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2011-03-21, 12:01am
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jan 13, 2011
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 12
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Hothead Help
I am new to lampworking. I just got my hothead set up and it is connected to bulk propane. My first beads came out black. They should have been blue and green. What am I doing wrong? My ones I made at class using mapp gas turned out fine.
Is my flame adjusted wrong? How do I know if my flame is set right? My Passing the Flame book by Corina doesn't have a hothead flame example.
Should my propane tank be opened all the way?
Am I working too close to the torch?
If anyone could help I would be very appreciative!
Thanks in advance
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2011-03-21, 10:48am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 19, 2006
Location: Orland Park, Illinois
Posts: 729
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Hi LiaH...
I would start with working further out in the flame...seems to me you are getting too much propane and if they still are turning black or gray, then you need to lower your flame a bit.
Another great book is Making Glass Beads by Cindy Jenkins.
I hope this helps...
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Kathie
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2011-03-21, 6:14pm
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Gentleman of Leisure
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Join Date: Jun 10, 2005
Location: A Little Bit West of Yosemite Valley
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Also if flame is big and bushier, turn it down some till you have central cone a sharp pinpoint... You may have to much unburned fuel in flame ... Also moving out in flame may help... When you changed fuels the flame "chemistry" changed, there for the "sweet spot: inflame moved....
Dale
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2011-03-21, 8:50pm
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jan 13, 2011
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 12
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Dale & Kathie thank you both for replying. I am going to go try your suggestions. I am hoping for better success! My kids both thought my first beads were rocks. Not quite the look I was going for.
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2011-03-21, 9:02pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 01, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 7,458
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Further in the flame and turn the flame down. I have written (not as many images) tutorials on my site from when I taught on a HH, I've been told they're helpful. The link is in my signature.
Have fun, be safe!
Nikki
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2011-03-24, 12:25pm
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Oinky Oink!
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Join Date: Mar 07, 2011
Location: Pigsty, West MI
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I just got my bulk tank few weeks back and had the same problem. My clear was gray and couldn't even see through at all..
I had to move out further in the flame for sure, at least an inch out from the blue pointy part.
Also, don't turn the propane tank all the way open. I also don't open hot head all the way either but that might not matter.. Like Dale had mentioned, too much gas, not enough oxygen kinda scenario...
Don't give up and good Luck!
Christy
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2011-04-12, 9:20pm
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jan 13, 2011
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 12
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Thank you all for all of your suggestions and help. My beads have moved from black rocks to colored beads . I was working to close to the flame and I had my flame turned up too far. I am now heading in the right direction. Thanks again so much
Lia
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2011-04-13, 6:55pm
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GabysGlassWorks
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Join Date: Feb 06, 2011
Location: Canadian girl living in Kentucky
Posts: 276
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Sounds like you've already figured out what the problem was but figured I'd chime in anyways since I work on a HH as well. I have my bulk tank turned on all the way but my torch is low. Once I've lit my torch I turn the knob so my flame almost goes out and then I gently open it up a bit further. This has worked well for me. As well as working further away from the blue cone than what most of the books say. I agree with Christy in that you have to be at least an inch out from the tip of the cone. Anyways, glad to read your making colourful beads now. Happy torching!!
Gaby
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2011-08-31, 5:52pm
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Confused as usual
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Join Date: Jun 17, 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 328
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OK All my beads came out scummy today . I am using propane #1 lb. tank I tried all the suggestions here and still scum , would switching to mapp work better ?? Less scum/soot? it is so disappointing
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2011-09-01, 11:10pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 07, 2011
Location: Northern California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jazarra
OK All my beads came out scummy today . I am using propane #1 lb. tank I tried all the suggestions here and still scum , would switching to mapp work better ?? Less scum/soot? it is so disappointing
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Sounds like the torch is reducing. Unfortunately you really cant control the flame chemistry on a hothead.
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2011-09-01, 11:45pm
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CiM Tamarind-Skinned
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Join Date: Apr 28, 2011
Location: Not nearly close enough to the water.
Posts: 426
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jazarra
OK All my beads came out scummy today . I am using propane #1 lb. tank I tried all the suggestions here and still scum , would switching to mapp work better ?? Less scum/soot? it is so disappointing
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Working on a hot head I used Chemtane and I feel like it burned much cleaner. It was still slow going but cleaner.
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2011-09-02, 7:36am
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Confused as usual
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Join Date: Jun 17, 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 328
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Chemtane? I haven't heard of that where would I find this ?
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2011-09-02, 8:46am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 07, 2011
Location: Northern California
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Time for a BIG GRL torch?
