Devardi^® Glass

Thank you for your purchase or interest in Devardi COE 104 Glass. During these recessionary times, it is imperative to have a glass market open to a wide variety of options for the common lamp worker. The high price of glass and other supplies can be a burden to the average artist, which can interfere with their ability to perform their trade. In order to offset some of this burden, we have searched the globe to find a quality replacement for some of the high priced glass that is so frequently found on the market, a glass that can offer some of the same, different and even better features. We believe Devardi Glass is the answer. Although, this glass does take some getting used to, since it can behave differently than common glasses found on the market, it offers a high quality replacement to other, much more costly glasses, reducing some of the financial strain on the trade, and offering some very nice colors and other features.

We have been working with the Devardi Glass now for a number of months and have compiled some tips, tricks and other useful information that may make its use more pleasurable. We wanted to use this glass thoroughly before we sold it to make sure it was a quality, acceptable glass. We tried a number of glasses that did not meet our standards before we found Devardi. Please give this glass a bit of time to become accustom to it. Once you do, we are sure you will find it a great addition to your trade. Please visit our Artists page to see some beads made using Devardi glass. Thanks.

Devardi Glass is a handmade and hand pulled glass. It is lead free and made in India by all adult labor. Because this is a handmade glass, the rods can be irregular in shape rather than uniform. This does not affect the quality. The rods just don’t look as straight as other, more commercial brands. You will also find some of the rods tend to be thicker or thinner than what you may be accustomed to. Each batch will have a variety of very thin, average and thick rods, usually ranging from 6mm to 10mm thickness. And the lengths range from 6-13 inches. The only way to keep prices low is to sell the glass in these sizes.

Some of the benefits of Devardi glass are that it is very compatible with other COE 104 glasses, it has a lower heat requirement, it's a stiffer glass, it has very saturated colors, the colors remain very true and the color of the rod remains the color in your work. There are also many colors in the Devardi line that do not exist on the market elsewhere. And many of the opaques change their appearance depending on the heat used or the oxygen/propane ratio.

The first thing you should know about Devardi Glass is that it does not like high heat when first placed into the flame. Reduce your flame more than you would Moretti initially. Not only reduce the size of your flame, but also reduce the oxygen levels. It is oxygen that gives propane its high heat. Using too much heat can cause the rods to splinter, especially the opaque colors. Working in the upper portion of the flame initially is also suggested. You can also preheat your rods, or just wave the rods in the flame a bit longer to slowly heat them. The thicker rods require more preheating, obviously. A rod warmer is a nice item, but unnecessary. Once you've slowly heated the rods, you can raise the flame, but always work in the upper portions of the flame to prevent burning or devit.

Most of the testers who have published that Devardi glass is shocky or can lose color, or may have experienced other problems, fail to reduce their heat when they begin to use the glass. It is a mistake most users of Devardi Glass first make, even experienced testers. We made the same mistake when we started with it. Once people reduce that heat, the rods are far less shocky, the colors hold true and a host of other complaints subside. The user begins to realize just how pleasant the glass is to use, how nice it lays down and how true the colors remain. We have an number of videos that you can view showing exactly how much heat and flame should be used with Devardi Glass. Once the user becomes accustomed to these new, lower flame levels, rods are rarely shocky.

Keep in mind, Devardi Glass is a stiff glass. It has to be shaped using marvers and other tools. It is not a glass that should be shaped by heating it so much that it flows to the desired shape as with some COE 104 glasses. Heating it that much may burn the glass or ruin its chemical composition. Slowly soften the glass with a low flame and constantly work it with tools until it reaches the desired shape. This will preserve the composition and colors.

TRANSPARENT DEVARDI GLASS: The transparents should be heated and always used in a low flame. Too high of a flame can cause bubbles and burning, as with any glass, although Devardi colors tend to tolerate the heat better than other glass. Heat the transparents slowly. They do not splinter much, but they can foam if they are heated too quickly or with too much heat. It is also best to apply the transparents in thin layers rather than in thick layers. This greatly reduces the possibility of bubbles entering the bead. I often make stringers first, which virtually eliminates bubbles, unless you want them. The transparent rods retain their color quite well, and the color of the rod is usually the color you will get in your work.  

