jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2018 7:22:58 GMT -5
I am coarse tumbling 8 glass vases and about 2 pounds of melted glass in this load. Vases and melts are tumbled in batches entirely depending on thickness in this case 2.5mm to 5mm. The vases were sawn into pendant shapes, about 700 and weighing about 12 pounds. About 4 hours work. Add more hours for 2 pounds melted glass coming from a glass kiln. I believe this largest barrel holds 12 quarts of water, equating to 15 pounds of glass and media and am running 7 and 9 quart barrels in coarse at same time. I am taking detailed records. Beginning weight, weight loss, time to tumble, barrel fill, etc. Optimum methods of breaking down the vases, percent rejects for each method because the vases are costly. Working about 30 to 40 hours per week till things get dialed in. Lots of work. I made several sized barrels to move the glass into after heavy sorting. Product ready for next stage. one from each of 8 vases Data card for this barrel. Running 3 to 4 coarse barrels at a time and having to sort each every 3 days is a ton of work. Vases were Italian, Chinese, Turkish, Italian and an American swirl plate. Polish vase at top and swirl plate lower right If I do not get the barrel filled and slurry exact I destroy the whole load of glass in a days time so the accurate record keeping. Measuring containers will be made and labeled for each tumbler barrel so no mistakes can be made as the volumes are critical. Dedicated pea gravel is used for making volume shortages. Intent is to market this product to jewelry makers. I am building inventory as fast as possible during my slow season when I have time to dedicate to this project. Hopefully get it in a systematic regiment to reduce the close monitoring. Mission statement is 3000 glass pendants per week at a sales price of $3 per unit.(pipe dream, why not try ?) The bottle neck is the polishing so I need more vibes. Ha, go figure I purchased a Lot-O to see if I can dial them in to polish glass. The Vibrasonic uses the same amount of electricity as six Lot-O's with it's 1/3 HP motor. Stocking up on those damn concrete blocks to mount the Lot-O on geez. Substantial vase investment as of about 2 months ago, full commitment to venture named gemglass.biz. Wish me well And building inventory of scrap art glass to melt in glass kilns. This inventory has been expanded substantially. Inventory management to be done in roll around tool boxes using 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 inch nursery pots
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 24, 2018 8:25:08 GMT -5
Wow. You sure got hooked quick. That's what I call giving it 110%. Good luck with your new adventure.
Chuck
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Post by fernwood on Feb 24, 2018 8:47:13 GMT -5
OMG! Your attention to detail is amazing and something I appreciate. I also appreciate the amount of time you have invested in this new venture, per say. The results have been beautiful so far, but I understand what it is like to be obsessive compulsive and a perfectionist, as am I. I have watched you learn, experiment and grow. Learn from things you felt needed to be better.
I only have one suggestion for you. The storage containers. Do you have a Fleet Farm or Farm and Fleet nearby? They offer round feed containers in various sizes made from tire by products. Life span for those is over 20 years. Very pliable and one can easily drill holes in the bottom/sides for water drainage.
These are my go to for all animal grains, salt blocks, summer water for dog, etc. They are basically indestructible, as my dog loves to play with them, so she has an extra, just for play, in addition to her food dish. Remain pliable in at least -30 temps, which is the lowest I have experienced. I think the largest side wall here is bout 6", but the bottom is over 18". Something to consider. I know what it is like trying to get something out of a rigid container in winter. Also know that your temps in winter are similar to mine.
JMHO.
