Hi Laurie, I'll post my 2 cents, and trust that others will too... it may be more than you wanted to know with to many pictures, but it may also be helpful. I am on a Hothead with bulk propane and no bead kiln, I use the Japanese Annealing Bubbles.
1. Is Devardi worth its price?
The price is the most exceptional thing about this glass. It is affordable and has a great color selection.
2. What colors cause problems?
There are some colors that are very heat-sensitive, and if you over heat them they start to devitrify and change to a matt finish or blister - such as the salmon.
This is a new glass company, and I see them weeding out problem colors and steadily improving the glass formulas. What was a problem color early on is now a pleasure to work with, such as the wonderful pinks and rose colors. I anticipate they will continue to develop the colors and qualities of this glass.
Unless you have the patience of Job to preheat slowly and high in the flame (to prevent shocking), you must preheat with a rod warmer and work most colors cooler than other glass brands. With a rod warmer it is no issue at all, just be sure to return your rod to the Warmer if you will use it again.
Many of the colors are stiffer glass than effetre, so you must use tools for shaping or be VERY patient in cooler heat as you shape. The up side is that stiffer glass makes for marvelous scultpural capabilities.
3. Is it compatible with 104?
Yes usually in my experience, but some don't play well together, like all glass brands. You must experiment before doing a big project. For example, I just used the Dk. Transparent Rose to encase the Semi Opaque Pink, and I got cracking. I don't know if it was the cooling in Annealing Bubbles or the glass didn't play well together. You must make samples to find out, and expect colors to change as they develop them too.
4. How is the clear?
Lovely and softer than effetre.
5. Do you like, love and want some more of it?
Yes and I would like a stick of each color just to make samples with and see what works well together. Some melt like butter after preheating, and some are stiff.
6. Is it temperature sensitive? (Does it burn easily?)
There are colors that will burn, and others that it is not an issue with. You should get a rod of each color you like, and maybe a box of samples and spend time pulling stringers and melting... but do invest in the Rod Warmer, and some colors need to go into a bead kiln, they get thermal cracks easily in Annealling Beads or Vermiculite, like the Light Transparent Green.
I have posted some bead pics below with comments. This is not effetre, and you cannot expect it to behave like effetre, but in my opinion, it is worth it if you want to learn to use it.
Enjoy!
PICTURE WITH COMMENTS:
This Light Transparent Green is SO lovely and nice to work with, but it would not cool without cracking in my Annealing Bubbles/Vermiculite as a 5/8" bead. However, a solid 1/2" bead I made with it DID cool without thermal cracking though, so go figure...
This is a new color - Misty - and it is a creamy misty beauty. I can't wait to work with it some more. This is a hollow bead I just made.
These bears are samples of my fun with the sculptural properties of this glass. The goldfish in the beads shows how it holds it's design shape under and on top of encasing.
I made this bracelet in different Devardi Transparents, with effetre lt. pink for dots, Devardi's Dk. Transparent Rose encasing the effetre Pink for rolled roses and Devardi's pea green for the leaves. Some of the transparents were so stiff I had to work them with a graphite rod and a bead roller, and some went into round easily. You have to experiment to find which way each color works.
This bracelet on the left is all Devardi except for the black spacer beads between the bead caps. Both bracelets have the wonderful Devardi Metallic Silver on them for dots and swirls. The one on the right was made of effetre light ivory and Devardi Butterscotch. The Butterscotch is a wonderful color, but will easily devitrify and turn matt. It made a pretty bead anyway in contrast to the slick effetre ivory. They are out of it right now, and it may be improved in the next batch, we will have to wait and see.
I could go on and on, but others surely have more to say and can add to this info, and if you have more questions please ask. We are a friendly group on this thread and try to help each other and share freely.