OK, so you have won me over! After years of resistance, I have started to get curious about boro, and so... I'm gonna order some (and yes, eye protection!) with my next Frantz order. My question is, do you have any suggestions as far as brands go? Do you have any general preferences, and are some easier for beginners? Do you have any tips that will help me avoid newbie mistakes?
Many thanks!
I've been messing with boro regularly for the last year, and I like both Glass Alchemy and Northstar. I would say get samples of both and play. I'm experimenting with Roger Paramore's parasilicate, too, and looooove the colors, but some of them are a lot more touchy. My only warning would be to set the GA crayon colors aside for a little while, as they tend to be more boily than anything else, and REALLY want to be cased. Have fun!!!!
-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs
Thanks, Karen!
I agree with Karen. The sample sets are the way to go. As for which company, there are colors from both that I really love so it's hard to pick between the two. I do tend to use more Northstar colors than Glass Alchemy, but it's probably because that is they type I started with and I am a creature of habit.
I ended up ordering the Northstar shorts pack ($20, but the drawback is that I don't know WHAT colors I'm playing with) from Frantz, and I made my first boro bead tonight... It'll be interesting to see it in the morning. I definitely need a second concentrator to work boro, though.
I got that pack of shorts from Frantz, too. Do your colors all look alike? Mine do: They're either trans cobalt or trans green. Looking forward to getting some labeled colors of GA to play with, that's for sure.
Let us know how the bead turns out!
That's weird they were unlabeled. The shorts I got from Wale all had labels with the NS names & numbers, plus Wale's stocking numbers. I thought the main labelling came from Northstar, too. Maybe they got lazy.
-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs
I'm really enjoying dealing with Wale. I'm placing a huge order with them sometime in the next week... $7K+
So far, all the boro beads I've made look horrible. I hope it gets better. LOL!
sometime in the next week... $7K+
So far, all the boro beads I've made look horrible. I hope it gets better. LOL!<
I'm SO glad it's working out well with Wale. I really like those guys better than anyone else I've ever dealt with. I miss being able to drive up there any old time soooooooooo much!
At the risk of making you reveal ugly details wouldja describe "horrible"? Like, muddy colors, boiling, whatever? Or maybe send me some pix and we can do a postmortem. I'm really starting to get a grip on working with more colors and having a blast, maybe I can make some suggestions. (Of course, other days I just want to hide it all away!) The best thing I can offer is to push your oxygen til it hisses and do most of your work that way. Anything that you want to reduce can wait til the end, and you won't turn some of the sensitive colors liver-y as easily with a high oxy flame. With the crayon GA colors (and the similar bright opaques from NS) work 'em wayyyy out in the flame (like babying opalinos or transparent dark aqua) and get them encased as fast as possible.
Actually, my very best suggestion is to find the nearest workshop Henry Grimmett is offering, and hang on his EVERY word.
-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs
Yes, that's what I got; and a couple of little beige pieces too. My first bead is pitiful! I definitely need a second concentrator for boro.
I dunno; these aren't the short sample pack; rather, it's basically a pound of assorted broken rods for $20. SUCH a good deal, but it's just tossed into a Ziploc.
pound of assorted broken rods for $20. SUCH a good deal, but it's just tossed into a Ziploc.<
Ohhhhhhh, okay. Big difference! LOL
-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs
Okay, there are shorts (leftover, broken rods, etc.) that you can get a good deal on if you don't mind having nothing labeled and not knowing which colors or how much of each colors you are getting. I got a ton of cobalt when I ordered these. Then there are short sample packs, which should come labeled.
They're just...... boring. Maybe it's the colors I have or something. Not muddy. Not boiled. Technically nice beads. Just *yawn* boring.
Kalera, I have bins & drawers full of odds (bits and pieces) of both GA and NS that I save for my classes/students to use for color/label reference as my remainders often still have labels intact. If you're interested, let me know and the next time I have a backlog of labeled pieces of GA and/or NS I'll send you some for creating a color/label reference chart. In fact, I'll make a point of setting aside labeled pieces (if you're interested) before my next quarter of classes begins)! Faith Auctions -
there's still a market for "boring" beads...post them!!! One man's meat...
Mary
*GASP* interested??? Am I ever! Thank you so much - that is so kind of you!
Not mine! No, mine is pitiful! Sad, sorry, pathetic, wimpy, and lame. Also there's only one. I'm keeping it forever!
Yeah... I figured that during the "how to melt boro" phase of learning, it didn't matter so much what the colors are, as long as I had some.
Kalera Stratton wrote < *GASP* interested??? Am I ever!
Ok! ;-) Just private email me at the addy above with mailing address!
Happy to help Kalara!
Life in 'boro land' is MUCH easier with a chip/color chart, lol! And the tiny shorty labeled ends are great for that! (darn those boro rods, lol, the colors all look SO much alike! (keeps us on our toes tho! grin!)
TTYS! Faith The Quest Continues LLC Auctions
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