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2011-09-02, 9:04am
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Formerly Bakerman44
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Join Date: Dec 02, 2010
Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
Posts: 316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LiaH
Thank you all for all of your suggestions and help. My beads have moved from black rocks to colored beads . I was working to close to the flame and I had my flame turned up too far. I am now heading in the right direction. Thanks again so much
Lia
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Glad to hear. I was going to chime in but wanted to read first. I didn't spend long on a hot head, but i have tons of respect for people who use a hot head. Once you learn what you're doing, you can make some BEAUTIFUL things with a hot head that can't be made with a propane/oxy torch.
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2011-09-02, 9:41am
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Confused as usual
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Join Date: Jun 17, 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryC
Time for a BIG GRL torch?
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I have a minor and everything I need I just have to convince my DH that it is safe
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2011-09-02, 10:05am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 07, 2011
Location: Northern California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cornbread
Once you learn what you're doing, you can make some BEAUTIFUL things with a hot head that can't be made with a propane/oxy torch.
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Such as?
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2011-09-02, 11:25pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 07, 2011
Location: Northern California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jazarra
I have a minor and everything I need I just have to convince my DH that it is safe
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Anything we can do to help with that?
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2011-09-03, 5:19am
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Now part of the Dark Side
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Join Date: Jul 02, 2010
Location: North Central PA
Posts: 966
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A compressed oxygen tank is just as safe as a compressed CO2 tank for a beer or wine tap system. You just need to follow good safety practice, namely when the cover is off of the tank chain it to the wall. Even my beer fridge has a bracket for the CO2 bottle so it can't tip over.
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Hot glass does not crack.
Unless it is glowing and drippy, hot glass looks like cold glass.
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2011-09-06, 1:58pm
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Confused as usual
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Join Date: Jun 17, 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 328
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o2queen are we to assume this is your company since you are posting the link on all the threads?Because you don't even sell oxycons ???
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2011-09-06, 2:16pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 07, 2011
Location: Northern California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jazarra
o2queen are we to assume this is your company since you are posting the link on all the threads?Because you don't even sell oxycons ???
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Smells like SPAM, huh?
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2011-09-06, 2:26pm
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Confused as usual
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Join Date: Jun 17, 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryC
Smells like SPAM, huh?
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Does to me
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2011-09-06, 3:05pm
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Happy Inner Dragon
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Join Date: Dec 03, 2009
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 6,129
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Propane is a dirty fuel compared to propylene. Unfortunately.
On my HH, propylene fuel allows me to work much closer to the torch, with far, far, cleaner results, much more quickly. But at $22 a cannister, it's a luxury reserved for special glasses which need a hotter flame, such as silver glasses.
So 99.999999 % of the time, I'm sucking it up like a good girl with propane.
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2011-09-07, 12:43pm
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Oinky Oink!
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Join Date: Mar 07, 2011
Location: Pigsty, West MI
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Jazarra- try a 1 lb canister of MapPro. It's basically propylene and I am sure you will like it much better than propane.
Chemtane is basically propane with additives to burn hotter. You can get it in bulk from some propane dealers. I have been using this for a while and really like it.
Di- $22 bucks... holy cow!!! it's gotta be a very very very special glass to use that gas... .00000001% of time?
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2011-09-07, 12:55pm
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Confused as usual
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Join Date: Jun 17, 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 328
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OK I switched to mappro ... still dirty beads could I be working to close to the torch ? I thought I had to work in the bluer flame closer to the torch ?? Uugh... will I ever find my sweet spot ??
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2011-09-07, 12:57pm
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Happy Inner Dragon
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Join Date: Dec 03, 2009
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
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Sweet spot is usually at the tip of the second blue bit. The outer blue cone.
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2011-09-07, 2:14pm
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Senior Member
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Quote:
Originally Posted by misspiggy
Di- $22 bucks... holy cow!!! it's gotta be a very very very special glass to use that gas... .00000001% of time?
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For a 1lb canister? Wow, that is expensive! Does it make the bead for you too?
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2011-09-07, 2:17pm
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Happy Inner Dragon
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Join Date: Dec 03, 2009
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
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Yep, it bloody should!
But, ooooh lucky me - I get them for $20 if I buy a whole case of 'em.
I just don't understand why we can't get this stuff in bulk here. I've done my homework, and come up with zip.
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2011-09-07, 3:27pm
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Essie, do you have a local bulk gas supplier? I just checked with our local Praxair supplier here and they do supply Propylene in refillable bulk tanks.
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2011-09-07, 3:29pm
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Happy Inner Dragon
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Join Date: Dec 03, 2009
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Thanks, Larry - in Australia it's a whole lot different
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