Hot Head and Lauscha clear

Anne Londez · #1 04-28-2003, 07:42 AM

I would like to ask once again you dedicated HH users if you've tried the Lauscha clear and how it behaves with a Hot Head. I know from experience that keeping Moretti clear clear is a big challenge on a Hot Head but I haven't tried the Lauscha at the time and I thought it might be easier for my students to work the Lauscha (I'm teaching beginngers on HH but working myself on a Minor and I haven't yet received my first shipment of Lauscha).
Thanks
Anne

AMR GlassWorks · #2 04-28-2003, 07:48 AM

I did fine with the Lauscha on a HH except when I tried to encase fine silver dots then it cracked all over the place! I love Lauscha!!

GinnyHampton · #3 04-28-2003, 09:28 AM

I've used it with my HH and it turns out just fine!! It might be a wee bit stiffer and slower than moretti, but it looks great

Josie · #4 04-28-2003, 09:37 AM

I like the Moretti better because you can work it quicker. The Lauscha was a lot like taffy with the HH. I can imagine I'd love it with a hotter torch but I got very frustrated. Plus, I had a harder time getting even encasings because it was so much stiffer.
I'm back with old faithful and happy as a pig in poo.

Tracey

AllisonE · #5 04-28-2003, 09:41 AM

My hh melts lauscha like butter...and I have the 9mm rod size! I can encase with the full rod or pull it to stringers and encase with them.
Also, you can thoroughly abuse the Lauscha in the flame...and it will take it!!!
By the way, I tried once to encase fine silver dots with Morretti clear, and it was shatter city. I even brought the bead back into the flame after it cracked, healed the cracks, and after I had it all nice and crack free, when I took it out of the blankets, it was a shattery, didn't come apart, but lines all through it. (By the way, I almost never have any problems with thermal shock and my blankets)
Allison

Ignuss-Fatuus · #6 04-28-2003, 09:43 AM

I love lauscha..I work on a QT and I really love it yes it is slower to work with but It always looks nice when im done as moretti clear is always POO POO for me when im done brown or tea colored its gross....so I use lauscha...the only issue I will bring up is the cracking issue....it does tend to crack quicker and easier than mortetti so IDealy it needs or should be put in a kiln fairly quickly to slow the cool down....I cool most of my beads in vermiculite and then batch anneal I dont have tooo bad a problem unless its a big bead or something I kept reheating and cooling to apply decoration....anyway there is my 2 cents

Karin

bluebonnetbeads · #7 04-28-2003, 09:54 AM

I use lausha clear with a Hot Head. It is a little more dificult and stiffer than Moretti, but the beautiful clear glass is worth it, unlike the brown tea color you get sometimes with clear Moretti. Just be very patient with the Lausha glass and make sure your base bead is just cool enough to accept the Lausha without smearing your base bead. Good Luck.

Melissa

AlexM · #8 04-28-2003, 10:51 AM

Anne,

I've used the Lauscha clear on the HH and the Fireworks, and it's great, the only clear I use. It works better if you have the bulk tank setup. I use the dot-it-on method because melting a big glob with these torches is very challenging. Just remind the students to hold the rod high in the flame so they don't get it sooty and to be patient.

Briatha · #9 04-28-2003, 12:25 PM

I use a HH and Laucha clear and it is definately an exercise in patience since it is so stiff but sooooo worth it

rlisfolks · #10 04-28-2003, 02:45 PM

I only use Lauscha clear now, on my HH. Yes, it's stiffer, but since I've never really used anything else, I'm used to it. I think the key with it is to really heat the rod a lot before trying to use it. The rods I'm using now are the largest I've ever used of any glass, but it's working out fine!

Dawn

loydb · #11 04-28-2003, 05:43 PM

I use nothing but Lausha (hothead). I agree with Dawn, the trick is to nuke it pretty hard when heating. Unlike the Moretti, which fries when I do it, the Laushca withstands the beating.

It has also made me more conscious of cleaning my torch head every week -- it really shows soot.

loyd

juniemoon · #12 04-28-2003, 07:27 PM

well i think you will be amazed at the difference between the lauscha and the moretti.....i have not had one cloudy or murky bead since i started to use the lauscha for encasing.....its just so nice to use......good luck with your classes.........

Turtlebeader · #13 05-01-2003, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by loydb
I use nothing but Lausha (hothead). I agree with Dawn, the trick is to nuke it pretty hard when heating. Unlike the Moretti, which fries when I do it, the Laushca withstands the beating.

It has also made me more conscious of cleaning my torch head every week -- it really shows soot.

loyd

Hi Loyd,

You mentioned that you clean your torch head... Do you mind if I ask how exactly do you do this?

I've wondered about whether it might be dirt in my HH torch which is causing the streaking on my Morretti clear, since it was sparkly clear until a couple of months ago... I've ruled out any other possibilities, but I have no idea how to go about cleaning my torch - can you advise?

I appreciate your help, and thanks in advance

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