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Post by grumpybill on Feb 24, 2018 8:48:25 GMT -5
When you dumpster dive for concrete block, try to find solid block. Saves mixing concrete and filling regular cored block. Workers don't like lifting/loading/unloading the heavy critters if there are only a few left over, so will often give them away. The 4x8x24 solid block under my Lot-O weighs ~58lbs.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,392
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2018 8:53:43 GMT -5
Wow. You sure got hooked quick. That's what I call giving it 110%. Good luck with your new adventure. Chuck Thanks Chuck. For 2 months during the work off season I have been busting my butt. Welding up tables and supports, cleaning out basement dungeon for a work shop. Spent $5000 on kilns, vases, money tips for the glass blowers scrap, tools, abrasives etc. I will not be tumbling rocks. All energy towards glass and whatever it takes. Schedules are being determined and spending completed, things are slowing way down. Operating on gut instinct that I can make this venture work. All I can loose is money and time. I am semi-retired old 60 year old dude and have time to invest. Time is a cuss word in this country. Thanks for the well wishes. ETA I figure I have 20 more years left. Might as well make the best of it and tumbling is a pleasure. And melting glass into pendants.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 24, 2018 9:03:12 GMT -5
You really go all in! I had no idea you had so much glass! Good for you, James. I wish you the most amount of good luck in your venture.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,392
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2018 9:05:45 GMT -5
OMG! Your attention to detail is amazing and something I appreciate. I also appreciate the amount of time you have invested in this new venture, per say. The results have been beautiful so far, but I understand what it is like to be obsessive compulsive and a perfectionist, as am I. I have watched you learn, experiment and grow. Learn from things you felt needed to be better. I only have one suggestion for you. The storage containers. Do you have a Fleet Farm or Farm and Fleet nearby? They offer round feed containers in various sizes made from tire by products. Life span for those is over 20 years. Very pliable and one can easily drill holes in the bottom/sides for water drainage. These are my go to for all animal grains, salt blocks, summer water for dog, etc. They are basically indestructible, as my dog loves to play with them, so she has an extra, just for play, in addition to her food dish. Remain pliable in at least -30 temps, which is the lowest I have experienced. I think the largest side wall here is bout 6", but the bottom is over 18". Something to consider. I know what it is like trying to get something out of a rigid container in winter. Also know that your temps in winter are similar to mine. JMHO. I had an aquatic nursery for 28 years fernwood. I bought mostly Lerio brand poly nursery pots that sat out in full sun for 20 years for stock plants. I have thousands of them stored out of the sun and ready to use. I even have a 1/2 inch drill welded to a 4 foot rod for drilling extra drainage holes in whole sleeves of nested pots. Got the outside storage down pat. This was a huge concern, the longevity of the storage containers. Glad I kept you entertained and certainly appreciate your inputs. Never underestimate motivational comments from others, never. Nursery link: www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/albums/72157632395461937
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,392
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2018 9:12:31 GMT -5
You really go all in! I had no idea you had so much glass! Good for you, James. I wish you the most amount of good luck in your venture. LOL Tela, that field of glass has grown triple and keeps growing. I am about to start collecting scrap from a third glass blower. I am on bi-monthly scrap pick up with two, the other wanted me to haul of 20 years worth of scrap, like 3 tons. Each blower has his own signature and hundreds of patterns each making a near infinite supply of insane fusions. This scrap fired this whole thing up, buying up used kilns as they are common on the used market since the down fall of glassware.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,392
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2018 9:14:42 GMT -5
When you dumpster dive for concrete block, try to find solid block. Saves mixing concrete and filling regular cored block. Workers don't like lifting/loading/unloading the heavy critters if there are only a few left over, so will often give them away. The 4x8x24 solid block under my Lot-O weighs ~58lbs. I bought a used kiln last month and the lady made me haul of about 20 - 4x8x16 inch solid blocks w/it. Shouldn't that do the job Bill ?
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Post by fernwood on Feb 24, 2018 9:20:59 GMT -5
Cool on the nursery. My experience with nursery pots here has been disappointing. Glad you appreciate my comments on your new venture. I have always wanted to start a nursery, also hydro phonic in winter, with solar power. Also being able to raise fish in ponds/streams and have that waste fertilize the nursery. A direct flow system. Have done the research and know it can happen. I have underground electric to a perfect location, with outlet. Have several pumps and liners to establish the stream and pond. Zoning is fine with it, as location is away from the road. Not trout suitable, but perch and crappie.
Have things in the works for a community garden on my land. Another fenced in area would contain bee hives. Working on a gathering trip for many for the berries and fruits here, wild ones.
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Post by MsAli on Feb 24, 2018 9:36:44 GMT -5
Jim your passion and details for this is amazing. fernwood Fleet Farm is my favorite store, side note a black bear can destroy those. My dad found that out the hard way. 😂 I love your idea for a community garden. We need more bee keepers.
