Frit

[Nikki]

Hi

I am only working with 104 glass but all the frit mixes I love are 96. I know its okay to use a small amount on the surface but I would really like to encase some, can I use my 96 or do I need 104. Does anyone do nice blends in 104?

Oh before you get bored is frit just crushed up glass and can you make it yourself?

Thanks

Nikki

[garishglobes]

I think you can probably encase a little bit of 96COE, just not too much.
There are 104 blends - I think GG Glass have some - http://www.ggglass.com though I think they are mainly blends of 'normal' 104COE colours so lack a bit of the excitement of some of the 96COE (ish) blends.
Frit is just crushed up glass! You can try and hammer bits of rod between a newspaper (I've never succeeded) or heat a bit of rod and drop into a (heat-proof and strong!) container of water. There are also frit makers out there - basically a crushing device. The problem I've had is that if you do it yourself the size isn't that even and you can end up with a lot of powder - best get some graded sieves too, I suppose.
Oooh, also that you can get 104COE silvered glass (doublehelix) in frit form!

[Pat from Canvey]

An old coffe grinder works, but leave the dust to settle before opening it up as it's not good for your lungs. Its best not to put in too large chunks so hitting with a hammer works. If you want to chop up rods, rod nippers work well before putting them in the grinder.

[Soozintheshed]

Mine crack when I encase my 96, so I just use it on the surface, or with Reichenbach.

[Mary]

If you want to encase it it's good to have some 96 clear, black and white, then you can add as much frit as you like!

[Nikki]

If you want to encase it it's good to have some 96 clear, black and white, then you can add as much frit as you like!

Sounds like a good idea, where can I get 96 glass rods, and does it need to be annealed at a different temp.

[Rachel]

Sounds like a good idea, where can I get 96 glass rods, and does it need to be annealed at a different temp.

I got my Uroboros (96 coe) rods from the US - I'm pretty sure you won't find any for sale in the UK but please let me know if you do.  Someone suggested using Spectrum system 96 sheet glass cut up into strips - don't know what the clear is like for encasing though.  May give it try sometime.

[*rowanberry*]

I encase 96coe fine with 104coe. Just dont go overboard on the frit and do a nice thick encasement.

[Mary]

I got my Oroboros from the States too.

[Soozintheshed]

Plowden & Thomspon do a 93 and a 100.

[Pat from Canvey]

I use Spectrum COE 96 sheet left over from my stained glass days as well as COE 104 rods. Just don't try and mix the two

[Rachel]

I use Spectrum COE 96 sheet left over from my stained glass days as well as COE 104 rods. Just don't try and mix the two

Pat - what's the Spectrum clear like for encasing?

[Pat from Canvey]

Sorry , I'm not very good at encasing but the Spectrum glass is ideal for beads as it comes in so many shades. for me, it's like using free glass as it was bought many years ago. I've got very little Spectrum waterglass left or I'd send you some.  The transparent glasses work best when put over a base of another colour. One of the real finds for me at least is the Armstrong Glass Company opal/amber/streaky 58- S which melts to a great opal beige which looks great with all sorts of decoration on top, including any of the Spectrum waterglasses. This link shows you the glass but in reality it is more beigey and goes from almost an ivory to a light brown in places. The colour gradation shows up in the beads too.
http://www.armstrongglass.com/onlinecatalog/amber/58s.php

[*rowanberry*]

Howaco does Oroborus from what I remember.

[Pat from Canvey]

Just found a photo of a pinky version you might like to see. The colours look quite realistic too.