Frit-Happens !

Lampwork => Other COE Glass => Topic started by: Diane on January 26, 2007, 05:41:17 PM

Title: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: Diane on January 26, 2007, 05:41:17 PM
Could anyone please tell me what exactly is meant by 'furnace glass'.  Does it have a manufacturers name and where  can I get some.  Some of the colours I've seen called furnace glass are yummy.
Thanks
Diane
Title: Re: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on January 26, 2007, 06:15:52 PM
Hmm this looks interesting come on folks shimmy up with your knowledge
Title: Re: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: Les on January 26, 2007, 06:18:08 PM
I dunno 'm afraid... I was told that furnace glass colours were more intense than some other types of glass....

I may be wrong, but I think that this stuff is the Furnace Glass yo may be thinking off...

http://www.glasscolor.com/colors/zimmerman_opaque.aspx

HTH
Les xx
Title: Re: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on January 26, 2007, 06:55:06 PM
Nice colours
Title: Re: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: Diane on January 26, 2007, 07:12:41 PM
Thanks for that Les - the colours look right but I suppose you have to send for it in bulk and then get stung for customs.
Title: Re: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: CelticGlass on January 26, 2007, 07:34:40 PM
We all need to go back to school you know...  Furnace glass is a relatively new range of techniques that the venetians are developing to counter a US invasion of 73,000 bead makers.

Its hard to get a lesson but I'm sure possible. New ranges of tougher glass with intricate patterns are used in roll ups straight from the furnace and drawn into fab twisting interlaced patterns. Whilst still mallable they wind it around long tungsten steel rods with no bead release. High qualityTungsten will not stick to glass you know.

Its drawn off and sliced up with a diamond saw and hence no dirty looking abraded hole through the centre.

So in answer to this... they are made at the furnace.   Hows about a charabanc trip to Murano to learn ?

Prob then you need a furnace not a torch and a gaffer and team buddy to work with you...
Title: Re: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: Mary on January 26, 2007, 08:06:23 PM
I've seen furnace glass beads, like Ray describes, but I've also seen the term describing frit and rods. In that instance, it's glass that's intended for putting in a furnace, for glass blowers. Reichenbach and Zimmerman are furnace glass, so it makes nice intense frit.
Title: Re: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: Shannon on January 26, 2007, 08:12:39 PM
Tuffnell's sells Reichenbach pulled into thin lampwork friendly rods.
Title: Re: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: CelticGlass on January 26, 2007, 08:27:39 PM
As they say in Liverpool... in furness or was it fairness or furnace ???

It all starts off in a furnace. The rods are pulled 60 metres down the factory floor. But my take on the colour strength is this. 

How often have you made a bead and the colour fades from the rod to the flame to the kiln and then you look at it and its paled a bit against the original rod colour.  I would say that making a finished item directly from the batch of glass in the furnace will help to keep the colours stronger.

Its only the last 20 years or so that the Venetians  have been selling secrets. I reckon their keeping some quality techniques to themselves. In the last 4 years and since the Moretti family bust up when Vetrofond was formed, the Moretti's wont let anyone in the factory to nose around unless your a biggish client of theirs.   
Title: Re: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on January 27, 2007, 06:18:41 PM
Quote from: Shannon on January 26, 2007, 08:12:39 PM
Tuffnell's sells Reichenbach pulled into thin lampwork friendly rods.

Ive just had a great mixed kilo from Martin, well worth the pennies

Thankyou Ray, you're great, what would we do without you?
Title: Re: FURNACE GLASS - DEFINITION
Post by: CelticGlass on January 27, 2007, 08:58:53 PM
Quote from: tanok on January 27, 2007, 06:18:41 PM
Quote from: Shannon on January 26, 2007, 08:12:39 PM
Tuffnell's sells Reichenbach pulled into thin lampwork friendly rods.

Ive just had a great mixed kilo from Martin, well worth the pennies

Thankyou Ray, you're great, what would we do without you?

Apply for legal aid or lucozade  ::)