SEMI-OPAQUE GLASS: The semi-opaques are simply marvelous. They let some light through, but you can’t see through them. They offer a very soft, pleasing, deep appearance at a very affordable price. They are my favorites. They are also the easiest to use. Just remember, don’t overheat the glass. But, adding a little more heat can change the glass, adding lines and swirls. You may wish to experiment with this. Some of the effects are very pleasing. 

OPAQUE GLASS: Again, heat the glass rods slowly, or preheat them. The opaque glass shocks and splinters more if not slowly heated. They offer some great colors and effects depending on the heat and the oxygen/propane mix used. For example, the metallic black will sheen a silvery metallic when a very small, high oxygen flame is used at the end of your project. A larger flame with more propane offers a deep black color. The butterscotch and salmon “mottle” if a larger flame is used, giving a marbled look. Other opaques will do the same. A smaller flame gives the exact color and very uniform.

ABOUT THE PINKS: The transparent rose, number D6 and D& on the chart are just fantastic. They work great by themselves or for encasing. We worked with the factory on this color and they all but eliminated bubbles in the glass. Please see our artists page to see some sample beads. The rose makes super stringers too, which eliminates bubbles completely. 

The semi-opaque pink number D92 (72) on the chart and opaque pink number 51 are absolutely beautiful. They seem to maintain their color quite well. Heat them with a very low flame with a low oxygen setting, or at the tip of your flame. They work very nicely in low heat. A little patience goes a long way. I noticed #51 & #72 can leave a few bubbles which can be pleasing if that's what you're looking for. Or, use thin layers to avoid the bubbles. Or make stringers first. Devardi Glass makes fantastic stringers because it's a stiffer glass. This time, the shipment of SOP pink D92 (72) is the best quality. We had a very large batch made, allowing the factory to produce a great glass. The rods are about 4-6mm in thickness.

ANNEALING: For best results with Devardi Glass, we suggest you anneal your project immediately when you finish it. This is especially important if you are blending Devardi with other COE 104 glasses  Although we have had great success cooling beads in a blanket, annealing offers the best protection. For best results, evenly heat your bead or project to a dark red glow immediately when you are done, especially if you are combining other types of COE 104 Glass with Devardi Glass.  Evenly heating it to a dark red glow will greatly prevent the possibility of cracking since the glass is above the annealing temperature and all one temperature. This gives the glass a chance to blend properly between the types of glass or colors. Place the bead into a preheated kiln at 950 – 970 degrees. Annealing will take place in about 30 minutes soaking time at this temperature. After this soaking time, we suggest at least a 3 hour cooling period to room temperature. Longer is even better. Less time also seems to work fine, but we prefer at least 3 hours. 

We have successfully combined Devardi Glass with many COE 104 glasses, as have many other lampworkers. Please visit our Glass Artists page. But there are a few techniques that should be followed. First of all, keep your flame low, both in size and oxygen content. Devardi Glass doesn't burn or discolor as much as other COE 104 glasses, but high heat will ruin the chemical composition. This is actually true about all glasses, even boro. The second technique when combining with other glasses is to immediately anneal the bead upon completion (the same rule as with any glass). We have successfully used a thermal blanket quite often, but annealing is always the best method. In our experience with Devardi Glass, if you follow these two steps, incompatibility issues are nearly eliminated with a wide range of COE 104 glasses.

PLEASE give Devardi Glass a bit of time to become accustom to it. It behaves differently than Moretti. Once people become accustom to a few new techniques, different reactions, lower flame and different gas mixtures, they usually like Devardi. Devardi Glass is a stiffer glass, for one thing, holding its shape better than other COE 104 glasses as you work. This has many benefits, as you will see, such as preventing designs from melting away when you are working on something next to what you already created. The effects of Devardi Glass are like no other, adding a whole new dimension to your art work. And it mixes well with Moretti and other COE 104 glasses, adding to what you may already do and the glass you have in stock. But just be patient with it, as you would any new glass. We have found it will do you very well. 

If you have any questions or comments about Devardi Glass, we are always available to help. Just email us. If you have any problems, we will always work through them. We wish that your experience with Devardi Glass and our company be grand. Thank you again. Natasha and Daniel