The more minerals in any glass the harder it is to work. The opals gain and transfer heat differently than glass, for sure making it one of the harder glass mixes to use.
Bloom is when the glass turns to vapor and basically fumes back onto the glass. This is more a phenomenon in quartz glass as it works at a much higher temperature. Using quartz for dabs should be done more of low heat and never turn it red. Learn low temp dabs.
If you mean pyrex dish wear, yes and no. The new Pyrex is a unique soft glass that can withstand thermal shock. The old Pyrex dishware was used by blowers back in the day. If you mean do they still use Pyrex Boro tubing? Yes. Elev8 Premier uses Shott glass, there are many brands of …
Continue reading “has anyone ever made a water pipe out of pyrex?”
Avant Guard uses a technique called graal. This is where the image is lain on the glass and then sandblasted deep. The tube is then carefully sleeved with clear so that the groves remain.
Devitrification happens from overworking the glass. There are basically two types. One that is not really bad and is from being pulled while the outside is very cool. This causes stress in the glass and looks like the top image. The other type of devit as we call it happens when much of the sodium …
The minerals or chemicals that are put into the glass are what is effected the the heat or atmosphere of the torch.
It can be really any thickness. Small diamonds are faceted. The smaller the harder it is to keep perfect.
Opals can be large, especially since the ones used in boro are made in a lab. The issue is that an opal is close to 33 COE, but not, so the larger the opal, the more the chance of it cracking.
Quartz melts at just over 3000 F. Learn more here in our blog of terms
You can see Murrine here and Millie here.