Hi Guys,
I know i am not strictly a newbie - HOWEVER! i have NEVER used Lauscha clear before and here i am sitting with a bundle of it from Sal, and i have no idea what it can or cannot do...
Can i treat it the same as any other clear? or is it a little naughty?
I have heard rumours it likes to crack up if mixed with the wrong types (don't we all?)
Many many thanks in advance as always pop pickers.x x
Hi Anna,
Glad it arrived.It's a beauty to work with and pretty much is idiot proof to use - I've never been able to burn it! The only real problem is that there can be some incompatibilities - It can be a little awkward with some glass. I've noticed that it's fine with Double Helix Psyche and Terra but it cracks over Pandora. Not had any severe cracking yet with anything else, it should be pretty good with most Effetre - I've used it over rubino for years without a problem. It's not always good over alabaster colours, and there's a few CIM I would be wary of mixing it with - maybe Halong Bay, for example. Not actually tried it but it's an instinct.
Would be curious to see other people's experiences....
My lauscha-encased-triton beads cracked - but that could have been operator error, I've not encased silver glass before (or since ;D)
oooh brilliant
Does is encase silver foil okay or does it react like effetre?
Thanks Sal - the glass came in perfect condition and the length!!!! Swit-swoo
Glad you reminded me - yes, it does encase silver foil but you may well get that brassy colour on encasing. I seem to - though I dont' really know how or why this reaction occurs. Not sure whether it is the encasing glass or whether it's something I'm doing during the encasing.
One thing about the Lauscha is that it seems to have a low melting point and that your silver wire will stay intact for much longer than if you encased it with effetre.
I use Lauscha pretty much exclusively and I've found the following problems:
1. It is more sensitive to even tiny amounts of a different COE. For instance, I use Vetrofond clear for encasing lower COE furnace glass frit as the Lauscha cracks more often than not. I've had beads crack even when small amounts of frit are simply melted in on the surface of a Lauscha bead as well.
2. Any silver, whether it be foil or wire, typically turns a golden colour. I personally don't like that effect but some people think it's quite pretty!
3. I've had problems using Lauscha to encase the following CiM colours: Eggplant, Plum, Dirty Martini and Peacock Green. However, the Rose Quartz, Gelly's Sty and Heffalump seem to get along with the Lauscha just fine. I've not tried encasing any other of the CiM colours.
Other than that, Lauscha really is a dream. It's super clear and super clean and melts beautifully. It is my absolute favourite clear :)
Mine cracked when I encased beads with silver foil on them >:( I was so mad cos they were some of the best beads I had made :'( But having said that I love it as a glass
Thanks Sal - had my delivery of Lausha Clear too, but yet to try it
Roy :)
Quote from: Lush! on November 22, 2008, 03:56:52 PM
My lauscha-encased-triton beads cracked - but that could have been operator error, I've not encased silver glass before (or since ;D)
you want diomond clear with silver glass :)
However if your just useing silvered glass frit then Lauscha will do the job, i find it a dream to use and i can work it as hot and fast as i want or as cool as i want and never never had it scum
Quote from: Caroline on November 22, 2008, 10:08:33 PM
Quote from: Lush! on November 22, 2008, 03:56:52 PM
My lauscha-encased-triton beads cracked - but that could have been operator error, I've not encased silver glass before (or since ;D)
you want diomond clear with silver glass :)
However if your just useing silvered glass frit then Lauscha will do the job, i find it a dream to use and i can work it as hot and fast as i want or as cool as i want and never never had it scum
what make is it Caroline as I'm sure I've seen a few makes use the 'diamond clear' description?
The diamond clear I had was dreadful -full of scum and bubbles. Tried two different suppliers, and both the same thing.
One supplier seemed to think I was nuts when I told them it was so bad so maybe it was user error? I don't think so since the rods looked pretty awful to the naked eye, but I wouldn't rule it out. I just gave up on that one in the end. I can get cruddy clear for way cheaper!
Would love to know who is selling the GOOD diamond clear though as I would one day like to try it.
Emma
I have used Launcha clear on silvered glass yesterday and made a whole batch of the same type of beads using triton and silverd ivory and some nothstar plus lots of fine silver, all where encased. I brought them out of the kiln this morning and out of 24 beads 3 have cracked :o
I will keep an I on the rest now and see if any others crack later.
Quote from: ejralph on November 23, 2008, 12:12:00 PM
The diamond clear I had was dreadful -full of scum and bubbles. Tried two different suppliers, and both the same thing.
One supplier seemed to think I was nuts when I told them it was so bad so maybe it was user error? I don't think so since the rods looked pretty awful to the naked eye, but I wouldn't rule it out. I just gave up on that one in the end. I can get cruddy clear for way cheaper!
Would love to know who is selling the GOOD diamond clear though as I would one day like to try it.
Emma
Which raises a point or two. If it is called Diamond clear, the diamond thus implying pure quality, why should any supplier suggest user error? Quite insulting I would say.
And shouldn't all glass be good anyway? Even more so the stuff that we pay over the odds for? I am getting thoroughly fed up of new glass being touted as the next best thing when it clearly isn't.
I couldn't agree more Tan!
I am getting way sick of 104 glass - the quality has just nosedived over the last couple of years it seems.
I must clarify though - the supplier couldn't believe I was having problems, saying they and their friends thought it was great. But they didn't go so far as to say it was user error on my part!
I just rather got the impression that is what they thought ;D
I don't care - I have a shed full of glass and I am done buying the stuff. I am putting myself on an enforced "use up what ya got" diet and hopefully by the time I need more of anything, there will be better quality or better options available.
I think the new Reichenbach 104 line is very promising though from what I have tried. I may just break my self-imposed ban to pick up more of that!
Emma
Quote from: ejralph on November 23, 2008, 06:34:53 PM
I don't care - I have a shed full of glass and I am done buying the stuff. I am putting myself on an enforced "use up what ya got" diet and hopefully by the time I need more of anything, there will be better quality or better options available.
I think the new Reichenbach 104 line is very promising though from what I have tried. I may just break my self-imposed ban to pick up more of that!
Emma
Blummin' heck, that ban didn't last long! ;D ;D
Yeah, it was more theoretical at that point. ;D
Although I haven't bought me anymore glass yet - so technically I am winning. Just "window shopping" which doesn't count does it!
Emma
I have always bought my dimond clear direct from Rocio's website www.fineartbyrocio.com/products, the last lot i bought from Martin but i've not got round to using any of that yet
I know a few people have been struggling with bad batchies of it so maybe i've just been lucky
I Love the diamond clear with my silvered glass and all my 104 stuff, I had mine from Martin and it has certainly lived up to it's name ;D I have used lauscha in the past but only with silvered glass such as Gaia and Elektra and had no problems, but I would say if doing this make sure your beads go into the kiln with a wee bit of glow still on them. I only use system 96 when I'm working with frit, (which I do a lot of!!) and that is gorgeous glass. I get it from glasscolor.com and I think they have it discounted by 20% now till christmas
hope this helps :D
I've found incompatability problems with the diamond clear, in 2 batches I bought, it doesnt seem to like encasing silver wire either (which Lauscha happily did).