Raku Frit

Raku Frit - also known as Iris Orange - is probably one of the most used and most written about frits from the furnace glass world. Not sure that I can add much to that body of knowledge - so I'll just recap what I consider to be the most obvious features:

• It looks dramatically different on different colours. Try it on black especially, and on ivory.
• Rapid cooling brings out the colours - so a bead design that is mashed is particularly effective.
• It does reduce - sometimes too dramatically - and may not be attractive.

OK - here are some of my test pieces.

Raku on Ivory (Vet 204).

















Raku on Triton, reduced - Dragon's Breath. Dig the silver edges to the dots.

















Raku on black, not reduced.


















Raku on Ivory, mashed. Front and back of bead.

Yep - that really is an ivory base - check the far left side of the bead. The black apparent base is the reaction between the raku and the ivory.

Some nice colours here.







This cylinder is Light ivory on the left, black on the right,
roll in silver foil, melt in
add raku, marver, melt out the chill marks.

Also some nice colours.








And finally - this monstrosity - which looks convincingly like granite - is:

ivory
raku frit
clear
mash
raku
reduce
mash
silver foil, melt in
raku frit
Triton goobers
silver wire, melt in
reduce

Sometimes, all the work just doesn't get you any where. ;-) meh.

PS - in Canada - email Jean at Nortel for the Raku frit. In the US - try Frantz. It is also known as Iris Orange.