Keeping the Iris Gold Gold

[Tink]

Does anyone have any tips for getting a brilliant gold finish on Iris Gold reduction glass? I've tried way out in a reduction flame, way IN on a reduction flame, and everything in between.

I just flash it, no more than a quick twirl. Still it ends up looking silvery grey.

Grrrr.

[AlexM]

By any chance, are you decorating dk. ivory, ivory or yellow base beads with it?

[Tink]

ALL colors. Dark red, ivory (both kinds), black, even Bullseye colors. Maybe I didn't buy the correct reduction glass for the effect I want: Shiny Gold that looks as though it was painted on with Hanovia Glass Gold.

[Lara]

I found the by iris gold didn't show up on black very well, looks silver blue. The ivory glass turns really icky and black with reduction frits. I was able to get it to stay gold with the red. I don't know what I did besides use a reduction flame for this.

Lara

[AlexM]

I have trouble with reduction frits on both ivories, reds and yellows. Try it on some other colors, like pink or white and see what happens.

[ValorieCox]

Tink, I use quite a bit of oxygen when I use the Iris Gold (one of my all time favorite reduction colors). I give it a little shot of propane at the end, but I always go back in with a quick flash of a neutral flame before I pop it in the kiln. Remember also that there are lots of different Iris Golds. There is the Light Iris Gold, Medium Iris Gold, Dark Iris Gold, by Reichebach and Kugler then of course the Gaffer Iris Gold Lustre--all of them will give you completely different results. And yes as Alex said, the base color you use will play a big part as well in the final look.

Here are a couple beads with Iris Golds with silver foil, some over clear, and some reduced more than others to get the deep dark caramel color. I especially like it over Bullseye French Vanilla with a little bit of silver. Val

[Josie]

I had a hard time getting my Bobcat to give the reducing effects I was looking for. Iris gold was always a favorite of mine until this.
I don't get good results using the method described by Kimberly Affleck. All I get is dirty black gunk.
I get much better results when I do this~ Make a small neutral flame. Mine is about five inches or so. Keep the oxy. as is and turn up the gas just a bit until the little cones start to "streak" into the flame. Flash bead at the base of these streaks a few times. The higher my flame the messier the results. I get awesome results starting with a small flame.
I have a few sets on Ebay right now that can show you the results of this oxy.? heavy propane method.
(Keep in mind that I can never seem to do anything they way you're supposed to.)

Tracey