon of mass destruction as it went off like machine gun fire!
I also bought soft white as a rookie not knowing its form !
I have managed to use it for some beads - it is shocky and unpredictable but I have found that the thinner rods are better.
It does work OK as the core for an encased bead but I do prefer CIM peace - not at all shocky and a more dense white though it is a bit more expensive.
I'm having similar explosive issues with effetre pistachio. One rod has even split length wise but mainly I'm showering the work bench with chunks of it. When people warm it in the kiln do you put it in cold like for a batch anneal? Or do you just put it in while at garaging temperature? Would it be worth me batch annealing the rods? I love the colour but my nerves (and those of the cat) just can't take it!
If the rods have air holes running through them, annealing won't help. If they don't, it *might*.
I'd probably put them in cold, but just at the start of a normal kiln cycle, not a long slow batch annealing ramp up. Not done this myself though!
Another thing to try - hold the rod in the flame so that the hot tip is higher than your hand. That way the heat won't shoot up the rod, heat the air in the holes and explode, or at least the risk will be reduced. It's the opposite of what is normally taught, but might be worth trying.
Thanks Shirley and Heather, both sound like good advice. I'll give it all a go before I give up on this colour. I only really wanted to pull stringer from it! If I can get that far then things will get a lot easier.... I hope....
Quote from: Blue Box Studio on April 07, 2014, 10:43:09 AM
Quote from: Lotti on April 07, 2014, 10:20:51 AM
I do quite like soft white and some rods are shocky and some not, I have found warming them does help a bit, think it might be interesting as a frit???
104 frit is a bit insipid though? Every rod in my last batch was shocky, could have been used as an indiscriminate weapon of mass destruction as it went off like machine gun fire!
Very true (hence the ????? but as it does give quite a nice effect with some colours, black and red I have used it with mostly you never know ;), might just have a go myself to see :) ).
Funnily enough I was using this today, it was pinging off all over the place, just when I thought I was safe - exploding glass was flying through the air. Not many rods left now.........
Nope, Ive tried using it all ways, spoke to Tuffnells today and they agree its a very shocky glass. Ive decided to order some Opaque White to see how that goes for now if I do have a problem with it I will try the CiM peace glass. Thanks everyone for your comments, its good to know Im not alone!!!
I have found that CIM peace and Reichenbach white do not like to be encased and will crack if not immediately, then later. The only white I will now encase is standard Effetre white.
Kazx
Thank you for the note of caution on encasing those two glasses. Ive not tried encasing the Reichenbach. Had a delivery of Effetre white so am hoping that will be better than the soft white. I have yet to get onto the torch to try it out as Ive spent the last two days reorganising my workroom and clearing out a lot of old craft rubbish that had been stored for years. I may get to play this afternoon. ;D
I bought soft white glass at Flame Off a few years ago and Sally Carver gave me a tip which I blogged about.....here is the link http://raspberryrings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/my-adventures-with-anise-whiteso-far.html (http://raspberryrings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/my-adventures-with-anise-whiteso-far.html) if anyone is interested.... ;D
Thats a really interesting read, thank you for sharing. Sadly I cant even get the glass to stop shocking long enough to make stringer out of it :( so no go there. Just gonna have to be frit im afraid.
Ohh Jennie I hadn't seen that before, thanks for sharing. I have some less shocky batches (it still shocks but not like popcorn!) ... I'll have to have a play!
My pleasure Trudi but can't take credit I would have left my White in a jar gathering dust if Sally hadn't given me the information! Do share the photos...good luck ;)
I'm with Lizziejane, you couldn't pull a stringer from mine either. I have a couple of shorts of 'Emmental' white that I use for display (how beads are made) at fairs the rest is in the bin, I have the spit burns to justify it!
It could help to put them in the kiln before use ;)
Quote from: petrahergarden on April 14, 2014, 09:00:15 AM
It could help to put them in the kiln before use ;)
Not if they are full of air holes, I tried that, from cold, and had bits flying around the kiln!
Going to have to try my (small) stock doing that ;D - thanks Jennie
Quote from: Jennie Lamb on April 14, 2014, 08:33:06 AM
My pleasure Trudi but can't take credit I would have left my White in a jar gathering dust if Sally hadn't given me the information! Do share the photos...good luck ;)
Still great for you to share x
Some really beautiful reactions there Jennie !