|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 5, 2018 12:58:34 GMT -5
Speaking of cutting fingers..... how are your hands holding up? Many cuts or do you wear gloves- assuming you must.
|
|
|
Post by fantastic5 on Mar 5, 2018 15:07:04 GMT -5
Speaking of cutting fingers..... how are your hands holding up? Many cuts or do you wear gloves- assuming you must. If your hands are suffering jamesp take a look at these gloves. I picked up a pair awhile ago for quartz mining and they worked perfectly, not a single drop of blood.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,371
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 5, 2018 19:28:28 GMT -5
Speaking of cutting fingers..... how are your hands holding up? Many cuts or do you wear gloves- assuming you must. Thanks Tela, it's all good. The soda lime glass that the blower uses breaks dull. Never seen glass behave like that. The store bought vases can be wicked with long knife like breaks. Nip them into shards and get them in the tumbler Asap. The main problem is the high alkalinity of the soda glass. Cooks your skin like wet concrete. Straw hair and dry skin. Grinding it, feels soapy and smells like portland. You have probably worked with high alkalinity rocks.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,371
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 5, 2018 19:33:33 GMT -5
Speaking of cutting fingers..... how are your hands holding up? Many cuts or do you wear gloves- assuming you must. If your hands are suffering jamesp take a look at these gloves. I picked up a pair awhile ago for quartz mining and they worked perfectly, not a single drop of blood. It's the alkalinity that is so nasty. Will dry you out, hair, skin. I appreciate the link. Gloves hinder me, I have learned how to handle the glass and when to use tools. At first I stayed bleeding. That alkaline factor taught me to quit getting cut, like salt.
|
|
|
Post by MrP on Apr 4, 2018 4:35:58 GMT -5
James how did the controller work for you? Is it easy to program?........................................MrP
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,371
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 4, 2018 7:43:23 GMT -5
James how did the controller work for you? Is it easy to program?........................................MrP I bought a used Paragon 10 'glass kiln' for $500 with Sentry controller Michael. Big, has 21 inch diameter shelves. Darn thing holds a bunch. I bought a 2nd 21 inch shelf for this Paragon, got a 3rd on order. Just saying, I can melt 2 large shelves of glass with this Paragon which equates to almost 200 pendants in one cook out. So this orange kiln and it's eBay controller is sitting on the back burner. It does not have top heat. I will say that the glass blower welded up two annealing furnaces as big as a clothes washing machines and used these Ebay controllers on them. I will take a photo of his wiring to assist me in wiring that kiln ceramics kiln up. Note that the paragon 10 has heating elements in the lid which really helps with glass as glass likes to have top surface heat for flame polishing. But even with the shelves stacked it still melts my glass on the lower shelf effectively, but does not flame polish as well as the top shelf. No problem, they will get a tumble polish. You don't want to know about this melt last night. Rogue vases from all over the world that I got for pennies. Some are being melted to each other in testing for increased color combos. All being melted for domes. 100% success, no extreme vitrification or cracking. Rare That group of vases will yield about a thousand pendants now that I know how they behave. ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/902/40515709694_0df902df33_c.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by MrP on Apr 4, 2018 9:21:24 GMT -5
Thanks James. I have found many cheap vases and other blown glass to play with. some will work with just cutting and tumbling but others will work much better if I flatten them. I think it would be much better to have an electronic control on the kiln...........................MrP
|
|
zekesman
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 637
|
Post by zekesman on Apr 19, 2018 12:05:34 GMT -5
James how did the controller work for you? Is it easy to program?........................................MrP I bought a used Paragon 10 'glass kiln' for $500 with Sentry controller Michael. Big, has 21 inch diameter shelves. Darn thing holds a bunch. I bought a 2nd 21 inch shelf for this Paragon, got a 3rd on order. Just saying, I can melt 2 large shelves of glass with this Paragon which equates to almost 200 pendants in one cook out. So this orange kiln and it's eBay controller is sitting on the back burner. It does not have top heat. I will say that the glass blower welded up two annealing furnaces as big as a clothes washing machines and used these Ebay controllers on them. I will take a photo of his wiring to assist me in wiring that kiln ceramics kiln up. Note that the paragon 10 has heating elements in the lid which really helps with glass as glass likes to have top surface heat for flame polishing. But even with the shelves stacked it still melts my glass on the lower shelf effectively, but does not flame polish as well as the top shelf. No problem, they will get a tumble polish. You don't want to know about this melt last night. Rogue vases from all over the world that I got for pennies. Some are being melted to each other in testing for increased color combos. All being melted for domes. 100% success, no extreme vitrification or cracking. Rare That group of vases will yield about a thousand pendants now that I know how they behave. ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/902/40515709694_0df902df33_c.jpg) @jamessp sorry I took so long to get back to you with examples of our glass work. Here are a few ![](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180419/a93147452b68ade9a0848eeaf7948906.jpg)
