mixing glass types

[The Cheese]

Probably in here somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

I've got a stock of schott rods and blow tube. Almost out of 1"hw. I was looking at buying some asian tube, for the cost of course, and was wondering if I could use the schott sticks and blow tubes with it and not have to worry about cracking.

Thanks.

[HOSS]

If you mean the chinese clear you always have to worry about that cracking, even without using any schott. Its cheap stuff in more ways than the price.

[The Cheese]

I've heard some mixed feelings on this. I crack enough of the good stuff. May as well stick with it if the cheap stuff will crack easier.

Thanks Nemesis...

[HOSS]

Thats just based on my own admittedly limited experience, I haven't tried it in a long time. Your mileage may vary. :) But if you do try it maybe just get a small amount to start with. FWIW some of the asian color tube actually seems a bit more stable than the clear, like the purple. The cobalt is pretty easy to work with too.

[jethro]

The SBA is good stuff and works like butter. The only chinese I have used is ust clear and some random color tube. You will not have compatibility issues between the 2, but you may have to go into the flame slower with the chinese clear where you can pretty much slam the schott straight into the flame without worrying.

I myself had no problems with ust cracking but it seemed to take longer to melt than schott. It also doesn't get that pretty red glow like the SBA I have grown to love.

Now color tube is a whole different story that shit explodes and pops sometimes even when it is preheated. Not sure who makes it ...maybe the same people who make the non UST chinese clear.

My noob advice would be to stay away from the other random clear and go for UST if you do decide to buy the cheap stuff.

[Adapt]

The ust clear is what i started on and it worked fine as long as you treated it like jethro said. Now I'm on the SBA and like it, but for the difference in price, I'd like my $98 case of 32x4 back. :(

I've asked this before, but if there's any of that ust clear in norcal, I'd like to now.