Help Rubino going brown and dull

[Trudi]

Eeek

I know it's not me as I've had no problem using Rubino before - but I've got a batch of Effetre - and I'm finding the longer I'm working this it's going a horrible colour. It starts off fine then seems to go.

I was making a large lentil with the bottom half rubino - and I see it going just can't stop it!! I thought maybe it was trying to reduce so I bathed it in an oxygen rich flame but it made no difference!!

It wouldn't be so bad if it was a cheaper glass, but it's a more pricier one!

Any suggestions appreciated!

[ebj]

I only ever now use CIM Cranberry Pink. I just cant get the lovely colours out of the other stuff. Not very useful to you though lol. Sorry!

[Kaz]

Wot she said!

[saffie]

ditto!!! my effetre rubino is not good at all. CiM is so reliable!

[Jolene]

I am a big fan of CiM Cranberry Pink too.........I just can't get along with any other gold pink

[Trudi]

shame cause it's not always that bad!!

I do have a rod of the CIM - and it is gorgeous, but very pricey!

[Helen G]

I use both effetre and CIM and with the effetre I work really high in the flame and try and keep it cool and most of the time it is absolutely fine. Very occassionally I will get one that goes brown out of a whole bunch that stay nice and pink, couldn't say why

[Shirley]

Is it that batch that Martin described as looking more like dark topaz?

[Trudi]

Is it that batch that Martin described as looking more like dark topaz?

The rod actually looks fine Shirley - but that's more how it ends up! I'll try and get a picture later!

[Redhotsal]

I have some "dark topaz" batch which is actually good - despite looking brown to begin with. I have some other rubino - quite light pink which always goes a nasty brown when encased. I think the "brown" may actually be the gold in the rubino coming out. I have another batch which goes like EDP if it is batch annealled. But without the devit.
I think that's why I like rubino - it's really quite unpredictable!
We can be very exacting as glass bead makers - if we keep demanding uniformity we'll end up with glass like the fruit in our supermarkets - all the same and very bland. I don't make glass and I'm sure it is very difficult to get repeatability - I can see that by looking at Double Helix's batches - but I like that. I'm happy to go with it. I don't want my tomatoes to be all the same shape, size and taste. Except when I have a fussy custom order of course!

[Trudi]

LOL Sal = you're mad!

I was actually thinking that I may have to encase this stuff if I want to use it. I wouldn't mind so much if it was different shades of pink, but mud I don't really fancy it much!

[chocolateteapot]

the rubino i bought at flame off sounds like what u have...cant do squat with it...i know i 'm not very experienced so dont pay any attention to me...
x

[glassworks]

there are a few batches of rubino around... as suppliers it is a nightmare for us as in the beginning we had to take what they had - and that meant living with the result too!...

there is an excellent batch from late last year - they only make it accassionally due to the costs of making the glass - and the fact that it is purely handmade.. the colour itself of the rod does unfortunately NOT give any clue as to the final colour/quality of the reactions... try emailing the suppliers/effetre to find out which batch you have and getting some new rods?..

having said all that - the handmade stuff is obviously the most difficult to produce consistently... thats what can make it a challenge!.. when you find a good batch then stock up - i know we got sarah hornik to play with a few different lots at our place when she just developed her pink stuff, and some gave more intense reactions than others... theoretically each batch has the same chemical compounds etc, you may have to work each one differently though to get the effects/reactions... try working cooler if it is going brown on you?.. ivano's comment was that sometimes the glass "pre-strikes" a little during the pull when they make the rods themselves, and is hence darker in rod form?..

anyone else had any experience with tricky batches of rubino?...

[Les]

I only ever had a batch of the one that goes a blit like EDP, as Sal described.... no devit, but a very matt looking pinky purple.
I'm sure it has a use though.... it's not nice and clear, but still a pretty enough colour.

[Trudi]

the rod itself looks normal -  - I find that it's ok for spacers.

Looks ok encased - but I don't know how it would go with too much heat. I made a large lentil, but because I was worried about heating it too much, it ended up cracking 

I did try working cooler, blasting with oxygen - didn't make a difference.