What's fuming?

[Frenchie]

I don't mean the jumpy up and down fuming...   I think I read somewhere on here recently about how some glass fumes...?

What does this mean and what does it do...?  Is it a good thing..?

[Magpie]

It's when the heavy metals like silver are heated and affect the glass you're working on. Either deliberately like was demoed at FO last year where you add a thin layer of silver or gold to your bead, or by mistake when you add a small dot of silver glass to your ivory bead and it goes all dark and yummy. It can be a good thing, but if it happens when you want a nice clear bead it can also be a bad thing. It's a bit like 'when does a flower become a weed'.

Someone will be along with the lady's name that did the demo and where her kits are etc soon as I can't remember, sorry.

[Pat from Canvey]

Di East sells the kits, her website is http://www.glass2wear.com/

[Frenchie]

aahh I see.  Get it now, thanks guys.

[RSimmons]

One consideration is that fuming safely requires that you have excellent ventilation, otherwise you are putting potentially toxic heavy metal fumes into your immediate breathing area.

Robert

[Les]

Oh believe me ... I've tried fuming without adequate ventillation ... it really does make you feel ill !