Paradise Paints discontinued

[Planet Glass]

Paradise Paints discontinuation notice (http://www.paradise-co.com/paints/pricing.html)

Maybe they were too toxic? Maybe health testing would have been too expensive to continue marketing the product?

[Mickjay]

Paradise Paints discontinuation notice (http://www.paradise-co.com/paints/pricing.html)

Maybe they were too toxic? Maybe health testing would have been too expensive to continue marketing the product?

I saw that coming about 4 weeks ago. That's what really pushed me toward Reusche. Since 1903 I think they'll be around a while longer.

[Addy]

god, that's a shame! I used them at college to paint shards to use in hot casting, because they withstand such high temps. Always thought I'd buy some myself one day & give it another go...oh well

[dawnt]

WHAT????!

Oh no! Better order up now, I guess. I love these paints. :eek::(

[bert weiss]

Paradise was not a manufacturer. They bought powdered enamels and repackaged them. They suggest going with Ferro Sunshine Series onglaze colors, which are the colors that I use in my work. The Paradise paints were high in lead content. If you want to use the same medium as was used in Paradise paints, get Ferro #175 squeegee oil. You can also use water miscable mediums.

Sunshine series has 19 mostly intermixable colors. They are designed for use on dinnerware, but some contain small amounts of lead and/or cadmium. The firing range is 1380 - 1520ºF. If you handle them properly, they will pass standards for heavy metal release. I don't know about the latest round of California restandards. You'll have to inquire at Ferro. These vitreous colors are formulated such that they only require a very thin application in order to be seen as strong color. Consequently, they are compatible with all of the glasses you might use for artglass. BTW the clear flux is lead and cadmium free and can be used for an overcoat. They also have a leadfree series called Samba which requires a bit more heat and some colors are a bit less glossy. I have not done much with Samba because I don't do much with color on the food contact surface of bowls or plates.

One upside to buying from Ferro is that they will sell directly to consumers, with 100 gram minimum amounts, $100 minimum order. They have a fabulous deal of a sample kit with all 19 colors in 100 gram or 50 gram bags for $200. The gold reds and cobalt blue are in the small bags. The gold colors are very expensive to purchase on their own. I don't know if they have recently changed this price based on the doubling of the price of gold. Their contact # is 1-800-245-4951

Brad Walker at his Warm Glass studio sells small amounts of these colors with no minimum order. Go to warmglass.com and click on gallery and studio.

[dawnt]

Bert, what binder do you use with the Ferro enamels?

The main reason I liked the Paradise so well was they had a good bind and no problems with blistering. In mixing my own from powder, I always struggle with either not having enough binder to work with the pre-fired paint application, or having too much and getting blistering during firing.

Thanks!

[bert weiss]

Dawn

I use a few different medium/binder strategies. My favorite medium is Ferro #1544 water miscable medium. This is made for roller coating. It is the slowest water miscable medium to dry. Left on the palette, it could take over a month to dry. It gives me lots of working time, so I can paint on huge pieces of glass. My kiln will fire 40" x 84".

When I spray, I have a homemade CMC mixture that I cooked with CMC and distilled water. I paste the enamel with the liquid CMC, put that in a jar, add some Dawn dishsoap and dilute with isopropyl alcohol for spraying.

Paradise makes their premixed paints with Ferro #175 squeegee oil. This is the medium/binder that holds more pigment than any other medium.

[dawnt]

Thank you Bert!