Alabastro Rods

[cswilson53]

Does anyone have any samples of what they have made with this glass. I purchased some and am not sure I like the look - was just wondering what others have done with it?

[Mopnglo]

Hi Christine,

These periwinkle nuggets were made with alabastro.


The base of these chintz beads were made with the dark pink alabastro.

[cswilson53]

WOW - those are really pretty --- does it need a cooler flame? I think may be I have boiled mine too much

[Graceful Creations]

Here are two beads I made using alebastro for the base. The first one is using the light pink. The third photo is using the dark pink. Just to let you know, I have "burned" the pink color a couple of times. I use a HotHead. Being new to lampworking at the time, I was not sure if it was because I brought it down too low in the flame, or if I just over-cooked it. I probably brought it down too far in the flame because the alebastro does not soften as easily as the other COE 104 glass. I found I have to work it just a little bit hotter to get it to do what I want it to.

The fourth picture of the blue bead, if you look closely you will see that it is a little dark around the middle. I burned this one too !

Since there is such a touchy balance (to me anyway) in using this glass, I kinda shy away from the alebastro. But... I have soooo much of it that I really need to play with it again.

Back to the torch.

[klcbeads]

Those are all pretty beads! Makes me want to pull out my alabastro rods I put away cause I didn't like them!!

[Sue in Maine]

I think they have a reputation of being shocky. Last time I used one, I put the rod tip in the kiln to preheat when I turned the bead kiln on. Worked very nice. (I also do that for anice white! What a dif! Love the color but hate the shockiness of it.)

Sue

[Abacus Beads]

I usually burn the heck out of the glass and have to throw the resulting bead in the water
Liz R

[Mopnglo]

Originally Posted by cswilson53

WOW - those are really pretty --- does it need a cooler flame? I think may be I have boiled mine too much

Thank you, and yes it does need a cooler flame. I really don't like working with these rods, but they call to me every once and a while. They are shocky and boil/burn easily. And the pinks, while pretty in rod form are hard to keep pink.

[Carolyn M]

I sold all mine a while ago. What a PITA they were, there are so many great colours out there, I thought why bother?

[Ellen Altamore]

Ditto what Carolyn said.

[RSimmons]

I make good use of the rod heater when I work with alabastro or opanilo. Pretty shocky stuff that likes a cooler flame. My wife refers to it as 'alabastard' glass. Very soft colors, though.

Robert