Glass help!

[Beachside]

Ok, so i've spent a total of 3 sessions at my torch so far at about an hour or so each time and i love practising getting round beads of similar size lol and just mastered putting bubble things in 
However I have spent many hundreds of hours online reading all about technique, equipment, and peoples gorgeous creations and the one thing I am finding a little difficult is getting my head around all the different types of glass!! I get the whole coe thing and not mixing glass types which as fine as all i've got is my bulk load of effetre I got with my kit from Tuffnells. But, I would really like to try some more glasses - prettier, funkier ones! And this is where I get confused! Are there any glasses that are no good with a HH? And are there any in particular you can recommend for a total newbie to play around with??
Also, the whole reducing/striking thing confuses me! Can I do this with a HH  And can someone please just explain it a little bit more?? PLEASE HELP as my head is going whirly whirly with information overload and images of yummy glass creations that I want to try to make!
If only there were an idiots guide to lampworking 

Tanya

[Kaz]

Hi Tanya
There is!!! Have a look on redhotsal's website at the series of DVDs - DVD 1 has all the basics on it and well worth investing in!
You can do most things on a hothead including some of the Double Helix silver glass - however, they are expensive.
For something cheaper but funky perhaps try some frits or Effetre cool colours or Reichenbach mystics. Raku (Reichenbach iris orange), Magic and Multicolour are also worth a try.
Reducing means reducing the oxygen to the bead to make the effects come to the surface (usually metallic shimmers). With a hot head you can do this by making a little kitchen foil collar and using a cloth to hold this over the holes and avoid burning your fingers (being careful not to set it alight!!!)
Striking means cooling the bead and then re-introducing to the heat to effect colour changes.
Both Martin Tuffnell and Sean at Off-Mandrel will always be happy to advise you on which glass to buy and will usually put together sample packs so you don't have to buy tonnes of the same glass.
HTH!
Kazx

[hollergrafik]

Tuffnells have a mixed reichenbach mystic pack, one of each of the rods.

Forgot to say Hello too Tanya LOL

[AnnaSpanna]

Hi tanya, I am a relative newbie and like you was lost in a sea of wanting to play with funky glass but not knowing where to start. I am learning as I go and be warned some of it is expensive! I have a HH on bulk propane. Since getting my starter glass with my kit I invested in the following "other" glass from tuffnells and am still having quite a bit of fun with it (although I have now added more and more odds and sods....)

reactive pack (ivory, turquoise, reichenbach iris blue and magic)
cim selection
cim grumpy bear "selection"
pink creative collection
mixed double helix pack

what I have found is that cim and reichenbach has some lovely opals and pearls. Reichenbach magic and multicolours are not overly effective on a HH (see entire thread devoted to multicolour and you'll see the frustration). Not all double helix glass are good on a HH and some require a kiln to get the colours. I have struggled with the DH strikers on my HH but have had good success with triton, ayrae and psyche and partial success with Luna 2. I recommend that if you are going to get some DH then start with the easy reducer (the first three DH I listed will all reduce easily in a HH flame and good I structions on striking and reducing for eCh of the DH glasses are on the double helix website).

I have also added a few random frits and some murrini and silver foil to my stash of goodies to give a little variety. The best clear for a HH is the effetre 006 and font work it too low in the flame or it'll go s ummy and ruin everything you try and encase. There is loads of stuff you'll just pick up as you go along, and also read on here. Everyone's development is different but I have not felt at all stifled by the array of glass I have listed here. I have started a blog about my newbie endeavour and trials and errors with techniques and types of glass that I've tried - you might find it interesting/useful. So much of this is trial and error and patience. I haven't found it hugely necessary to buy large quantities of single colours, other than clear, black and White, as the mixed and creative packs I've got have enough glass of each colour to do good quantities of beads.

Enjoy and just take it one step at a time with what you want to try next. I write big lists of all the things I want to try - almost like a recipe journal and then figure out if I have the requisite ingredients. I have also found that really good for keeping you focused on developing new techniques and practicing them as opposed to doing loads of different techniques in one sitting and ending up with hundreds of orphan beads. I also choose a colour palette for each session and then just play so that I at least finish with a batch of beads that tonally/colourwise could always be used together.

I've wiffled on quite a bit. And I hope that even a little bit of my experiences help. Last piece of advice - have a good dig around on this forum for info - if you have a question or a query it has probably been referred to or asked on frit happens before.

Good luck and enjoy!

Anna  

[Kalorlo]

Hee, hi Tanya! I'm about the same stage - this is my third week of torching. So far I've stuck to my Effetre and haven't tried all the colours I have in it yet... I also have sample packs from Tuffnell's of CiM and Reichenbach that are waiting for me - not all the colours, but a reasonable selection. And I am definitely eyeing up the Reichenbach mystics sample pack Tuffnell's has now. It's new so wasn't there when I was getting stuff before! I've also ordered some of Reichenbach's dark multicolour, magic and silver brown to play with later.

I thought it was a good idea to get a feel for the basic colours I have already before throwing funky colour-changing things in there!  

If you've got any of the transparent reds or oranges you'll notice that the rods are very light and when you melt them you'll get the darker colour in your bead... and so will the end of the rod! Those are striking colours, but ones that strike very very easily. Downside is they're very easy to overstrike, ie. the red will go brownish and the orange will be nearly red. I haven't got the hang of them yet!   Most of the fancier colours are harder to strike and will need some heating/cooling cycles to get the nice colours.

[princess pink]

hey tanya

are you coming to the flame off in april? (check out the details on tuffnells site)

I can give you some shorts of cim, reichenbach and some frits to try. I'll even chuck in a short or 2 of some double helix. would be easier to see u at the flame off but if not pm me your address. i'm rubbish at getting the the post office so it'll have to be as and when i get near one but i'll happily help you out a bit. and if you need someone to anneal for you let me know as i batch anneal

Shahlaa xx

[Beachside]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied and hello to you all!! Nice to know i'm not the only one feels completely daunted by the endless possibilities lol. Its nice to be given a few hints and tips as i've not even had a taster session or anything and have jumped straight into it headfirst lol.
I have had a look through Tuffnells site so have got a better idea of what you mean now and have saved a shopping basket for when I have a few pennies (or many pounds!) to spend.

Spanna - fab response, thank you so much for all the information and recommendations. Will be following your blog I think!!

Shahlaa -  thank you so much for your kind offer however i'm not sure if i'm going to the flame off yet as I may already have a booking for my jewellery sales that weekend. I shall pm you though

[Beachside]

Shahlaa - Sent you a PM, did you get it?? Its not showing in my outbox??

[princess pink]

Hey Hun been at the torch all day so not been online. Will pm you later. It only shows up in your outbox if you click save xx

[Beachside]

Ah ok too much time lurking than posting

[princess pink]

Ah ok too much time lurking than posting

lol! have pm'ed you hun xx