frit and... devit? bubbling?

carolinainmymind · #1 2011-09-20, 5:51am

Hi all. I made some frit bead sets over the weekend. Two were fine, but two had tiny pits around the edges of the frit pieces... I could see them forming around the frit as I was melting it in. Am I working too hot? Is it a color reaction? (One was blue/green/brown frit on sky blue, one was pink/red/? frit on white.) I'm hoping I can etch them and they will look better.

5betsy · #2 2011-09-20, 7:58am

I am curious about this as well. I use all 96 coe glass and have experienced this with as well - not a lot but just enough to bug me. Almost always on the heavily fritted beads.

Jenne · #3 2011-09-20, 12:32pm

Some colors devit worse than others when you're working with glass. You can try working quicker and cooler. Or if you can figure out what color is doing the bad stuff, add that part last.

GlassyEyedGirl · #4 2011-09-20, 12:38pm

Robin Koza of Glass Diversions has told me if you start way back in the cooler part of the flame first, before you move into the hotter flame you won't get all that bubbling. Hope that helps!!

alb6094 · #5 2011-09-20, 12:44pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassyEyedGirl

Robin Koza of Glass Diversions has told me if you start way back in the cooler part of the flame first, before you move into the hotter flame you won't get all that bubbling. Hope that helps!!

Yep, that's what I do, it helps!

PattyK · #6 2011-09-22, 3:53pm

Thanks Beth - that's a great tip!

carolinainmymind · #7 2011-09-22, 5:29pm

Hmmm, so it is me and my lack of patience, rather than the colors. I'll try to slow down and work cooler. In the meantime, I've made lots of beads that need to be etched!

Lisi · #8 2011-09-23, 4:03am

The one that is at the very top of the list for pits and bubbles is copper blue. I won't even work with it that often because of that. But for the blends that have this color or other colors that pit, this is what I do:

Work slowly of course, but even then you will see tiny flashes of bubbling while you are working. Those will leave a pit, so after you have shaped your bead well you must go move your it to the back of the flame to firepolish out the bubbles and pits. Pay special attention to the area around the holes. This may not get all of them out, but it helps significantly. If they are still too pitty, then etching is your best bet.

carolinainmymind · #9 2011-09-23, 5:23am

Thanks, Lisi!

Firebrand Beads · #10 2011-09-23, 9:59am

YES! The copper blues... think about how your turquoise transparent moretti will pit and scum when you marver it, sometimes.... we have the same problem with Taxco (our TAG reducing transparent turquoise.) We recently made Taxco into frit, and I found that heating slower and higher in the fire was the ticket for that, and I had better results with the fine than the medium or the coarse grades o frit. I do know it has something to do with the thin edges, the edges of the frit chips are thin and tend to easily overheat. Just like how the end of your rod will fizz when first put into the flame.