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,371
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 19, 2018 13:00:41 GMT -5
Yes ! I was looking at them on your other post Zeke and commented. That is a fun hobby. How long have you been doing glass. I must show you a photo of the haul for this week and the next set of project vases piled in individual containers. Pendants in tray at upper left: ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/918/39755827730_6543aa269f_b.jpg)
|
|
rockpickerforever
Cave Dweller
RIP Jean Bradley, you are forever loved
Member since July 2011
Posts: 12,069
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 19, 2018 13:34:32 GMT -5
Yes ! I was looking at them on your other post Zeke and commented. That is a fun hobby. How long have you been doing glass. I must show you a photo of the haul for this week and the next set of project vases piled in individual containers. Pendants in tray at upper left: ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/918/39755827730_6543aa269f_b.jpg)
That blue-ish/white/yellow vase in the center right is sweet! The colors go well together.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,371
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 19, 2018 16:18:19 GMT -5
Yes ! I was looking at them on your other post Zeke and commented. That is a fun hobby. How long have you been doing glass. I must show you a photo of the haul for this week and the next set of project vases piled in individual containers. Pendants in tray at upper left: ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/918/39755827730_6543aa269f_b.jpg)
That blue-ish/white/yellow vase in the center right is sweet! The colors go well together.
Picked those up yesterday Jean, new store just found that had been there 20 years. They was cheap used but they were expensive new. Hope they agree with the cook schedule and the colors don't melt together and make a mess. Patterns real crisp.
|
|
|
Post by MrP on Apr 19, 2018 17:06:44 GMT -5
Yes ! I was looking at them on your other post Zeke and commented. That is a fun hobby. How long have you been doing glass. I must show you a photo of the haul for this week and the next set of project vases piled in individual containers. Pendants in tray at upper left: ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/918/39755827730_6543aa269f_b.jpg) James do you have any way to figure what COE the glass is when you get it at thrift shops or how do you decide to mix different pieces?...........MrP
|
|
zekesman
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 637
|
Post by zekesman on Apr 19, 2018 17:31:00 GMT -5
Yes ! I was looking at them on your other post Zeke and commented. That is a fun hobby. How long have you been doing glass. I must show you a photo of the haul for this week and the next set of project vases piled in individual containers. Pendants in tray at upper left: ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/918/39755827730_6543aa269f_b.jpg) We have been doing glass for about 4 years. We started with a microwave kiln you could only do one piece in. We bought a glass kiln for our joint Xmas present and went crazy. Once we had given everyone we knew several pieces, we started doing local events just to get rid of some. LOL
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Apr 20, 2018 8:42:38 GMT -5
I am working on something jamesp will probably complete this afternoon enough to post pics of it in progress. Totally different for here, a two strand beaded bezel for a glass cab. Very time consuming, considering the materials I am using. Wish me luck, as I have never done one of these before. Just trying to think outside the box.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,371
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 20, 2018 10:39:03 GMT -5
Yes ! I was looking at them on your other post Zeke and commented. That is a fun hobby. How long have you been doing glass. I must show you a photo of the haul for this week and the next set of project vases piled in individual containers. Pendants in tray at upper left: ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/918/39755827730_6543aa269f_b.jpg) James do you have any way to figure what COE the glass is when you get it at thrift shops or how do you decide to mix different pieces?...........MrP There in lies the problem. Only after buying $2500(150+) worth of vases(looking at this as a business so spending is allowed)have I learned which 'brands' work. It takes months for glass with COE problems to crack in some cases. so it is tricky Experiment-experiment-experiment. I have taken an ass whipping experimenting. It is a love of mine but this glass has forced 100's of experiments. I have found about 6 'brand names' that i can cross melt and I probably would not share that info on my product descriptions because of copy cats. I have now started shopping and bidding on these brands. I melted samples of 9 different vases last night. Took photos before and after. Keep the vases segregated and their melts(or slumps) organized for future reference. So, it is complicated Michael. It's all trail and error. Wife found a heavy 30 inch plate(!!) the other day for $2 at Goodwill. OMG, that sucker melts like a charm, from almost 1/2 inch thick to 3/16" That means it would melt to about 48 inches diameter and make a boo koo of fine pendants. Had 7 out of 9 do great ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/826/40871605114_b6056274ff_b.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by MrP on Apr 20, 2018 11:32:07 GMT -5
