reducing on dual fuel

[jammie]

So...I am about brave enough to try reducing on my bobcat!
I'm not sure where in the flame the bead goes and is it just a dance it in and out or does it depend on the glass. I will check up on how different glasses react but the bit I'm not sure of is where in the flame does the bead go. When I up the propane or down the oxygen I get a huge yellow flame, lots of propane and its bushy and smokey, should I go as far as smokey or stop before it gets to that? Does the bead go in the yellow bushy flame, or above that into the blue flame?
Any help really appreciated, I don't have a lot of silver glass and don't want to waste it. 

[Redhotsal]

If you're using Double Helix don't turn the flame up in any way - I just turn the oxygen down a little until the flame is a little bushy. Double Helix really doesn't need a lot of reduction -especially Aurae or Triton or Helios.
Keep the bead moving around in the flame about two inches above the torch face. Waft it in and out - reduction is a CHEMICAL process - the oxygen starved flame will "steal" the oxides from off the beads surface, resulting in a metallic finish- Reduction is not a THERMAL process so it's important that the bead isnt glowing when you waft it in and out of the flame, and wait a few seconds after you've made the bead before reducing so that the bead has a chance to cool a little. If the bead gets too hot the reduction will go blotchy and ugly.

[jammie]

Thanks Sal! I'm going back to your dvds too now I've changed torches. 

[jobead]

I so needed this, my lovely Triton is not doing what it should now I am on dual fuel, thanks for a very full and technical explaination.

;DJo

[Corinne Lacy]

Sal, that is the best description of reducing I have ever read........thank you!!!!!

Corinne xxx

[Yellow friend]

I've had a bobcat for ages and it is a lovely little torch.  I must admit I never think about turning the oxygen down - can't wait to see if I can now get my Gaia to behave again - thanks Sal.

Shelia

[Shirley]

I find that my bobcat uses so little propane that I can't get a reducing flame by turning down the oxygen. Just not enough propane going through. I always turn up the propane and have had terrific results recently, especially with the DH glass - clio, kalypso, psyche, triton and gaia in particular.

[fionaess]

Your torch is used to having its oxygen turned down when its owner wants to reduce 

[jammie]

Aha ! Thanks Fiona 
we're getting very friendly and attached now!

[Yellow friend]

I agree with you about the propane Shirley - I do have to turn it up several times a session - it seems to die back somehow.  Just got used to it I suppose.

Shelia

[julieHB]

I have a bobcat as well, and almost always turn the propane up without touching the oxygen (reason as explained by Shirley ). I only turn it up so much so there still is a blue flame at the end, and that's where I waft my bead in and out. Some glasses can take quite a heavy reduction, and I'll spin it in the reduction flame for longer. However, as Sally says, it is SO important that the bead does not heat up! Before starting to reduce let it cool down properly, and if you are in the middle of reducing and the bead starts to heat up, just take it out, let it cool down before putting it into the reduction flame again.

There are a few glasses where you have to reduce the oxygen, but as far as I have experienced, none of the DH silver reduction glasses require it.