Has anyone used CIM Gunmetal?

Lush! · October 19, 2009, 08:26:34 AM

Hmm ... I've been thinking about this and realized that both the rods I have are from the US, so that would fit with the duff batch theory.

Katiequiggle · October 19, 2009, 09:13:52 AM

Damn, wish I hadn't brought it on Saturday now. I was all excited about trying it later too.

Helen G · October 19, 2009, 09:33:22 AM

Black beads it is then!

At least I won't be loosing sleep over it now

Trudi · October 19, 2009, 09:42:17 AM

Well I did get some reaction from it making a spacer bead - I'm still going to have a go making small dots on a bead (bit like Julie's heart) and see if I get a better reaction with just a small amount if that makes sense?

helbels · October 19, 2009, 11:25:40 AM

Nothing from it here either, no matter how much I play with it.

Kathy Seamands · October 19, 2009, 10:39:03 PM

I am very sorry to report that we shipped a batch of Gunmetal to Tuffnell that does not meet our regular Messy Color standards.

After we finish test melting a new color, we melt the first pot of color completely from batch (raw chemicals). We then melt a second and third pot with varying degrees of cullet. After the third pot, our batch to cullet ratio stabilizes and so does the color consistency.

If you are interested in reading more about the use of cullet in glass cane production, I recommend reading Pat Frantz's blog which talks about cullet use at Effetre here: http://frantznewsletter.com/Blog/?p=317.

Unfortunately our standard procedure failed us as the third pot of Gunmetal (Tuffnell's pot) had remarkably less reactivity than the previous pots. We should not have passed it as regular Gunmetal.

In all respects concerning compatibility and glass quality, Tuffnell's Gunmetal is fine. The only issue is that it does not strike as easily, quickly, and strongly as the original pots that were shipped to the States. It is true that there is some degree of striking in a neutral or oxidizing flame, but it is not to a degree that we should have called this pot regular Gunmetal.

Please note that some people on this thread are Messy Color testers who received their rods from the States and thus have not had difficulty getting Gunmetal to strike.

We are currently working on a production solution. The furnace was charged this morning with a new batch of Gunmetal that we should be able to judge within 36 hours (after we pull it, make & anneal compatibility tests, etc.)

I am working to plug this hole in our quality control system to make sure that it does not happen again with Gunmetal or any other color.

I really appreciate those of you who brought this to my attention. The more information and feedback I have from you, the better and faster I can improve our quality.

Thank you for your patience as I am also working with Martin to find a solution for our customers. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any specific concerns. I will post here when I have more information.

Katiequiggle · October 19, 2009, 11:26:17 PM

Thanks for explaining things Kathy.

Dragonfire Glass · October 20, 2009, 12:02:36 AM

Very honest and straightforward of you

Krysia@No98 · October 20, 2009, 09:55:30 AM

I look forward to the new batches coming through. Julie has demonstrated what a lovely glass it can be and I have a real thing for gunmetal...

theflyingbedstead · October 20, 2009, 10:12:40 AM

Just found this thread...I've not had a chance to try my pack of Gunmetal from Martin yet - is it part of the same batch sent to Off-Mandrel or is that batch ok?

What a shame, but it's great that Kathy at CiM is being proactive and getting things sorted! I do hope that CiM can reproduce the 'good' Gunmetal as I have seen some stunning beads made with it.

Trudi · October 20, 2009, 10:17:36 AM

Martin supplies Off-Mandrel so I'd say it'll be the same.

Looking forward to getting the good stuff - I can wait, I'll distract myself with some of the other gorgeous glass!!

Donna@Rockin' Beads · October 20, 2009, 12:30:01 PM

Well that's a relief. I thought it was just me and my usual inability to get fancy glass to do its thing

Linz · October 21, 2009, 11:15:05 AM

Thank you Kathy for the explanation and I look forward to the "real deal" soon!

Quote from: Donna on October 20, 2009, 12:30:01 PM
Well that's a relief. I thought it was just me and my usual inability to get fancy glass to do its thing

Me too!!! It's nice to know it's a fault with the glass, not me, for a change!

Lush! · October 21, 2009, 04:46:26 PM

Proof!

The bead on the left is made with a rod of Gunmetal sold in the UK, the one on the right is a US rod.

I really do hope we get a batch of good stuff over here soon, because it is honestly very easy to get this fab satin finish.

theflyingbedstead · October 21, 2009, 04:53:31 PM

Thank you Julie! I suppose that we can use the duff Gunmetal we have as black though! I wonder when a good batch will arrive?