ASK 104 Premier Color Collection™ is a line of new 104 COE lampworking colors. The colors are incredible. Having wonderful working qualities, they are new and very exciting. They are colors that you have asked for, not just another repeat of the same you already have. They are colors not currently available and colors that sometimes, in the past, were only available in limited quantities as the result of other manufacturers' mistakes. Often those mistakes sold at prices reaching hundreds of dollars per pound.

ASK 104™ has been used and tested by lampworkers and has shown itself to be compatible with all other 104 COE glass on the market (Effetre/ Moretti, Lauscha, etc.).

New colors are continuously being developed. Each to be released as soon as rods are produced and comprehensive testing is completed.

Note: Where a color is noted as Striking, it needs to be struck in order for its true color to develop. Where a color is noted as Strikable, it is a color that does not need to be struck, but when the striking technique is applied, will reveal a different color than if the glass was worked in the normal way. They usually become lighter.

Some Reducing colors can have more than one look. This is accomplished by varying the nature of the reducing flame, and how it is used. The pictures that show the glass with a very glossy or metallic look, or are dramatically different than the picture to their left, are colors that have been reduced.

Learn more about Striking and Reducing

Printable Color Chart in PDF

ASK-004
Lilac Ice™

ASK-005
Violet Nights™ - Striking
Do not encase

ASK-006
Lavender Fields™

ASK-007
Bahama Blue

ASK-008
Berry Creamy™

ASK-009
Carmel Apple™ - Strikable and Reducing

From left to right, 1st - neutral flame, 2nd - striking method applied, 3rd - reduction flame, as described below in the first technique of reducing, and 4th - reduction flame, as described in the second technique.

ASK-010
Silver Cinnamon™ - Strikable and Reducing

From left to right, 1st - neutral flame, 2nd - striking method applied, 3rd - reduction flame, as described below in the first technique of reducing, and 4th - reduction flame, as described in the second technique.

ASK-011
Silver Rattan™ - Reducing

From left to right, 1st - neutral flame, 2nd - reduction flame, as described below in the first technique of reducing.

ASK-012
Scarlet Dreams™

ASK-013
Persimmon™

ASK-014
Aloe Vera™

ASK-015
Tribal Turquoise™ - Also Reduces

From left to right, 1st - neutral flame, 2nd - reduction flame, as described below in the second technique of reducing.

ASK-016
Mediterranean Olive™

ASK-017
Pink Lady's Slipper™ - Striking

ASK-018
Desert Chameleon™

ASK-019
Moroccan Swirl™

ASK-020
Mystic Gray™ - Also Reduces

From left to right, 1st - neutral flame, 2nd - reduction flame, as described below in the second technique of reducing.

ASK-021
Neon Green™

ASK-022
Petal Pink™

Rods range in diameters of 5 to 8 mm. Some stock is 20" long. The new length has been changed to 16".

Coefficient of Expansion (COE): 104
Annealing range: 920 - 970º F
Strain Point: 840º F
Softening point: 1030º F
Working Temperature: 1400º F

Working ASK 104: ASK 104 colors are continuously monitored for compatibility assurance. Even with a guaranteed compatibility, differences in the working characteristics of colors between different manufactures requires that you thoroughly reheat the glass piece, to the core, after you have finished creating it. Then flame anneal and put it into an annealer, set to at least 960º F (515º C) while still fairly hot.

About Striking and Reducing: Colors that strike can be struck to many different levels, yielding a large and repeatable amount of color variation and intensity. The reducing colors, when reduced, produce a metallic like luster on the surface, somewhat like raku. Some colors are not "reducing colors", but will reduce and produce very desirable effects. The reducing colors are equally appealing when not reduced and can often be an entirely different color when the striking process is applied.

Striking is achieved by cooling the glass to approximately flame annealing temperatures and holding that temperature for a short period of time. Variations in color and intensity occur by varying the time and/or by cycling between temperatures of a dull red heat and cooler.

Reducing is achieved by subjecting the glass, while molten, to a reduction flame atmosphere. In general, if the glass is first worked in a neutral flame, then, while the glass is still molten, it is placed into a raging flame without any oxygen supplied through the torch, the glass surface will develop a more metallic finish. If in stead, the glass is worked in a moderately reducing flame, the finish will often tend to have a darker color to it and may or may not have a metallic finish.

Enjoy experimenting with striking and reducing. The possibilities are almost endless.

A neutral flame has a perfect balance of fuel gas and oxygen. An oxidation flame has more oxygen supplied to it than the fuel can consume. A reduction flame does not have enough oxygen supplied to it through the torch/burner, and must get the balance from the atmosphere.

© 2006 Arrow Springs All Rights Reserved.
Ask 104, ASK 104 Premier Color Collection, Lilac Ice, Violet Nights, Lavender Fields, Bahama Blue, Berry Creamy, Carmel Apple, Silver Cinnamon, Silver Rattan, Scarlet Dreams, Persimmon, Aloe Vera, Tribal Turquoise, Mediterranean Olive, Pink Lady's Slipper, Desert Chameleon, Moroccan Swirl, Mystic Gray, Neon Green and Petal Pink are all trademarks owned by Arrow Springs.