Rod versus Sheet
Most lampworkers use rods of glass 7--8 mm in diameter, though premade stringers come in 1, 2 and 3 mm sizes (depending on the brand), and some brands come in very thick diameters (15mm or more.) Sheet glass can be cut with tools into strips, though they're easier to manipulate if attached to a rod first. (Glass also comes in particles of various sizes(frit or powder), but these are typically surface decorations in lampworked beads.) Many manufacturers who once only sold their glass in sheet or very thick rod now provide rods for lampworking use.
Window glass can actually be used, but usually isn't, because it's not formulated for flameworking (it's shocky, that is, cracks and shatters in the flame) and there is little in the way of color available.
Soda LIME
The most popular lampworking glass comes from Italy and is currently made by the Effetre company. Before it was sold, it was called Moretti, and some people still call it that. Confusing matters is that a cousin started a rival company; their product is called Vetrofond, and is very similar. Effetre is a soda-lime glass, and, again is the type most commonly used by lampworkers. Perhaps the second most popular soda-lime glass (in the USA) is made by Bullseye, which markets their product as being particularly compatible (find/link/write article about glass coe/compatibility). Spectrum, Uroboros make 96coe glasses. Japanese Satake, German Lauscha, Czech (Ornela) and even Indian (PIG) soda lime glasses are also known. New firms seem to be springing up like weeds to serve the glass beadmaking market, which in the USA has grown from "about 30" to 70,000 people (Kate Drew Wilkerson, interview, Dale Smeltzer's internet-only glass talk radio)
Lead
In addition to soda lime glass, lampworkers can use lead glass. Lead glasses are distinguished by their lower viscosity, heavier weight, and somewhat greater tolerance for coe mismatches. Satake, Czech and German glasses (the latter being marketed primarily to glassblowers) all come in lead versions. New to the market is also Gaffer Glass, its 96 coe and is made in New Zealand.
Borosilicate
Finally, beadmakers can and do use borosilicate glass, a very hard glass requiring greater heat. This is laboratory glass, such as Pyrex. Sue Ellen Fowler is credited for developing many of the original recipes for colored borosilicate glasses, which became the basis for the Northstar company's first products. Donald Schneider (personal conversation, late 1990s) recalls how years ago he had to make all of his own borosilicate colors (he still makes a tin white.) Northstar, and new Glass Alchemy (started by a former chemist at Northstar) now offer many colors, introducing several new ones every year. At one time, soft (soda lime and lead) and hard (boro) glasses had distinctly different looking palettes, but demand on the part of soft-glass artists for the silver strike colors on the one hand, and the development of the bright, cadmium based `crayon colors' in the boro line on the other, has softened the distinctions between them considerably.
Most lampworkers use rods of glass 7--8 mm in diameter, though premade stringers come in 1, 2 and 3 mm sizes (depending on the brand), and some brands come in very thick diameters (15mm or more.) Sheet glass can be cut with tools into strips, though they're easier to manipulate if attached to a rod first. (Glass also comes in particles of various sizes(frit or powder), but these are typically surface decorations in lampworked beads.) Many manufacturers who once only sold their glass in sheet or very thick rod now provide rods for lampworking use.
Window glass can actually be used, but usually isn't, because it's not formulated for flameworking (it's shocky, that is, cracks and shatters in the flame) and there is little in the way of color available.
Soda LIME
The most popular lampworking glass comes from Italy and is currently made by the Effetre company. Before it was sold, it was called Moretti, and some people still call it that. Confusing matters is that a cousin started a rival company; their product is called Vetrofond, and is very similar. Effetre is a soda-lime glass, and, again is the type most commonly used by lampworkers. Perhaps the second most popular soda-lime glass (in the USA) is made by Bullseye, which markets their product as being particularly compatible (find/link/write article about glass coe/compatibility). Spectrum, Uroboros make 96coe glasses. Japanese Satake, German Lauscha, Czech (Ornela) and even Indian (PIG) soda lime glasses are also known. New firms seem to be springing up like weeds to serve the glass beadmaking market, which in the USA has grown from "about 30" to 70,000 people (Kate Drew Wilkerson, interview, Dale Smeltzer's internet-only glass talk radio)
Lead
In addition to soda lime glass, lampworkers can use lead glass. Lead glasses are distinguished by their lower viscosity, heavier weight, and somewhat greater tolerance for coe mismatches. Satake, Czech and German glasses (the latter being marketed primarily to glassblowers) all come in lead versions. New to the market is also Gaffer Glass, its 96 coe and is made in New Zealand.
Borosilicate
Finally, beadmakers can and do use borosilicate glass, a very hard glass requiring greater heat. This is laboratory glass, such as Pyrex. Sue Ellen Fowler is credited for developing many of the original recipes for colored borosilicate glasses, which became the basis for the Northstar company's first products. Donald Schneider (personal conversation, late 1990s) recalls how years ago he had to make all of his own borosilicate colors (he still makes a tin white.) Northstar, and new Glass Alchemy (started by a former chemist at Northstar) now offer many colors, introducing several new ones every year. At one time, soft (soda lime and lead) and hard (boro) glasses had distinctly different looking palettes, but demand on the part of soft-glass artists for the silver strike colors on the one hand, and the development of the bright, cadmium based `crayon colors' in the boro line on the other, has softened the distinctions between them considerably.
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