Sooty bits in transparent Effetre 004

[Betty the Chook]

Can anyone explain why Effetre transparent (004) sometimes gets sooty streaks in it and sometimes it doesn't. I am really confused by this as there seems to be no real consistency to it happening other than it ruins the first few florals I make each time I start up for a session at the torch. I have heaps of clear and want to use it up before I "never buy the stuff again". I am wondering if it is related to overcooking, too hot, too close to the torch (HH). I know other people have had this problem too, so if anyone has solved it I would really love their help or suggestions to try. 

[sublimekate]

Hi,

When I was on a HH I had the same problem with red, I think it's all of the things you mentioned, try to work a bit further out in the flame when using it. K xx

[Dizzy Di]

Could be that you are working too close to the end of the torch, move up the flame and do you heat the rod and pull off about the 1st cm to remove the scum?

Hope that helps

Dianne

[Betty the Chook]

I am working in the bit of the flame just past the blue bit. Should I be further away from the torch than that? Thanks for your suggestions I'll try them out and see what happens.

[Trudi]

if all else fails - you can use it up by making the base of the bead with this glass and encasing with another - preferably opaque!

[Betty the Chook]

Good idea. This is what I am doing with some glass I bought in my first purchase - I bought Alabaster white and really don't like it, so I hide it inside fat beads. I'll persist with the 004 for a while as I'm sure if I do it right I can make it work OK. It is about 10% of my beads that go murky and sooty.

[Betty the Chook]

Tried staying further out in the flame and discarding the end of the clear rod. YAY! No sooty bits. THANK YOU SO MUCH to the people who made suggestions.

[glassworks]

last quick tip... tap the end of the torch "lightly" with a mandrel or tweezers just at the start of the session, or before making a big expensive bead... the showers of sparks you see will be tiny bits of carbon and gunk breaking loose and burning up... just a few light taps will get rid of all the junk just waiting to fly off into your bead work at an inopportune time!...

this trick is from the waltons, they both make hugely detailed and time consuming pieces - one in boro and one in soft glass....   

[Betty the Chook]

Aaaaaaaah! That makes so much sense and really helps. Thanks!!!!! (Also fun for the sparks)