Dark copper ruby frit- arghhhh!

[Ness]

When I bought my starter kit I got a couple of tubs of frit to play with.  One is dark copper ruby. 
I have had one success with this frit, and several failures.  I know it's a striking frit now (I didn't when I had my one and only success), so what am I doing wrong?  It just looks black..  help!

and another question - am I going to have this problem with many frits?  I ordered a few from beadysam, it would be heartbreaking if this happens alot.

Thanks, Ness

edited to correct spelling!!

[Margram]

What base colour did you use?

Marg x

[Mary]

Copper ruby is a funny one, the one I have recommends kiln striking, and it can be fussy. Did it stay black once cold? Reds do look black when they are hot.

A lot of frit goes bleh on ivory, and some go grey when reduced, but you should be fine. You just started with a fussy one!

[Stacy]

Oh I'll give that a go Mary... mine always looks nasty too!

[LesleyMac]

Hi Ness, Copper Ruby is prone to overstriking, I would recommend that if you are using it, to make the beads last of the day so its not in the kiln too long.  Light copper ruby is much easier apparently but I haven't tried it yet.

[Maria Louisa]

Ness, you have to use very very little of copper ruby frit.

[Ness]

Thanks for your help, I'll give it another go sometime!!

Marg - base was white effetre

Mary - the colour started to 'bloom' when I blew on it, by the time I got it near the kiln it already looked very dark. It was black when I got it out of the kiln.

Can I now ask how you kiln-strike?

[Mary]

Put it in the kiln pale or colourless. It will strike during your soak. That's the theory anyway!

[Margram]

Mary - does that mean we should only melt the frit in gently and
just flame anneal for a very short time, so the bead doesn't cool
too much? 

Marg x