BL, I play basically everything in open tunings, so it is easy for me! I usually tune down from open D to C to sing (I am too lazy to figure out the slightly different tuning for open C). I have a Seagull acoustic guitar with steel strings which was a piece of crap until Rick F fixed it for me -- so I guess I am in the tradition of using not very good guitars for slide -- and raise the strings a little by jamming a little piece of wire at the nut. I have no idea what the strings are, I am not into string arcana for some reason. Maybe some day.

I was using a big bulky glass slide on my pinky which was no fun, and then I discovered a much thinner and shorter (60mm) glass slide, which has made a world of difference to me and my confidence. I suddenly felt that I had a grip on what was going on -- you might try a range of sizes, I think that is more important than brass or glass.

I am just learning, so I don't know much. Every day is an adventure.

yours,
Peter T.