Frit: A Visual Reference

I'm very pleased to be able to offer sample pages from this reference. The sample here will change from time to time so keep checking back every week or so. Because monitors an alter how a color looks, for the truest colors, I would highly suggest saving the chart to your hard drive by right clicking and selecting 'Save Picture As...' then using your graphic editing/printing program, print out the chart on a full sheet of paper.

All test beads were made on a HotHead with bulk propane using
     • Effetre 204 White
     • Either Effetre 264 Ivory or 276 Dk. Ivory
     • Either Effetre or Vetrofond 064 Black
     • Vetrofond 004 Clear
     • Pet Mix, a blend of one part Effetre 218 Petroleum Green and ten to twelve parts Effetre 204 White.
     • Silver, Effetre 204 White rolled onto silver foil strips. The silver is melted in. Then the bead is rolled in the frit, heated and shaped like the rest of the beads.

Some colors may react differently depending on whether it’s used as a frit, as a stringer, melted in or left on top, type of torch, type of gas, annealing schedule, temperature, which batch it’s from, phase of the moon, how you hold your mouth while you’re making the bead, or any of a number of different things that can influence the way soft glass behaves. Please remember this as your results may differ a bit from mine.

And with no further ado, here are some sample pages from my research. Just click on each picture to enlarge - then right click on the larger picture and select 'Save as'. Enjoy!

Effetre Cool Colors 1	Effetre Cool Colors 2	Effetre Cool Colors 3

Reichenbach 104 Transparent	Reichenbach 104 Opaque	Loetz
		The Reduced column in the Loetz chart does not show the true beauty of the reduced frit so here is my lovely assistant Houdini to show you. Both the Black and the White bead have the Gray/Gold Loetz frit reduced on them.

• Some of these frits require special treatment for the full range of possibilities to show. Since all beads have been treated the same, not all possibilities may show.

• Charts may be downloaded and printed for your personal use only. Any other use requires my written permission.
  

• You may link to this page, but charts may not be downloaded to your website and archived or offered there.

© 2005-2007 Kay Powell

This bonus page shows the different sizes of frit as well as how it can look both as frit and on a bead. Each of the squares covered in frit is one square inch.

Not sure what to do with Frits or how to use them? Please visit Val Cox's Guide to Glass Frits.

Thanks to Angela (ziggys on Lampwork Etc.) for suggesting I include a response I posted on the Art Glass Forum that explains what the tests I do to the frit were designed to do. I've taken the liberty of doing a wee bit of editing to this response.

Please know that I've tried to do these tests to show what the potential of the glass is, not just as frits. The only things I haven't really tried to test are 1) the striking capability, and with sculptural beads, you may get some interesting effects with repeated heating and cooling of areas, and 2) how the glass reacts in an oxygen rich flame (but I'm on a hothead so I can't really test that one) Here is my thought process in choosing some of the tests I've done:

I've noticed that some frits just sit there on the glass, some will sink a bit, and some will float and spread out. The overcooked bead tests which of these will occur.

The 'Pet Mix' is a custom mixed color I've done of white with just a wee bit of petroleum green. I wanted a color that would show if there is what some call a copper/sulfur reaction going on, but I didn't want a color as dark as Sky Blue (I use Effetre Glass). ideally I wanted a color about like that of Lt. Sky Blue, but I only had a couple rods of this color and everyone was out of it. So, I had to mix my own. This test shows if a copper/sulfur reaction is going on.

The Ivory bead tests for the opposite side of the reaction, and a whole lot more. One of the most surprising and yet interesting things I've noticed during all of the tests I've done is that most all furnace glass colors will react with Ivory - except for the reds and an occasional orange, clear, or green. Not only that, but if a color does react with Ivory, it will most likely react in a reduction flame by getting the metallic sheen to it. Way too cool!

The black and clear beads test for the opacity or transparency of the glass. Some listed as transparent, and some listed as opaque really aren't, and some are only mildly so, and so on. Between these 2 test beads, you can tell where along the continuum the glass really is.

The silver test bead (done by melting some strips of silver foil into the test bead before rolling it in the frit) shows if a color will react with silver.

As you can see, I'm actually trying to test the properties of the glass and how it reacts under different situations, not just how pretty the frit is or what shade it is. I want to know how the glass behaves. For this very reason, I've also tested the entire Effetre line - well, except for the alibastros and opalinos which I don't use and aren't available as frits.

And yes, I've gotten some surprising results that could be used to an interesting effect in beads. For example, did you know that Effetre 220 Periwinkle turns violet in a highly reducing flame? I imagine that could result in some very interesting and beautiful sculptural beads. Picture a rose with just the edges of the petals reduced - Periwinkle blue that transitions to violet at the tip of the petals. Beautiful! - And of course, if you make one you have to make 2 and send me one! ;-)

I would like to thank those who have contributed to this research:

• Becky Smith (bexrox on Lampwork Etc)
• Leslie at Iron Mountain Jewelry
• Mitchell at Olympic Color Rods
• Kathy at Creation is Messy
• Janine Kloubert  www.beaddust.com
• Barb Stoneking (Bubbyanne on Wet Canvas! & Lampwork Etc)
• P. J. Hicks (Cheng076 on Wet Canvas!)
• Terri May (scupltorgirl on Wet Canvas!)
• Ruth Nicholas aka KetchikanSculptor at Hillside Gardens Art Studio
• Patricia Frantz www.PatFrantzStudio.com
• Valerie Cox www.ValCox.com
• Gail Joseph www.GGGlass.com
• Robin Koza www.GlassDiversions.com
• Marie-Claude Chapman MChapman.idx.com.au
• Bayou Babes Glassworks stores.ebay.com/Bayou-Babes-Glassworks
• Virginia L. Davies www.beyond-the-realm.com
• Sam at www.NLM Glass Arts
• Lyn Richards at Artemis Lampwork
• Jon & Renate at www.lbsupplys.com
• Sam at www.BeadySamGlass.com
• Laura & Randy McPherson at www.SunriseFrits.com
• The participants of the Frit Exchanges I’ve hosted on Wet Canvas & Lampwork Etc.