James do you have any way to figure what COE the glass is when you get it at thrift shops or how do you decide to mix different pieces?...........MrP There in lies the problem. Only after buying $2500(150+) worth of vases(looking at this as a business so spending is allowed)have I learned which 'brands' work. It takes months for glass with COE problems to crack in some cases. so it is tricky Experiment-experiment-experiment. I have taken an ass whipping experimenting. It is a love of mine but this glass has forced 100's of experiments. I have found about 6 'brand names' that i can cross melt and I probably would not share that info on my product descriptions because of copy cats. I have now started shopping and bidding on these brands. I melted samples of 9 different vases last night. Took photos before and after. Keep the vases segregated and their melts(or slumps) organized for future reference. So, it is complicated Michael. It's all trail and error. Wife found a heavy 30 inch plate(!!) the other day for $2 at Goodwill. OMG, that sucker melts like a charm, from almost 1/2 inch thick to 3/16" That means it would melt to about 48 inches diameter and make a boo koo of fine pendants. Had 7 out of 9 do great ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/826/40871605114_b6056274ff_b.jpg) Not even with a cousin? OK, so we are only 101st cousins. I get it. I wish Goodwill was cheaper here. Have found some nice vases but have to pay for them. If they are nice enough I guess it doesn't matter...........................MrP
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,371
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 20, 2018 11:34:55 GMT -5
Yes ! I was looking at them on your other post Zeke and commented. That is a fun hobby. How long have you been doing glass. I must show you a photo of the haul for this week and the next set of project vases piled in individual containers. Pendants in tray at upper left: ![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/918/39755827730_6543aa269f_b.jpg) We have been doing glass for about 4 years. We started with a microwave kiln you could only do one piece in. We bought a glass kiln for our joint Xmas present and went crazy. Once we had given everyone we knew several pieces, we started doing local events just to get rid of some. LOL Zeke, the big Atlanta Inman Park Art Festival is next weekend. Juried and lots of jewelers. And in spring an art festival almost every weekend. Include Peidmont Park Festival, one of the biggest in US. SO, I am melting business cards out of glass,or using oversize melts for cards, with a stick-on-the-back label for contact info. I will make several hundred and distribute them like snake oil to the many jewelers attending. I was talking to rockjunquie about soliciting, I think I figured out this will be a home run marketing strategy, Tela ? There is a listing posted for all attending artists at these festivals with their contact info. Problem, I am short a GemGlass website. In time.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,371
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 20, 2018 11:44:13 GMT -5
Lol. It is fairly complicated Michael MrP. But not too much so. I would tinker till I get some recipes going. I don't worry about going somewhat public with this enterprise because of my specialized sources of glass here in Atlanta and the hard to find back alley stores I know about here. My wife is the one that knows the thrift stores. I just use her knowledge. Just yesterday I found a dealer in a 100+ antique dealer mall that had 30 of the finest hand blown for $10 to $15. That guy alone will keep me stocked to the hilt. Granted I spent $120 on 9 but I will make several 100 pendants from that purchase. 3 of the vases melted to trash. Good percentage purchase. I have to search and search to find the artist to know who made the glass. To know how to do repeat purchases. Part of the fun. The thrift stores are trashing many before I can find them. No one wants $300 (30 years ago pricing)) vases any more. Our parents cherished treasures being pawned off. I no longer have any guilt breaking them.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Apr 20, 2018 11:46:26 GMT -5
The glass cab business cards sound like a fabulous idea!!! I got cards through Vistaprint online and they exceeded my expectations at a good price. They do stickers, too. Get something nice.
Somewhere online I found a clearing house of information for different kinds of local shows. I'm sure you could find it, too. It was a while ago and I have forgotten now.
YES! You must have a website! Preferably before you have a lot of stickers made.
eta- you could at least buy a domain and get a landing page done.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,371
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 20, 2018 11:58:03 GMT -5
The glass cab business cards sound like a fabulous idea!!! I got cards through Vistaprint online and they exceeded my expectations at a good price. They do stickers, too. Get something nice. Somewhere online I found a clearing house of information for different kinds of local shows. I'm sure you could find it, too. It was a while ago and I have forgotten now. YES! You must have a website! Preferably before you have a lot of stickers made. eta- you could at least buy a domain and get a landing page done. I have been hitting the Atlanta festivals since a kid Tela. Back then for much more devious reasons lol. Part of Atlanta party scene. Great food and beer, activity everywhere, lots of fun. They are posted all over, or listen to the radio. Atlanta famous for their outside festivals. I'll just go with a phone number and an intro for now. I will hit them for years to come well organized. Pretty much a no-lose situation. Betcha between Inman/Candler and Peidmont will allow me connection to a couple of hundred art type jewelers. This idea just hit me a few days ago. My best marketing ploy yet. rockjunquie You are spot on about the domain, I bought it - Gemglass, just need a landing.
|
|