best clear for encasing

[littlehondachop]

which is the best clear glass for encasing,   i am on a hh( i love my hh) so i dont know if this makes a difference to which glass is best, i am sure there will be lots of opinions on this  lol 

sam xx

[julieHB]

I find the Lauscha clear the absolute best, but it doesn't always go with silver glass. For those I use effetre crystal clear 006.

I think quite a few people use Precision clear with silver, but I have not tried that. I have also no tried the cim clear.

[One Key Beads]

I like the vetrofond clear for everything, including the silver glassess.  I wasn't fussed on the effetre (although I haven't tried the new one).   

Jeanette 

[Trudi]

vetrofond is nice and soft  - but I fond that each time when I go to use it (even between beads in the same session) I have to nip the ends off as it bubbles .........

I tend to use effetre 006 (won't touch the 004 stuff!). I do have some lauscha too which is very nice!

[Pat from Canvey]

I bought Lauscha clear thick rods from, I think, Sooz and I've been very impressed with them.

[Mand]

I am soooo rubbish at encasing. I always end up dragging all my pattern round the bead in a big smeary mess.  I blame my HH.  Bad workmen/workwomen blame their tools eh?  

[Lush!]

I agree with the 006, its lovely and its cheap!

[Trudi]

I am soooo rubbish at encasing. I always end up dragging all my pattern round the bead in a big smeary mess.  I blame my HH.  Bad workmen/workwomen blame their tools eh?  

It took me ages to get the hang of encasing - all the books you see make it look so neat and are more written for people on dual fuel.

I tend to use the "linear" method - I get my base bead  - then heat a gather of clear and then run it along the bead (following the line of the mandrel from hole to hole) then repeat slightly overlaping the first one - remember esp on a hot hed to keep all of the bead warm inbetween  - when you have all the stripes laid on - before i melt in, if there are any gaps at the ends - then I dob a little bit on before I melt it.

Have a go Mand

[Mand]

I did that once after having seen Sarah Horniks demo at last years FO.  It didn't work, I still ended up smearing all my pattern.  Maybe I'm holding the bead too close to the hottest part of the flame then?

[Trudi]

I did that once after having seen Sarah Horniks demo at last years FO.  It didn't work, I still ended up smearing all my pattern.  Maybe I'm holding the bead too close to the hottest part of the flame then?

Yep your base needs to be cool - but what I'd do if i was you - as I'm adding say every other line of clear make sure you give the bead some heat all the way round to keep it warm - HH don't generate as much radial heat as a dual fuel so you'll need to give your bead some heat to stop it cracking. Guess it's all a bit trial and error - but give it another go.

Perhaps if you don't mind nipping the ends off vetrofond would be better to try as it is softer!

[Mand]

OK thanks Trudi.  Next time I'm in an "encasing mood" I will give it a go. 

[SallyB]

Hi Sam

I'm on a HotHead too and bought some Effetre 006 because everyone says how great it is.  I was really disappointed though.  Mine ends up with brown streaks in it.  I find 004 better.  They are the only two clears I've tried.  I think it's amazing how everyone has different experiences with their clear.  I'd like to give Lauscha a try but haven't come across it in the two UK suppliers I'm aware of plus am trying hard to save up some money for a kiln before something else comes along that I have to spend my PayPal money on.

I'd be interested to know how you get on with whichever clear you try. 

Good luck
Sally
x

[Shirley]

When I was using my hothead I used Lauscha most of the time. I had to pull it into fairly thick stringers because it was the hard variety. I'd imagine the softer version that's now available would work really well.

Didn't someone on here have some for sale a couple of days ago?

[SallyB]

Hi Shirley

Someone did and it went super quick.  I was tempted by her brass javelin and the spade thing but that went before I could nab it too.

Good thing really since my savings do need a boost rather than a reduction.

Sally
x

[flowerjasper]

on my hot head lauscha worked for me, loved it!