Scumming clear

[ebj]

ok - so I'm still on my HH as I'm a sap and havent rigged up my new torch - and I have been playing with making faux boro beads - so lots of clear encasing. Its moretti. Now I'm not great at enacsing (or much else for that matter ?) and even though i am trying not to cook the snot out of my bead I am getting scummy marks on the clear. I am doing anything else wrong - or am I just letting the bead get too hot??

Thanks in advance

Emma xx

[Les]

Hi Emma....

Try to keep your clear as scratch free as possible to start with.. they cause scum.. pesky scratches !!

It is always adviseable to pull the tip off the clear before you use it on the base bead too.... it removes more muck...

My last tip, I'm afraid may not really help on a hot head... i would have also suggested you turn the oxygen up a touch as you melt in the encasing layer....

Hope I have helped a little,
les xx

[glassworks]

fraid you gotta get a bit more heat in there.... the effetre clear aint the cleanest around, but it works well - but you have to be able to melt it down... we really struggled in the beginning but with the minors and betta etc it gets  much easier - sorry if thats no real help... with the HH we found just really being patient and heating through thoroughly did help a little...

where is the welsh sage of all things glassy and technical when yo need him.... still hangng out in the dodgy forum?...

ray?.... help?.....

[Sarah]

Hi Emma

I'm on a HH & have just switched to Vetrofond clear & it has made a lot of difference. Didn't make my encasing technique any better but no scumming

[ebj]

oh  - I didnt realise that it could be that the glass is dirty - I will post some pics tomorrow to let you see what I'm on about. Wish I had tried another glass before ordering a load of clear!!

Thanks guys 

[Mary]

Don't try to heat it too quick, or the surface overheats before the middle gets soft. Of course, Ray and Q sell lovely Lauscha clear, it doesn't scum. It costs more, but it is nice!

[glassworks]

but i hasten to add - the lauscha we have is a little on the thick side for the HH... unless you are REALLY patient.... maybe ray has thinner rods?...

although, to be perfectly honest - the vetrofond is always going to be easier to work with the HH and will give great results... but so will the efftre with a bit more heat/time... it may be a simple as dust and fluff being picked up when you se tthe rod down between beads - even the tiniest spec of grunge on the end of the hot rod will scum up... griet gets well grumpy with me showering bits of glass off the the ends of my twisties etc when she is encasing...

[Carol]

Martin sells rods of the Vetrofond clear, they're thinner & easier to melt with the HH

[ebj]

which is better - the Vetrofond or the Lauscha?

Are they both the same price?

x

[glassworks]

vetrofond will be cheaper and thinner and hence easier to melt with the HH...

i know its weird to say, but i have to be honest with you - the vetrofond will - i suspect - be better for yo try with..

cheers

Q 

[astringofbeads]

I Use Vetrofond and I'm on a HH, it gives a much better result than the morretti