clear glass

[Simba Cat]

I now have my torch and everything all set up at home, YAY! Me and hubby have been playing/practising at making beads, I think he's better at it than me actually. A friend has given me some clear glass rods, very long, some thick and some thinner - don't now what make they are or anything about them. Only thing is they barely seem to melt, can just about get them on the mandrel but then they don't smooth out and go 'bead shaped', would I be correct in thinking that they need a hotter torch than I have? Its such a  shame because there is a lot of glass there and it looks like I can't use it! any thoughts please, Selina

[Alison G]

What kind of torch do you have? You should be able to melt any clear down to 90 coe on a hot head, I did and mine wasn't that hot. Maybe they are boro?

If even the thinner ones really won't round up I'd really doubt they were soft glass, but there will be some learned folk along in a minute no doubt.

Congrats on your new set up, I am a newbie too. I'd suggest knocking hubby's elbow, only kidding!!!

[Simba Cat]

I have a hot head too, just think its a real shame, so much glass going to waste! Selina

[Les]

I've never tried bullseye on a hot head, but it sounds to me as though you have a bundle of borosilicate glass there ...

[ScarletLeonard]

clear is slow on the HH the thicker rods are an absolute pain and I won't touch them. but it does melt eventually.

Try a compatibility test.
Grab a short of any 104 glass and melt some of it onto the end of an uncoated mandrel.
warm up the end of the clear and stick it to your blob of 104.
Pull a stringer and leave the clear connected to the 104.
If it pops off it's not 104.

Doesn't help identifying if it is boro or bullsye is it does pop off but at least you will know if it is 104 or not.

[Krysia@No98]

I have a hot head too, just think its a real shame, so much glass going to waste! Selina

Glass never goes off!  I will just be a while before you get to use it