DH Glass

[Edi (Edith)]

When I went to the Flame Off I bought a couple of odd rods of DH Gala and DH Psyche. I keep looking at them and thinking I want to play but dont know how to work them. So you good people of FH who must have been asked many times. Please put me out of my misery and tell me how I play with them  PLEASE.
Edi

[helbels]

I would suggest you start with the Psyche as its really easy to work with.  What torch are you on? If you can tell us that, we will be able to give you some precise instructions....

[Jolene]

They are both reduction glass and so will become metallic in a propane rich flame.

I have just stumbled across a lovely blog by Hayley Tsang by following a link from the Double Helix Glassworks website http://www.doublehelixglassworks.com/

[Edi (Edith)]

I have a Nortal Minor and Oxycon I have had it a few months.
Edi

[helbels]

Ok Edi, so what you need to do is either turn UP your propane, or turn down your Oxygen until you have a yellow flame - that will be reducing.  How long a bushy flame is really up to you, and the longer the yellow flame, the more reducing the flame will be.  Once you have the reduction flame, you just waft your bead in it, and you will see the glass go metallic.  Don't keep it in there too long - or you will lose the effect.  You will need to experiment to get the best effects.   Once you have the metallic effects you can either leave them on the surface, or encase them.  But don't put the core of the bead back in a neutral flame or you will reverse the reduction effect.

Gaia is more tempramental than Psyche - and tends to lose its effects when encased.  Psyche is great though - really forgiving.

I hope that helps a bit
Helen x

[Edi (Edith)]

Thank you Helen as soon as I can I know where I will be found I will try it asap.

Thank you Edi

[helbels]

You might want to just make a basic black bead and put some dots of Psyche on it and just practice with that to begin with - that way its not too expensive if it all goes horribly wrong!!! 

[turnedlight]

I'd recommend pulling some of your dh into stringers so you don't waste any, and I think gaia works better like this anyway - try it over ivory glass, and also try it on the surface of a bead, in trails or raked dots and reduce it. I almost always lose the effects of gaia when I encase it so I don't tend to bother.
Psyche on the other hand, is lovely when encased. When you get it metallic, try dotting/splodging clear on it or wrapping it round with clear, really roughly, then melt in fairly gently.

[Edi (Edith)]

Well I took the rod by the hand instead of the bull by the horn and made some stringers with the psych and played with it on some black.
So I hope this photo works. There is definitely some silvering and different shades seen so I am pleased as punch with myself.
Edi

[Jolene]

I can see some beautiful oil slick shades there Edi, lovely.

Jo x

[turnedlight]

They look fab!

[Mand]

Yup, very slick work