I have been experimenting more with Double Amber Purple (DAP) from Northstar Glass. Though working with borosilicate glass (boro) for over a year now, getting used to the chemistry of boro is exciting and a challenge.
Over the last few years, soft glass (System 96 flat glass from Spectrum and Uroboros), had been my medium of choice in torchwork, and the relative delicacy of soft glass has always been in the forefront, especially when it comes to heat. Granted, some of the S96 glass has been wonderful in the torch, and for the life of me, can't seem to scorch or burn it, most requires a gentle hand when it comes to heat. Boro is just the opposite!
To be able to work a glass piece and not have to worry as much about shock is incredible! The best part, and the most challenging for me, is getting (and keeping) the glass hot enough. I loved the pictures of DAP (and when I used it at the Mazet Studios last year, loved it) but when I used it in the torch, the amber side was the only one that showed. It wasn't until I saw Brent Graber's video (Hi Brent!) that he talked about heating the hell out of the glass. The elements needed to align with heat, and to heat and heat and heat the glass, then heat it some more!
Wow -- he is so right! I will use DAP rod and frit, and get the glass white hot in the torch. Then while trying to keep it from falling into a molten glop, keep it heated. The purples are outstanding! I will flame strike some of the piece, as possible, but the purples just pop! In order to experiment (and to save on the pricey boro), I have been heating clear rod and rolling it in several layers of DAP frit (large) then heating it like I've described. The results are really fun, and I'm looking forward to doing some marble experimentation with this.
I had to laugh, as I stood at my torch the other night heating the hell out of the DAP, I imagined what my soft glass would look like (what shades of pukey grey they would turn) if I were to incinerate that glass like I was doing the boro! Too much fun!
Okay, yes, I'm now a complete and total boro whore -- BoHo -- and look every day for the %age off emails for my new boro faves (and especially the now beloved, Double Amber Purple!).
