Please help source white 3-4 mm rod.

[Bro-crispy]

Greetings-

I'm working on a project now in which a large amount of white rod, between 3-4 mm, is needed. I don't know the exact amount, but I would guess at least 5-10 lb., maybe more.

I'm going to be using it for "networking" (simply welding rods together, and possibly bending arcs as well.) I prefer boro as I'm more comfortable with it, but soft glass is certainly possible if it's all I can find. I had some Glass Alchemy Sno White rod, 4 mm, and from my tests it is not ideal. I had to really baby it to prevent it from bubbling/gassing, and because of the great amount of joints I need to weld it would just take far too long to be this careful.

The best I can think of would be china white. It's cheap and works great. It just doesn't come in 3-4mm. Hand pulling from 8 mm rod is out of the question for how much I need. I do need a certain amount of consistency as well. Not ultra tight tolerances, but tapers won't do.

I haven't had any luck looking on google. Anybody have any advice? Thank you so much.

[Matt P]

Double post, damn phone (mods erase??)

[Matt P]

Perhaps if you talked to Abe at NS he could pull some custom at 4mm, assuming your have the money and like NS white...
I dont know if thats possible though...
Sounds like a big project, good luck!!

[Mecha]

TAG may be able to help to if you are willing to commit to decent amount. Email Jenny and see what's possible.

[j4y]

What about the GA 4mm rods? Mountain Glass has them in Sno white....
http://www.mountainglass.com/Glass-Alchemy-Sno-White-4mm-52-00-per-pound.html

[Mecha]

Awesome

[Matt P]

Fuck reading the whole post!

[j4y]

Yea, fuck it... selective reading must be my new thing.

[MikeyMan]

If getting a manufacturer to make it for you doesn't work out, I have a less ideal solution for you. When I need to make a shit load of white stringer, (about 2mm) I build up heavy Chinese white over a 10mm - 18 mm clear core. I find that it's easier to heat up a section of it and pull it down outside if the flame. As long as the heat base is there, the pulls are pretty consistent. However doing that for 7 pounds would suck.

[Bro-crispy]

Thanks for the ideas! Even if you didn't read the whole post. I appreciate the enthusiasm, too excited to wait. ;)

Yes, I've thought about contacting NS and Tautman. Star White is do-able, though still not as easy going as I'd like. I'm lazy! I'm shooting for glass that I can treat like clear (or like china white!)

I've heard Trautman White is more or less (or even better then) china white, but I've never tried it. The price tag on that stuff makes things difficult though. Regardless, I don't know if either of those companies would provide 10 lb's or less as a minimum. But it's worth a try, I'll call.


Encasing clear rod, or doing stick stacks over clear rod, would work but yeah, doing it for as much I need would suck. I though I remember China white 30mm rods around, but I could be wrong. Can't find it now. Anybody? And if so how does it work compared to the standard buttery 8mm? The other option is to buy soft glass bar stock (kugler, etc) and pull down at the torch. Again, I'd much rather not have to pull anything down, and i'd rather stay with boro.

Bullseye only makes 1 and 2 mm stringers. I'm waiting on a quote/possibility for custom 3-4.

Anyone have experienced with stock 3-4mm white soft glass stringers? moretti, laucha, etc. etc.? Bead ladies! where are you when we need you??? ;)



Thanks again y'all, and keep any other oddball ideas coming, you never know. . .

[Slow]

Would it be an option to make it out of 4mm clear and just paint it white when you're done?

[Bo Diddles]

Maybe sandblasted clear?

[hashmasta-kut]

i just bought 3 pounds of star white odds from mountain glass and it was really small on average, i probably have about 2 pounds of stuff 4mm or smaller.

[Mr. Whale dick]

China white works great????............you so crazy

[JBob]

i tend to use a lot of china white or borostix white...but if a large scale piece depended on being held together by the white rod i chose, id probably get Star.

[Hazeey]

TAG whiteout is buttery smooth if you can get him to do it for ya.

[kudabeck]

Ive used new color white a few times its really nice, kinda pricey but it didn't bubble

[Conscious Pilot]

I would try the white Parramore makes.

[Matt P]

I use borostix white, which obviously wont work. Ive used Egyptian White, china white, and ive wanted to try the Parramore. But before this turns into another favorite white thread, mind if I ask what this project is, lots of networked white, I'm interested!