This is a sample of Bullseye clear glass. The left half has not been blasted, the right half has been blasted with 120 grit Silicon Carbide by Tony Smith and then firepolished  .

I believe that this demonstrates that a glass surface that is blasted with silicon carbide and firepolished, although acceptable to the naked eye, may not end up the same as a "virgin" surface.

Close up of photo above

This sample was  Bullseye black,  blasted with 120 grit aluminum oxide, 20 psi. Firepolished to 1450 degrees. (White circles are frit place on the surface as  identification markers.)

 Nikki's observations:

"There wasn't much to see. Very few nicks and small fractures."

Bullseye clear and black (non iridized) blasted with 200 grit silicon carbide, and fired with the blasted sides facing one another. This micrograph is focused in between the layers.

Close up of image 3.

Nikki notes: "Bubbles are trapped on all layers, and fewer are evident where only one layer was blasted."

Same sample as image 4. This is a view of the corner, where both top and bottom surfaces were blasted toward the top and right. Only one surface blasted bottom and left..

Blasted with Silicon carbide. Not firepolished.

Blasted with aluminum oxide. Not firepolished.

Clear glass, two layers, top surface blasted with 120 grit Aluminum Oxide and firepolished at 1450 degrees.