how would I go about making a raku twistie

[jammie]

I wanted to make a black and raku twisty, so it would show up raku and black on a bead IYSWIM. I tried with dipping a clear rod into a raku mix frit (one of beadysams not sure which) then making the twistie by painting the black onto the raku /clear ball in toothpaste stripes fashion. It looked ok when I put it on the bead but it looked when it came out just black with no raku showing really. Is there a better way to go about it. On my hot head I cant get anything from actual raku (iris gold isn't it? ) I do have some iris gold frit. 

[Lush!]

Raku is Iris Orange, Jean, not Iris Gold (Iris Gold is used for making Faux Boro).

When I make raku twisties, I use Iris Orange rod rather than frit - do you have any rods?

[awrylemming]

If you don't have a rod Jeanie, I have some.  And some raku twisties already made. x

[jammie]

Ah I see Julie, ok I will have a go with that, I think I kept a rod of iris orange, do I have to superheat it or anything to make it work then? I will have a go and see how I get on.
Thanks Sue..... I am away to torch so will update later on. 

[julieHB]

I find the colours pop much easier if you use a thin layer of raku, and expecially over certain colours, f.ex. intense black. Basically, I make a core of intense black, encase it with raku, and add thin stringers of intense black again, then pull and twist.

Still, it does like heating and cooling a few times after application. You really want to get the dark brown yukky colour, then you know it is ready to strike into beautiful blues, purples, greens etc.

[jammie]

Hmmm I seem to have got the dark poo brown yuck but it didn't do anything else.  When you say strike, is it meant to go back into the top of the flame. I should go and read up more really shouldn't I. Last time I tried I abandoned it and swopped all my iris orange bar one rod. I just had this idea I wanted to try but heh ho.....

[Lush!]

To strike your raku twistie, it should be enough to just reheat to a glow then cool again, roll on brass or press to speed up the cooling. Heat to a glow again and cool again as required.

[jammie]

Ok, thanks, I shall try again tomorrow! 

[jammie]

So from last night this is what I got, the colour hasn't hardly changed at all. 
So tonight I will see if I can get colour from them. What's  a good colour to mix with the iris orange?

DSC02704 by jeanie- Ceardannan Jewellery, on Flickr

DSC02702 by jeanie- Ceardannan Jewellery, on Flickr