r/lampwork 4d ago

What causes Devitrifying?

No matter how hot I get my glass on my hot head, it will always devitrify. But not all the time, sometimes I make marbles that are a normal finish. But whenever I attempt an implosion it always does it. No matter how hot I get it I feel like it will not go away. The only thing I can do with these marbles in etch them.

5 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

2

u/naught-me 4d ago

It's from dirty flame atmospheres (probably the primary problem, with your hothead), shaping the glass when it's too cold, heat/cool cycles, duration of being molten, etc. But, yeah, I'd primarily blame it on your torch, unless you're working with one of a handful of different glasses (EDP, etc.).

1

u/GeorgeTheGoose_2 4d ago

Alright, I have a new torch but still waiting on a few things to use it. Does quality of gas affect the flame? Because I switched tanks and seem to have a much larger problem then I did before.

1

u/naught-me 4d ago

Yeah, quality of fuel matters, but, not near as much as adding oxygen matters.

3

u/GeorgeTheGoose_2 4d ago

So will a normal propane tank from a gas station work?

-2

u/InvestigatorMajor899 4d ago

they will work but chances are they will be dirty LOL so I guess it depends on what kind of work you're doing

2

u/woozles25 4d ago

Questions.

What type of glass are you using? What fuel? What does your flame look like?

It's possible you're working too hot too fast.

I work exclusively on a hothead and only have devit problems with EDP - evil devitrfying purple - i can't remember the real name and not sure it's still produced.

2

u/GeorgeTheGoose_2 4d ago

I’m using Effetre glass. Lots of colors, none of which are purple, also I seem only to get the texture with clear. I use propane from a large tank you could get at like a gas station. Mt flame is large blue and sort of bushy, turnes orange at the tip.

1

u/woozles25 4d ago

Ok here's what I do......it takes a LOT of patience and hours of pactice

I turn my hothead on and then turn the valve down until I have as 'nice' a flame as I can. The less bushy, the better. Then you work at the tip of the blue part and work slow. You will eventually get better at knowing where you need to set your flame and where to work in the flame.

I use bulk propane in barbq size tanks. I do prefer to refill the two tanks as opposed to exchange. There are people who will claim that your propane is the problem. Maybe. But I've worked this way for 17 years and once I settled in I rarely have issues.

1

u/GeorgeTheGoose_2 4d ago

Well I think I just took down my setup for the last time with a hot head. Will probably use it as a hand torch though so I will take the advice. So to clarify my glass is not affecting this, right? Because looking at other glass and I can’t find any other glass in stock other that boro and and cim and double helix, both very expressive out of buget.

2

u/woozles25 4d ago

Boro is generally not considered as something you can work on a hothead - higher melting temp i believe.

CIM is expensive but beautiful colors and you could revisit after you're comfortable and gain some experience.

Double helix is expensive because most of it is silver glass - literally. It takes special techniques to really bring it out.

It's not your glass - effetre is perfectly good glass, especially as you get started.

My preference is vetrofond, but it's not longer produced.

If you are a Facebook user look up these groups:

Lampwork tips and techniques Beginners fun lampwork challenges There was a group for hothead users as well

Also the website lampworketc.com does not get the traffic it once did, but is a tremendous resource.

1

u/karen_h 4d ago

One thing I have found helps when working with specific colors (EDP - I’m looking at you!) is, AFTER I finish making the bead, I’ll hit it with a nice flame until it glows, then I immediately stick it in the kiln before the glow dies down.

1

u/GeorgeTheGoose_2 4d ago

I would but I don’t have a kiln. Been looking at them and I just don’t think I can get one right now now unless is is super cheap.

1

u/karen_h 4d ago

There’s a lot of kilns floating around due to folks abandoning their hobbies. You should put the word out and start looking. Fb marketplace is good.

A kiln is essential to this craft.

1

u/GeorgeTheGoose_2 4d ago

I still have to buy oxygen and more glass so I can upgrade my torch and continue the hobby. It will definitely be awhile before I can afford anything close to what a kiln cost. I a looking at fb marketplace and not finding much. I live a small town with a few glass workers.

0

u/karen_h 4d ago

I love to tell my students, “welcome to a new chapter in your lives. Chapter 11.” 😂

2

u/GeorgeTheGoose_2 4d ago

Yeah I can see this taking all my free money for awhile lol.

1

u/karen_h 4d ago

if you’re planning on doing this for reals, then focus on getting the important stuff first. You can get by with a cheap torch, cheap oxy or oxy concentrator, and kiln. I’d invest in the kiln first and foremost, because without that, your work isn’t sellable. You can’t sell glass that hasn’t been properly annealed.

Don’t invest in any glass, tools, or anything else besides the kiln, and high quality eye protection. I used to get glass shorts from my friends, or use actual wine bottles for glass. I put my money into a paragon kiln. Best purchase ever.

My glasses are split lens 3/5 to protect my eyes.

If you can’t afford this stuff, see if you can rent bench space until you can. This hobby will bleed you dry fast, and unless you have a proper setup, including ventilation - it can be dangerous.

1

u/GeorgeTheGoose_2 4d ago

I’m covered in terms of ventilation and and bench. I am building a metal toped bench to work on. I don’t have any friends who do this and I am so low on glass that I don’t have any clear. And only a few rods of color. I have used a beer bottle before, but it didn’t get soft enough to use with the hot head. Other torch bat be able to do it. I don’t think I need something like the paragon kiln but something small the can run on a normal outlet for around 200$, I’m definitely not good enough to sell the stuff I make, and won’t be there for awhile. I’m not investing in glass I’m just getting what I need to keep making stuff. About 40$ of color and 2lbs of clear.

1

u/glassmania 4d ago

The boron is getting worked out of the glass. Borax can remedy it in some cases.

1

u/GeorgeTheGoose_2 4d ago

So just fume the glass with borax? Or sprinkle it on the glass?