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Murky reds?

OK, this is something that's just started happening and I'd appreciate any thoughts and suggestions. I've worked with Moretti's clear red for a while (the rods that look amber but strike red in the flame) with absolutely no trouble, very clear and pure rich red color in the final bead. Suddenly, though, they're all turning out murky gray-brown. When it first started I assumed I'd inadvertently crept too far down in the flame, so I've been working higher and higher but it's making no difference. The only difference lately is that I've been making more complex beads and spending more total time in the flame than before. Can this cause murky reds? Or am I overlooking something?

- Steve R St Louis MO

Reply to
Steve Richardson
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The only difference lately is that I've been making more complex beads and spending more total time in the flame than before. Can this cause murky reds? Or am I overlooking something?>

it's the time factor -- liver colored reds result from over working the red glass. It's a common problem with that stuff..

Cheryl of DRAGON BEADS Flameworked beads and glass

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Reply to
Cheryl

I have wondered about this.

The most brilliant clear colors in complex beads seem to come from the best lampworkers -- like Anne Divelbiss.

Tina

Reply to
Christina Peterson

Yes - to me, having transparent Moretti red in the flame too long, and putting it with virtually any other color can cause murkey-ness. Try Lauscha transparent red - this is much less murky if you work it right, and the red is a more true vibrant red (less orange than moretti). Or if you like, try layering the moretti red on top or opaque purple red or dark red. This makes the tsp red really bright.

Reply to
Kandice Seeber

Yep - the faster and cooler you work transparent Moretti red, the better it looks.

Reply to
Kandice Seeber

Okay, this all sounds about right. I was spending a long time in the flame, so things turned murky even though I was well up in the zone I'd thought would be safe. This is all going to force me to unlearn some of my self-induced bad habits, like taking forever to fiddle with the shape of a bead instead of staying in control from the beginning and not letting little problems turn into big ones. I have to say, on one of my "murky red" beads, I actually liked the gray-blending-to-clear-red that I got, or at least I would have if I hadn't known that I was trying for pure red! I guess that more practice is in order. Well, here's where that new 28-pound cylinder of HPG is going to come in handy! Thanks to all who replied to my question, I've learned a lot!

- Steve R St Louis

Reply to
Steve Richardson

Well, here's where that new 28-pound cylinder of HPG is going to come in handy! Thanks to all who replied to my question, I've learned a lot!

- Steve R>

AHHHH! That means you GOT your BIG TANK!!! bet you are in heaven now.... LOL no more freezing tanks, no more changing little tanks... and a hellluva a lot cheaper... Cheryl of DRAGON BEADS Flameworked beads and glass

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Reply to
Cheryl

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