Best COE red glass for high fire melts

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Lee Sorg
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Best COE red glass for high fire melts

Post by Lee Sorg »

I'm new to the Warm Glass forum, so first, thanks for including me. I am doing high fire temparature melts and discovering that transparent red does not stay red once it reaches high temps of 1700 degrees. The red turns a muddy liver brown, kinda yucky looking. So my question is, what, if any, COE90 reds work well for high fire melts and pours? Thanks in advance for your answers.
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Re: Best COE red glass for high fire melts

Post by Brad Walker »

The transparents will usually turn opaque and ugly.

Of the opaques, 0024 Tomato Red seems to hold up best. The 0124 Red often reduces to brown.
Lee Sorg
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Re: Best COE red glass for high fire melts

Post by Lee Sorg »

Great. Thanks Brad.
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Re: Best COE red glass for high fire melts

Post by Brad Walker »

jim simmons wrote:Can you try an oxidizing atmosphere?
You could, but it's bad for the kiln elements.
Lee Sorg
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Re: Best COE red glass for high fire melts

Post by Lee Sorg »

Thanks for the suggestion Jim. I'm not sure how to oxidize the atmosphere in a kiln. But it sounds like this would not be a safe approach anyway. I did go ahead and order the 0024 Tomato Red — it looks like using this glass will work. After my first attempt using transparent red did not work out so well, I need a path that will yield a predictable result. Thanks again, all your feedback is much appreciated.
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Re: Best COE red glass for high fire melts

Post by rosanna gusler »

Brad Walker wrote:
jim simmons wrote:Can you try an oxidizing atmosphere?
You could, but it's bad for the kiln elements.
Isn't it opposite of that? A reducing atmosphere will strip off the protective oxide coating that is on the elements.
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Morganica
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Re: Best COE red glass for high fire melts

Post by Morganica »

You have to move to casting glasses to find a red that will work in high fire melts. Look at Burnt Scarlet Striker--it holds up very well to the heat. It is not a pure fire-engine red, however--it's got a bit of an orangey cast and is a little dark in thick castings. In thinner applications, such as pot melts, it'll probably look fine.
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Lee Sorg
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Re: Best COE red glass for high fire melts

Post by Lee Sorg »

Thanks Cynthia, I'll give the Burnt Scarlet Striker a try.
btw: Very cool piece!
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