Quartz glass

**Bugzy1972** · 02-23-2009, 09:39 PM

I just received a large order from winship where i ordered 1 6mm rod of quarts. Unfortunatly it was packaged with the other 6mm rods i ordered and can't tell the quartz from the boro.

Is there a way to tell them apart or a way to test what type of glass they are?

**Pilgrim** · 02-23-2009, 09:53 PM

I think If you Flash the tips of the rods in your torch and the Quarts should Glow a lot brighter... Secondly the quarts is a lot harder then boro and it will not pull out like the boro...

**firefreak** · 02-23-2009, 11:22 PM

Melting quartz is a lot harder than melting boro. stick it in a nice hot flame, when it starts to glow, take it out and try poking the end with tweezers or other small sharpish tool. You will know right away when it won't make a dent in the quartz.
I use 6mm quaetz for fuming rods. Been through an ounce of silver and a couple of grams of gold. No damage to the rod. Had a hell of a time getting a little dent for the metals to ride in.

**Pilgrim** · 02-23-2009, 11:28 PM

Wow...I thought I pretty much said that?....lol

**Johan** · 02-24-2009, 02:44 AM

yeah...like pilgrim said...stick it in the flame and you'll know right away....it's wayyyyyy brighter. I've even gotten kinda sunburned from it once.

**Icarus** · 02-24-2009, 06:34 AM

It has a different feel to it to, at least from what I've noticed. It jsut feels smoother. I know that sounds weird, as boro feels perfectly smooth, but quartz seriously feels smoother.

Had a hell of a time getting a little dent for the metals to ride in.

Try adding a sand grain sized dot of boro on the tip. Not enough for the silver to suck into, but enough to just sit on the end, it's way easier to get your silver and gold to adhere to that than it is to get it on quartz alone (learned that one from Smutboy, thanks dude, saved me a lot of headaches)

**MUPH** · 02-24-2009, 09:58 AM

Use quartz for fuming

**Pilgrim** · 02-24-2009, 10:09 AM

[it's wayyyyyy brighter. I've even gotten kinda sunburned from it once.[/QUOTE]

You need to be DAMN care full with your eyes!!!! you NEED TO HAVE VERY GOOD FILTERS or you will burn them very bad like arc welding with out a mask only worse....a couple years ago I horrible damaged my eyes with a piece the Mer gave me. I ended up at the eye doctors in a lot of pain then an infection happened after that. My eyes are now prone to damage much easier now.
bottom line is if you don't need it and most of us don't. You shouldn't use it

My .02 worth of info..........

**MUPH** · 02-24-2009, 10:19 AM

Its recommended that anyone burning quartz should have shade 8 or higher

**Sparkey** · 02-24-2009, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by MUPH

Its recommended that anyone burning quartz should have shade 8 or higher

Do they have shade 8 flipdowns for your glasses?

**glassdocnc** · 02-24-2009, 06:47 PM

erm, probly stupid question but... do you need the shade 8's for fuming a little here, a little there, or only if you are actually trying to make something with the quartz? I don't even have shade 8's at the moment but it seems like it would be hard to see the fume, no?

**Pilgrim** · 02-24-2009, 06:54 PM

The quick answer on using #8 shades with QUARTZ is Yes I was only Fuming for a very short time before I burnt my eyes REALLY BAD...like I said if you dont need it dont use it....

**Jeremy D.N.** · 02-24-2009, 07:27 PM

so how are you supposed to anneal the stuff if you cant even melt it?

**Pilgrim** · 02-24-2009, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by REGIS

so how are you supposed to anneal the stuff if you cant even melt it?

what do you mean?

**Greymatter Glass** · 02-25-2009, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by REGIS

so how are you supposed to anneal the stuff if you cant even melt it?

I dunno....

I get a rod hot, put a bend in it, and plunge it in cold water....

no breaks yet.

annealed? whatever.

**Mecha** · 02-25-2009, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by Bugzy1972

I just received a large order from winship where i ordered 1 6mm rod of quarts. Unfortunatly it was packaged with the other 6mm rods i ordered and can't tell the quartz from the boro.

Is there a way to tell them apart or a way to test what type of glass they are?

Stack it up and look at the ends. Pyrex or boro look green on the very end, quartz looks whiteish. It is VERY easy to tell the difference. Try it, and you will quickly see what I mean.

**MUPH** · 02-25-2009, 11:05 AM

I dont use a shade 8 for fuming, you usually dont put the quartz in the flame for fuming. I only use a shade 8 when im first manipulating the quartz rod to get the spoon shape to put the silver in. I put another welding shade 5 over my current shade 5 flip down. Yes they make shade 8 flip down but I really dont think its necessary for the 30 seconds you'll need it

**Islandglass Man** · 02-26-2009, 12:44 PM

Quartz anneals at 1175 C

I use shade 6 over boro glasses, if you use 8 you can't see where the quarts glass meets the flame and then you might cheat and look around to see. That is when you can get a flash burn on your eyes not much fun then.

I work up to 30 m/m standard wall tubing on the bench with just propane and ox, although working it in the lathe with hydrogen is much faster but a little expensive.

Bear