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Post by fernwood on Feb 24, 2018 9:39:58 GMT -5
Beekeeper posted on Craigs list looking for land. Just doing my part, since my fields are all natural and no insect pesticides. No bear here, so I am safe for that.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,392
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2018 9:51:11 GMT -5
Cool on the nursery. My experience with nursery pots here has been disappointing. Glad you appreciate my comments on your new venture. I have always wanted to start a nursery, also hydro phonic in winter, with solar power. Also being able to raise fish in ponds/streams and have that waste fertilize the nursery. A direct flow system. Have done the research and know it can happen. I have underground electric to a perfect location, with outlet. Have several pumps and liners to establish the stream and pond. Zoning is fine with it, as location is away from the road. Not trout suitable, but perch and crappie. Have things in the works for a community garden on my land. Another fenced in area would contain bee hives. Working on a gathering trip for many for the berries and fruits here, wild ones. After 28 years I finally shut down the nursery. I still have earthen ponds full of fish. Usually a 3 to 6 pound bass per cast so dinner is close at hand. Those Lerio pots are the Cadillac of nursery containers and simply held up. Other brands started splitting after 5 years. I had to buy pots with no-holes and Lerio was the company that would do special no-hole runs but charged a lot for them. The water system is gravity fed by a re-routed creek. It irrigates about 6 acres from a 6 inch main pipe. This gravity water supported me and wife for 28 years. Even the greenhouses were fed by spitters from 2 inch gravity fed branch pipes. Water everywhere. The aquatic plant biz was lucrative for a hard worker for about 20 years. 9/11 hit and it was down hill from then. New generation slowed down on gardening too, people busy busy. The plant biz took me all over the SE US and the world mostly Central and S Americas finding plants to sell, sorta like collecting rocks. Been in some interesting swamps over the years. Peruvian headwaters of the Amazon made you lowest on the food chain lol. My activity level has decreased a great deal since shutting the plant biz down last year. Amazing how farm type work is great for your health. Still got tons of energy, but this glass stuff is laid back compared to being a grower.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,392
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2018 9:53:15 GMT -5
Jim your passion and details for this is amazing. fernwood Fleet Farm is my favorite store, side note a black bear can destroy those. My dad found that out the hard way. 😂 I love your idea for a community garden. We need more bee keepers. We may not have Fleet Farm, do have Goldkist and Tractor Supply. Goldkist caters to real farmers best. Y'all are country gals
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Post by Garage Rocker on Feb 24, 2018 9:56:33 GMT -5
Good luck to you on your new venture, 'Jimglass'. If we know one thing, you'll go all in on it. Looks like you'll need to keep a couple pints of blood laying around, what with all that sharp glass. I know you have leather hands and all, but one of 'em is gonna get you some day. Better check the expiration date on those Rio's. If they're getting ready to go bad, just let me know!
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snuffy
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Post by snuffy on Feb 24, 2018 10:03:52 GMT -5
Beekeeper posted on Craigs list looking for land. Just doing my part, since my fields are all natural and no insect pesticides. No bear here, so I am safe for that. I am lucky to have my cousin next to me that has several hives.I don't use any chemicals on my garden and fruit trees,and her bees really work em over!Years back,one season had hardly any bees,and production wasn't great.Before she put her hives in. You cant go wrong letting someone place them there. snuffy
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 24, 2018 10:15:27 GMT -5
Looks like you have this figured out Jim......Hell, we all know you got this by the hairs.. Thumbs up Best thing for an old goat to do, is stay busy Bro...LOL
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Post by MsAli on Feb 24, 2018 10:43:36 GMT -5
Jim your passion and details for this is amazing. fernwood Fleet Farm is my favorite store, side note a black bear can destroy those. My dad found that out the hard way. 😂 I love your idea for a community garden. We need more bee keepers. We may not have Fleet Farm, do have Goldkist and Tractor Supply. Goldkist caters to real farmers best. Y'all are country gals We have a tractor supply here. Every now and then I go in for stuff for the horses and get my fix. Doesn't beat a Fleet Farm though.
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Post by Pat on Feb 24, 2018 11:01:28 GMT -5
Some people grow aquatic plants, and make a nice home for bryozoans, and then jump into beautiful gem glass! Truly a natural progression! Do you cover the buckets of glass to protect the glass from rain, or can the glass go into the tumblers dirty and slimy? (Rain + dirt = slime) Best wishes on this new venture. I think it will be a great success! , and thanks for taking us along.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,392
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2018 12:42:00 GMT -5
Some people grow aquatic plants, and make a nice home for bryozoans, and then jump into beautiful gem glass! Truly a natural progression! Do you cover the buckets of glass to protect the glass from rain, or can the glass go into the tumblers dirty and slimy? (Rain + dirt = slime) Best wishes on this new venture. I think it will be a great success! , and thanks for taking us along. Lol, yes over the years there has been many strange critters in the nursery. and much diarrhea from getting swamp water in mouth. Tropical waters host all kinds of organisms. some not so friendly. The glass is best clean. So it will be kept in open containers a good distance away from trees where leaves can get in it. Under full sun. It is under an old irrigation system so it can be watered for picking thru and cleaning. Like wet rocks are easier to see their composition when wet. No problem tumbling dirty glass but it needs to be very clean when melting it in a kiln. The tumbler cleans it better than anything, and do often tumble it overnight for cleaning before melting. I can also put steel balls in the tumblers and make powdered glass by milling it with the steel balls, such glass is called frit. So I can make my own colors of glass by melting clear glass with powdered clear glass. No end to combinations. The bryozoans are still alive and well. Tasty morsels they are.
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