*sigh* I think I'm in love

[Amber]

I just sat down with a catalog that came with my last little order, it's a Bullseye Glass catalog *heart*.

I'm incredibly tempted to make the switch. It's the best time to do it for me if I'm going too, since I don't have a large investment in glass inventory for fusing right now so working through the system96 stock I have won't be hard. And on my next order I can start to slowly introduce the 90 and work into it as my main fusing glass until I don't need the 96 anymore. The Bullseye colors are so much more sophisticated and not to sound corny but I find them incredibly inspiring!

Now my question is, how much *lol? I don't mind paying extra to nail the right colors, right now I buy the Uroborus red, plum and green because I like them more then the spectrum shades and they usually have a premium price that it's worth it. The only thing that's hard to gauge is how much more Bullseye is overall compared to System96. Does anyone here use bullseye???? How much more on average is it? I know being in Canada everything is different, just a nice way of saying more expensive *lol, but I figure the ratio will be similar so any pricing tips are appreciated :). And any other info about how you find it hands on, I've read that it's a better quality and fires at different temperatures too.

[Kev]

I have not bought Bullseye, though I have looked at their eye candy many times. I agree the colors are much richer and just overall nicer glass. I did find it to be quite pricey though in comparison. I suspect it's similar in price to the Uroborus which I have bought.

[Ian]

Amber
If you go to the Bullseye site and click on Education [I think] you can find the firing charts and work sheets and tip sheets. I recommend you download them and you will then get an idea of how different they are compared to Spectrum. Should help you make decision on changing over 
Ian

[Kev]

I think they fire about 50 degrees hotter than Spectrum.

[Becki]

Just for the sake of comparison take a look at Delphi and see the difference in size and price.  I don't know what size you buy but take a look at BE small (8x10) compared to System96 small (12x12) and you'll see approximately how much more it will cost you to go to BE.

http://www.delphiglass.com/index.cfm?page=itemList&viewcat=1710

http://www.delphiglass.com/index.cfm?page=itemList&viewcat=1919

[Amber]

I checked all the sites you guys posted, thanks so much!!!! The bullseye education makes it even more tempting to be honest *lol, it looks like some glass strikes, others react and just so much fun *lol. And it does look like it works at a range of 50 to 100 degrees F in difference so I'll have to adapt. *On a side note it puts a facebook post that Stephen made earlier into perspective. He had fired some stuff that came out rather interesting because of a programming flaw and the temps he wrote had me confused. That was before I picked up the catalog so now it makes sense because at the time I was wondering if you could anneal at 900 instead of 950 *lol.*

Back to bullseye though, I peaked at the delphi comparison you gave Becki and I'm surprised, I get that the sheets are smaller but still it wasn't as near painful as I thought!! *woohoo* *LOL. I'll be doing some more reading on the education section and in a few weeks I think I might snag some of that glass to start playing, the colors are awesome!

[Ian]

Show some pic's when you have your first BE project done 
Ian

[Becki]

Nope...not too painful.  Just a matter of personal preference.  You might want to start with just a small amount and see how you like it.  It's not going to be as smooth as System96 and some say it's not as easy to cut.  It's kind of funny that you're thinking about switching to BE...I have two friends that have just switched from BE to System96.  Must be a time for change!

[Kev]

Funny, when I go o the glass store, the pieces of glass that always seem to catch my eye first are the BE and Uroborus. I pull it out hoping it's Spectrum, but nope ...so I move on..lol. I do have a few pieces of BE, just have not done anything with them yet.

[Becki]

Uro does make some sheet glass that is 96 as well as System 96 frit, stringer and noodles. Confetti too.

[Kev]

I have some of that too. They make some nice 96.

[Wayne]

Uro does make some sheet glass that is 96 as well as System 96 frit, stringer and noodles. Confetti too.

You know why Uroboros makes that stuff?  They produce it for Spectrum.  Also, those really neat 96 sheets that Spectrum comes up with in limited categories and the neat confetti and stringers are made by Uroboros for them.

[Becki]

I know...wasn't that what I said??

[Amber]

Spring is in the air Becki, that must be the reason *lol. I think what you said is a good note, about the glass being harder to cut then the spectrum stuff......... that's one thing I love about most of the 96. But even more then a smoother cut, color just seems to trump it for me *lol. I think it's neat to hear what draws people to different glasses though!! I have a friend whose favorites are cathedrals for fusing, where I could really care less for the most part.... I use them for accents and I've started using them more in fused suncatchers but my fav's have always been opals I guess.
I think I'm gonna do it, it'll be a slow process but I hope by Christmas to have the switch done. Depends of course on money, and earning it is slow for me *lol, I'm still getting started so I never have huge orders. But I guess at the moment that'll work to my advantage since if I had a lot of spectrum in stock I'd be less likely to make the move ;).

[CC]

I use 90 because it is less expense then 96 at my local glass store. He also has a larger selection of bulleye and Uroboros glass, frit and stringers.
I have not had any trouble cutting BE.

[Kev]

Gee..your lucky to find it cheaper!

[Theresa]

I use 96. It is cheaper and my 2 local glass shops carry it. I hate having to order everything through the mail.

[Judy K]

I love Uro's pastel irid 96 sheet glass.

[Glassic]

It's sometimes hard to compare as Bullseye is mostly sold by the pound. If you multiply the 3mm price by .59 you will have the square foot price.

[Stephen Richard]

In the Uk Bullseye is 30% to 50% more than S96, and about the same or slightly cheaper than Uroboros.

The temperature differences are not that great - 804C for bullseye full fuse.  Annealing for 6mm is at 516C instead of 513C.  Possible to fire them together, especially when slumping.

Full sheet sizes are different.  S96 1220x610mm  and Bullseye ca. 900x500mm.  The S96 is machine made entirely in long ribbons, while Bullseye is rolled sheet by sheet.  Each 10th sheet of Bullseye production is tested for colour consistency and compatibility.  There is traceability for each sheet if you keep code, production dates, and sheet number.  Make sure you get these if buying off cuts.

I have gone to Bullseye - about 4 years ago - because I found it a much more forgiving glass in relation to devitrification.  However a colleague has no troubles with S96.  I guess I have more greasey skin.

Bulleseye is no more difficult to cut than S96 when cut properly.  If you like the opals, do not expect to hear a sound when you cut.  It is the pressure that makes the score, not the sound.  If you score hard enough to hear a sound, you will have difficulties, as you will be pressing too hard.