If you have an interest in beading or jewelry making, chances are that you have at some time become interested in lampwork beads.
If you have looked through auctions, you may have started to see that many beads and glass objects are made differently, and the types of glass are also different.
You may start asking, "Is one better than another?" or "why is this glass being used?"
 
Well, here is a non technical explanation of some of the more common types of glass, and their differences.

When you start learning about the glass world, one of the more important terms becomes Coefficient Rate of Expansion, or C.O.E. 
What C.O.E. means is the rate at which the glass expands when it's heated. This is the reason that different types of glass are not compatible with each other.  They expand and contract at different rates.
What this means to me is that:
If I put two different types of glass together that expand and contract differently, my object will crack and break!

Two other important things to know is that glass can be transparent( also called cathedral glass) or opaque( can't see through it) They also look nice together:)

Some types of glass are better for certain things. For example, Spectrum glass is mainly used to make stain glass art, although it is now starting to be used for hot glass too.
Bullseye is good for fusing as well as beadmaking.  Pyrex is usually used for blown objects.

The most popular brands are probably, Bullseye, Spectrum, and I think Effetre.

Bullseye- is a company out of Portland, Oregon, and has a C.O.E. of 90. It is very popular with people interested in glass fusing, although it is also great for beadmaking. It has a nice range of colors, and frits.

Effetre-( also called Moretti) Is from an Italian company. It is probably  the most common type of glass used in lampworking. The C.O.E. is 104, and it is a very soft glass. It's also called soda lime glass because that is what is used as a flux( to make it melt quicker) It's used because it has a a large color pallete.

Uroboros- has a good line of glass, lots of it in the C.O.E. of 90, compatible with Bullseye, and some in 96, sompatible with Spectrum. They also offer frit( chips of glass used for decoration) in colors not offered by others.

Pyrex- has a C.O.E. of 30, and is used by glass blowers. They generally buy it in tubes for glass blowing. One thing I think is great about this glass is that you can make an object, set it on the desk, and put it in the kiln whenever you want. This glass is hardy! But it does tend to be more expensive, and has a lot less color.

Window Glass-( Also called Float Glass)C.O.E. in the 80's depending on the manufacturer. Not generally used much but is starting to be used more in glass art. Artglass1.com has an assortment of colored window glass for beadmakers.

Higlass- Is a company from Australia. C.O.E. is 90, and offers unique colors and combinations.

Wasser- C.O.E. is 90. It is now being produced by Diamond Tech international, which also makes grinders, and glass saws. This type of glass is also used by glass fusers because it is easy to fuse and slump.( slumping is melting glass over a mold)

Gaffer glass- made by a company in New Zealand. Makes leaded glass, which created brilliant colors. C.O.E. of their glass is 92, and 96.

Spectrum - Has a C.O.E. of 96, and has a new line called system 96, all tested compatible for hot glass.  Mainly been used for stain glass( which is used cold), but that may be changing with their system 96 hot glass line. Does offer lots of colors.

Hope this helps!  Cyndi

My Lampwork Beads