Playing with Glass

frane
misunderstood rock expert

Member since July 2008
Posts: 11,015

Playing with Glass Oct 4, 2009 12:14:01 GMT -5

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Post by frane on Oct 4, 2009 12:14:01 GMT -5

Well, ever since Conrock (?) showed a beautiful blue glass tumble, I have wanted to try some glass. Most of this is slagg glass and also some beach glass I threw in.
First lesson learned, burp the barrels and check frequently! After the first 2 weeks of burping each day and having the lids pop off, I tried baking soda. It worked great! At least, I only have to burp the barrel every 5 or 6 days.
I have 3 barrels of glass at different stages. These went from 2 weeks in 500 to polish in Aluminum Oxide. The next barrel will go an extra step to 1000 before polish.
These did not get as "glassy Shine" as I want but still very nice. I haven't decided if I will put back into polish for another week. I will decide later today.
Here is the whole batch (1 1/2 lb barrel).

There are some preforms in here also and they seem to have turned out nice. The beach glass is on the left side.

These all have slight nicks or rough areas so they will go back into one of the other loads.

This long one was really rough and an end piece that broke off of a slab I cut. I thought it would have broken in half but I really like how it looks. There is an open bubble area in the front of it but it is just that kind of glass.

I threw in a piece of goldstone and it turned out really nice!

Thanks for looking!
Fran

superioragates driving up their electric bill Member since June 2009 Posts: 2,808	Playing with Glass Oct 4, 2009 12:18:31 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by superioragates on Oct 4, 2009 12:18:31 GMT -5 Wow those turned out REALLY nice!!! Too cool! Marie

tkrueger3
driving up their electric bill

Liquidating in HOT San Antonio, Texas!

Member since May 2009
Posts: 2,279

Playing with Glass Oct 4, 2009 12:23:26 GMT -5

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Post by tkrueger3 on Oct 4, 2009 12:23:26 GMT -5

Boy, I like that batch! I'm not familiar with "slag" glass - what is it, and where do you find it? I wouldn't mind giving it a shot if I could find some. Would leftover shards from when I used to do stained glass work like these?

Tom

Tom

snuffy
Cave Dweller

Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319

Playing with Glass Oct 4, 2009 13:19:24 GMT -5

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Post by snuffy on Oct 4, 2009 13:19:24 GMT -5

I like the glass tumbles. Ive got a box full of old pieces Ive found,but havent tumbled them yet.
If you wanted a source of different colors,try to find the avon bottles and break them up.At one yard sale the people gave me a box containing 25 car shaped bottles.
Frane,those are nice,didnt mean to hijack your thread.
Tom,the Smithville rockshop has chunks of slag glass of all colors.Ibuy some every time I go there.

snuffy

frane
misunderstood rock expert

Member since July 2008
Posts: 11,015

Playing with Glass Oct 4, 2009 13:37:19 GMT -5

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Post by frane on Oct 4, 2009 13:37:19 GMT -5

sometimes it is a waste glass, sometimes it is a glass that has been mixed with a bit of iron I think to cause the ripples of color in it. It seems to have a lot of bubbles also at times. The reds and golds show it best but even the purple/pink ones have faint ripples of shade difference in them.
I would say throw any shards together and try it! Glass is soft so it is something to tumble on its own with lots of cushioning.
Fran

tkrueger3
driving up their electric bill

Liquidating in HOT San Antonio, Texas!

Member since May 2009
Posts: 2,279

Playing with Glass Oct 4, 2009 13:48:51 GMT -5

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Post by tkrueger3 on Oct 4, 2009 13:48:51 GMT -5

Thanks, Fran - as soon as the Goop sets for 48 hours in the 2 almost-holes I found in one of my vibe bowls - the one I use for the coarser grits - I'll toss a bunch of shards and about an equal amount of ceramics in it and let it rip with 220. See what happens.

(The 2 almost-all-the-way-through holes in the bowl are from stupidly dumping a bunch of cutting leftovers and trimmings in without taking the sharp points off first. Live and learn. Always the hard way, it seems!)

When I win the lottery, I'm gonna get me a Lot-o. The Berry's Blue that I have works well, but the bowls are some kind of hard plastic, like bakelite, and they make a LOT of noise. And apparently, they puncture fairly easily.

Tom

Tom

montanamuskrat fully equipped rock polisher Keep your nose to the wind, your powder dry and watch your top knot. Member since September 2009 Posts: 1,150	Playing with Glass Oct 4, 2009 17:03:39 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by montanamuskrat on Oct 4, 2009 17:03:39 GMT -5 I don't have much beach glass in MT, I might take some iron on a bottle and make some. I like what I have seen. Tom
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NorthShore-Rocks fully equipped rock polisher Member since December 2008 Posts: 1,004	Playing with Glass Oct 4, 2009 21:56:13 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Oct 4, 2009 21:56:13 GMT -5 That looks like big fun Fran! They look great.

renterdan noticing nice landscape pebbles Member since November 2008 Posts: 82	Playing with Glass Oct 5, 2009 0:08:06 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by renterdan on Oct 5, 2009 0:08:06 GMT -5 Fran, those look great! Now I've gotta try some glass. Thanks for posting the pics, and the tip about baking soda for the burps! Dan.

Bikerrandy can identify rocks - even green ones Say what?? Member since September 2005 Posts: 15,688	Playing with Glass Oct 10, 2009 8:46:30 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Bikerrandy on Oct 10, 2009 8:46:30 GMT -5 I missed this post, those look cool! Great job
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