HELP......I'm pretty sure it's my Marver, I've been using clear and opaque glass and making hearts, where I've used the Marver to roll the glass into a cone the glass is dull but the glass is clear where it hasn't touched the Marver. I .don't know how to fix this....I tried cleaning/wiping the Marver but it's not made a difference. :( . The opaque glass also started pitting...am I overheating/burning the glass? it's driving me nuts :'(
Could the dullness be chill marks? If you reheat the marvered area does the shiny-ness come back?
the pitting is definitely the overheating... work these kinds of glass gently and at the "back" of the flame..
the "dulling" if the marvered glass is normal - these are chill marks... once you have the shape you want then you need to go back int the cooler pat of the flame and gently "flame polish" the gloss surface back... you just gently heat the shape up to let the very outer surface go smooth..
;D ;)
Thank you Sal and Q, thought the pitting might be overheating. I've heated the beads up to remove chilling marks so the surface is smooth, it's the glass which is dull, where I have added glass to fix a sharp hole the glass is clear and bright...looks like a residue ??? tried to take a photo but I just couldn't get it to show. I'm going to try again tonight but trying to keep the glass cooler ....wish me luck :-\
Is it brass or graphite? I have heard a few people complain about graphite. I use both, but never use graphite on black as it pitts the glass I find. :(
I've had this problem with my graphite marver too but not when I marve on brass. ::)
I've had that with clear effetre colours - like a residue on the surface - thought it was scum though.. it looks like something you ought to be able to wash off..
Quote from: *SJSJSJSJ* on December 05, 2007, 05:42:07 PM
I've had this problem with my graphite marver too but not when I marve on brass. ::)
Quote from: turnedlight on December 05, 2007, 05:51:51 PM
I've had that with clear effetre colours - like a residue on the surface - thought it was scum though.. it looks like something you ought to be able to wash off..
That's it...couldn't work out what I was doing wrong, it is a graphite marver...guess I know what's going on my Christmas list. Just got to look out for a brass marver now :)
Thank you ;D
I've never had a prob with my graphite marver. The poor old thing is five years old but still going strong. I have to say I prefer the graphite to brass. The brass ones are quite expensive.
Like Sal, I've never had a problem with my graphite marver.... and I too find it preferable as it doesnt suck the heat out of the glass the way that brass does...
The only problem I had with my marver was that it bled carbon for a bit, so I gave it a good clean and it's been fine. I've had the dullness occasionally, but only on beads that I've overworked. usually tubes that I can't get to behave themselves.
Quote from: Bruntie's Beads on December 07, 2007, 09:32:38 AM
Quote from: *SJSJSJSJ* on December 05, 2007, 05:42:07 PM
I've had this problem with my graphite marver too but not when I marve on brass. ::)
Quote from: turnedlight on December 05, 2007, 05:51:51 PM
I've had that with clear effetre colours - like a residue on the surface - thought it was scum though.. it looks like something you ought to be able to wash off..
That's it...couldn't work out what I was doing wrong, it is a graphite marver...guess I know what's going on my Christmas list. Just got to look out for a brass marver now :)
Thank you ;D
Have a look at Sandy's Spears - they are very popular. www.spheresofglass.co.uk
Try warming your graphite first (not directly in the flame). I love my torch mounted marver because it gets quite toasty, it helps stop the pitting in black glass.
Thank you for all your advice..when I was making purple hearts for Anna I didn't have any problems with my marver, it was only when I started using blue glass ??? but I know I do have a tendency to overwork them as I can never get the shape I want straight away. I'll keep my eyes open for a brass marver or Sandy's spears but I'll also give my marver another good wash... ;)
I have to say, though I have had those marks, I never put it down to the marver. I thought I was just overheating or overworking. By the way, I have now got a torch mounted marver, but I had to take it off again, cos I couldn't cover the holes for reducing (it's a hothead). :(
I checked my torch mounted marver tonight and was surprised how much black came of it, I have given it a good clean with a clean cloth, and in future I will do this every time.
I have never thought that the odd dark streak could have come from this, it might not have but I will make sure it's clean anyway.
I was also having trouble with my marver.
I'm new to lampwork and i thought that i was boiling the glass, as my beads were pitted on the surface. The thing is that the pitting mostly happened when i marvered something.
I'm really glad that i read your post/replies ... I cleaned down both my rods and marver with distilled vinegar and the problems seem to have cleared up. *Touch wood*
:)