Best colours for stringer

[HelenV]

I`m not sure if this is the right place for this 

I have made quite a few beads recently with fine dots and have been really disappointed when they came out of the kiln as the stringer/dot work has either gone fuzzy or the colour has lost its denseness.

So I decided to test a batch of colours and this is what I found:

http://www.helenvanekdesign.co.uk/blog/

Does anyone else have this problem - or is it that I`m working too hot / pulling the stringer too thin / got my torch set up wrong???

Any help/advice gratefully received!

Helen xx

[helbels]

Wow, that's such a helpful list Helen!

Reichenbach deep black is great for stringer - stays REALLY black, even when pulled thin thin thin x

[flowerjasper]

I agree 100% with Helen, deep black is great really thin.
thank  you for all that info, I too have had problems with different colours  either not staying crisp or vanishing 
sandy

[Jolene]

What a brilliant blog post

[Madam Steph]

Thanks, Helen.
That must have taken a long time and I appreciate your trouble taken
A great blog entry

Linda x

[GaysieMay]

Thanks for sharing Helen that is a really useful list.  I love the fact that you did them on clear and on white,  I will def be referring back to this.   

[JanT]

Thanks for sharing this is going to be so helpful 

[Kaz]

Thanks for this Helen - it's helpful. I'll have a think about other colours to add from my murrini making experience of what works and what doesn't!
Kazx

[Sarah9959]

Wow, what an amazing amount of work, thank you very much for sharing - I've already added it to my bookmarks!

Sarah

[spexy]

That's great Helen, I found exactly the same problem and did some sample beads too. You can see them here: http://earth-shinedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2012_01_01_archive.html

[Ilona]

Well done Helen, that's really helpful

[flame n fuse]

Thanks for this, it's very useful. I would love to know more about good colours for stringer - so many colours which make good dots, just disappear when pulled to stringer, especially fine stringer.
A useful resource for many glasses is at http://www.listen-up.org/kitty/beads/frit.htm (testing frit, but of much wider relevance).

[Pauline]

Thanks for this, it's very useful. I would love to know more about good colours for stringer - so many colours which make good dots, just disappear when pulled to stringer, especially fine stringer.
A useful resource for many glasses is at http://www.listen-up.org/kitty/beads/frit.htm (testing frit, but of much wider relevance).

thanks for this, I have some of my daughters gaffer frit which she uses for blowing.  Pure colours not mixes, as long as I use %5 or less will I be all right to try it with 104 rod

[Kalorlo]

I've subscribed to your RSS feeds, Helen and Linda 

[Shirley]

This is really helpful.

I find silver glass usually makes good stringer as it's a little stiffer than normal and although you sometimes get a reaction with the base it often gives a good crisp outline.