jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2019 5:57:47 GMT -5
Most of these are hand blown vases. Some close up photos to show the inner layer of back ground glass. All of them were final coated with clear glass to give optical 'depth'. Pattern color sandwiched in between. The red one fell out of the truck and broke when the back door was opened. The red and navy blue one were blown with sparkly copper dust. The blue vase is thick and can be sawn across the thickness or with the surface. Origins are Italy, Poland, China and unknown. About half of them were expensive when our parents/grandparents purchased them. Paid $5 to $10 each. The thick blue one weighs 7 pounds. Bought at a couple of thrift stores in big Atlanta in the Antique district of Chamblee almost 2 weeks ago. The shop in the photos has produced the most blown vases. Most are on consignment from estate sales. No longer in 'style' so they are expensive works of art being sold off cheap: Missed the green bowl at lower right Closer in to see inner layer and subsequent layers The red and navy blue vases are thin glass and will be coarse tumbled together in a smaller barrel. The others are thick and can be rolled together in a bigger barrel. Best to saw to shapes. Or use a plier type glass cutter. Then final shape on a lap.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2019 6:20:21 GMT -5
2018 was somewhat dedicated to learning how to cast and fuse glass. These were some psychedelic 60's stuff I was tinkering with at the end of 2018. Casting color layered bricks and sawing them strategically for the tumbling process to manipulate the patterns further led to some interesting results. Spent yesterday trying to re-remember how to program the glass kiln's computer after a year of not using them.
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Post by RickB on Dec 14, 2019 6:26:25 GMT -5
2018 was somewhat dedicated to learning how to cast and fuse glass. These were some psychedelic 60's stuff I was tinkering with at the end of 2018. Casting color layered bricks and sawing them strategically for the tumbling process to manipulate the patterns further led to some interesting results. Spent yesterday trying to re-remember how to program the glass kiln's computer after a year of not using them. All the pretty colors. Might trigger flashbacks.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2019 6:41:16 GMT -5
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whyofquartz
spending too much on rocks
So, Africa is smaller than I expected...
Member since December 2019
Posts: 316
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Post by whyofquartz on Dec 14, 2019 7:12:32 GMT -5
The three layer glass should lead to some interesting results if your previous glass is any indicator
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Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 14, 2019 8:02:54 GMT -5
I love these glass post. So interesting to not only see where the glass came from, but to see the results after tumbling as well.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2019 8:52:48 GMT -5
I love these glass post. So interesting to not only see where the glass came from, but to see the results after tumbling as well. Thanks RocksInNJ. Start by figuring how to saw the glass brick to arrive at different patterns. In this case, sawing along those jagged layers has some wild effects.(across the layers or with the layers or at various angles to the layers) Serious brain damage trying to guestimate what the end result is going to be. Brain damage also occurs deciding what type of patterns and color combos to use when compiling the glass for a melt brick. Yes, then comes the effect of tumbling. The tumbling wear accentuates them in a different way. Each few days of wear changes the patterns a lot. I get curious and I have to see them like every few days. So I am constantly dumping the tumbler barrel into a pan with a screen above it and washing the screened glass to see the changes. Horribly addictive. A melt takes 3 days start to finish and results in two ~12 pound bricks. After sawing might be 18 pounds of glass to tumble. So the shear quantity of tumbles is large, the amount of patters/colors large. One reason I have a big tumbler with a lot of barrels. Have not cast a brick in over a year. Thinking about trying a few this week. I bought a powerful Harbor Freight tile saw to cut the bricks fast. The kiln is in the basement and heats the entire house, best used in winter.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2019 9:12:10 GMT -5
The three layer glass should lead to some interesting results if your previous glass is any indicator I hired Decatur Glass Blowing to make me three 12 inch globes for tumbling fodder. Same construction, start with clear, then a layer of white, then the multicolored frit , then a final clear coat. He did 6mm, 7mm and 8mm thicknesses to account for tumbling loss. When I went back a few days later to pay and pick them up after they cooled he freaked out when I took a hammer to one of them. I had him increase the density of colored frit so that they would have color fill on a pendant sized scale. And asked him not to stretch them too much when blowing them to size also to maintain color density. www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/sets/72157692358179160
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braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
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Post by braat on Dec 14, 2019 12:13:12 GMT -5
Nice looking stuff!...and by coincidence I'm heading out the door shortly for the same thrift shopping...
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2019 12:45:26 GMT -5
Nice looking stuff!...and by coincidence I'm heading out the door shortly for the same thrift shopping... Lol, this one caught the bug. You mastered the tumble and the rest is gravy. I am sure you are aware that the big cities are often a good place to check. Does Alberta have Goodwill stores, they have served well. Some mail order bead companies have surplus bead glass. EBAY can be a source of vases...go down the line and make cheapo bids.
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EricD
Cave Dweller
High in the Mountains
Member since November 2019
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Post by EricD on Dec 14, 2019 12:47:32 GMT -5
I picked some old vases up yesterday myself. haha
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Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 14, 2019 12:54:00 GMT -5
I picked some old vases up yesterday myself. haha Hahaha, I knew you couldn’t resist.
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braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 350
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Post by braat on Dec 14, 2019 14:36:31 GMT -5
It's a gathering storm! Scored these at the thrift store this AM...33$ (cdn) for 19 lbs....way easier and cheaper than hounding or buying rocks and more colorful in my opinion. Not giving up on rocks, just being "pulled" in another direction for now. Blue is my favorite color which accounts for half of them and the rest are for favorite people with favorite colors. The red ball looks like it's glass and painted maybe but for 3 bucks I'll learn if nothing else. The smaller purple "vase" thing is 1/2" thick with interesting patterns so could be fun to see when finished. Not much multicolored glass where I got these (Value Village) but if/when I need some there's a local pricier thrift shop I'll check out...meanwhile I'm good for a while with these guys.. IMG_5052 by Glen Braaten, on Flickr IMG_5054 by Glen Braaten, on Flickr
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2019 15:33:45 GMT -5
Fine practice fodder there braat. And you can get a few runs done for repetition sake.
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Post by Pat on Dec 14, 2019 15:42:54 GMT -5
jamesp. You are truly the master. The photo a few posts above re Decatur is outstanding. Thanks for the eye candy.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2019 15:45:40 GMT -5
I picked some old vases up yesterday myself. haha Cool, more polished glass being born.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Dec 14, 2019 15:54:14 GMT -5
jamesp. You are truly the master. The photo a few posts above re Decatur is outstanding. Thanks for the eye candy. The kiln is ramping up as we speak Pat. First time in over a year. Let's see if the mojo that pleases your eye still lives. Learned to cover the stock glass to keep the dust off of it since it needs to be clean for good fusion. One eye on the dishwasher and the other on the wife's schedule calendar.
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