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Post by MrP on Apr 12, 2018 14:18:15 GMT -5
Jim jamesp , I'm with everyone else on the comments, so no sense repeating all of them. However, I definitely agree with MrP about putting links to your current (and future) websites in your sig. With as many "visitors" and members that we have visit each day, and as prolific as your posts are, that's a bunch of potential exposure for you with very little effort. I do have a couple of thoughts though, but I'm assuming you have already put them on your "to do" list. When you end up doing your glass website, be sure to include photos of your brick add-on/studio. While that may not be your actual work area for this stuff, the photos that you have used on your other sites will add to the "handmade" aspect of the glass, simply due to the rustic appearance of the building, IMHO. That building is beautiful, and I think you should continue to showcase it in some fashion to help you sell. In your "about me" on your Etsy fire pits site, be sure to update it and include that you custom make glass cabs and be sure to mention your Etsy site there as well. I know you mention your wife's site, so I see no reason why you shouldn't do that with the glass site. I'm sure she can also mention your stuff as well on her end. Additionally, since your fire pits site is so prominent in Etsy, I'm left wondering if you can take advantage of that. I'm trying to figure out if you would be able to perhaps take a couple of photos with some cabs either in or around some pits, just to generate curiosity about what they are or where to get them. Looking for a snowball effect, of sorts. And lastly, along those lines, perhaps consider sending a couple cabs (not necessarily the good stuff) off to folks when they buy a pit...kind of as a thank you and a description of what they are. Your wife could do the same. This may help in a small degree simply by word of mouth. Perhaps your buyers aren't into jewelry making, but they know someone who is. Again, the snowball effect. aDave Those are all great ideas!.......................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 12, 2018 12:20:43 GMT -5
I don't want to be an a$$ James but when the H LL are you going to put the links to your sites on the bottom of your posts? Us people with poor minds can't remember how you are listed on other sites so please put the links to ALL your sites on your posts. Thanks?............................MrP Shoot Michael, this Etsy shop is very much in it's infancy. It takes me months to dial in an internet shop. In past couple of days I have been taking photos w/different cameras/conditions and loading the photos on to Etsy to see the effect. I have a long long way to go before having a presentable shop. I was pleased to find the category "glass cabs" in Etsy is clearly differentiated from China trash and true lamp work glass. There is about 2 listings per 24 on each page by true glass artists. Lots and lots of junk. A good thing. Just like fire pits, lots of fire pit signage and poker listings, and then the fire pit listings. What part of FOLLOWING you are you NOT getting. I am sure that if we put it up for vote you would loose. Most of us watching are doing it because it is exciting and we also want to learn from you. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make it easy for us that are not great searchers..............................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 12, 2018 9:21:16 GMT -5
Started tinkering with an Etsy shop. I make a living selling another product on Etsy. But it is about 1/10,000th as competitive as Etsy jewelry. I am fully aware I may never get found on Etrsy. ***BUT it is an easy home base to load inventory onto and perform customer purchases from other references like a website or business card.*** Thinking about the product category 'glass cabs' since my glass melt tumbles are approaching flat back cab like dimensions. Must perform detailed research on this 'glass cab' category thing. I will use an app called Marmalead to assist Etsy SEO. Selling jewelry on Etsy is no other than overwhelming. 1st order of business is fooling with photos and backgrounds. Descriptions, categories and titles too. Add search words. SEARCH WORDS A couple of screen shots, here we go. I do not feel confident at all because of the huge Etsy competition. Fine craftsman selling cheap too. My strength in glass is color/pattern variety and polish. Inside light shows polish Sunlight lights up color and brilliance. Brighter background would help Note penny is used for size reference. Effective and allows less measuring. Must reduce camera pixel density to speed up the awful Etsy photo upload times grrr. Must figure out white balance on easy to use iPad. Not liking the auto mode. I don't want to be an a$$ James but when the H LL are you going to put the links to your sites on the bottom of your posts? Us people with poor minds can't remember how you are listed on other sites so please put the links to ALL your sites on your posts. Thanks?............................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 11, 2018 18:03:17 GMT -5
Unfortunately shortly after I got into collecting LSA everything was closed down. The main reason they closed everything in my area was because of copper theft. Before that it was no problem to be in any pit but they didn't to decide what you were there for so nobody was allowed in. A few people were approached by the cops or sheriff so onece word got around we just stayed out of everywhere...........................MrP Too bad about that. I used to hunt on the South Shore of Lake Superior a lot. Then in old gravel pits in Dunn County WI. Now finding some in Central WI. I really prefer the shore ones, as they are already partially polished. So sad that some bad eggs spoil it for everyone else. Have you found any other collecting areas? fernwood not in my area. They have installed motion detectors and security cameras in many pits where I live. A person doesn't know if they are real on not when they go off because some are just local noise but some get called in. The reason I know this is because I helped install some in a couple of area pits, so I do know how it is in those pits but not in others. Those that just make noise can be heard for a great distance. Every pit I have tried has no trespassing signs so I just stay out. The copper wire that was stolen in one pit cost the owner over $12,000 for repairs. The dirt bags got caught trying to get $250 for there haul...................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 11, 2018 13:16:06 GMT -5
I like................................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 11, 2018 9:19:44 GMT -5
Toiv0 - these are fantastic! Where you do you find your lakers? I would love to tumble some good Lake Superior agates but I seem to have a hard time finding them. I really like these, well done =) I buy and trade locally and try to get out hunting when I can. Good laker hunting is actually south of me an hour or so and most of the places are now closed. Unfortunately shortly after I got into collecting LSA everything was closed down. The main reason they closed everything in my area was because of copper theft. Before that it was no problem to be in any pit but they didn't to decide what you were there for so nobody was allowed in. A few people were approached by the cops or sheriff so onece word got around we just stayed out of everywhere...........................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 9, 2018 15:22:11 GMT -5
Look good Mr. James, one thought is the bail size. Look small, med weight pendent might take a 1.5 mm chain, 2mm cord or tubing. The end of the chains or cord have to get through it also. I see what you are saying about the bail size and threading cord/chain thru. Willing to make purchase that will accommodate. Let me tell you about a problem I have that needs addressing before bail size - drilling hole with out breaking. I am a klutz when it comes to such delicate work. I know to use water. I do not have a Dremel drill press, I do have a foredom and a big fat Dremel adjustable 5000 to 35,000 RPM. I am thinking the Dremel drill press is the way to go - opinions ? And with a good backing material - wood - rubber - ideas ? I have China made 1.5mm and 1mm. I like the 1mm for the pinch bails. Also, should I buy US Lasco Diamond drills brand for best quality. I found that the Crystalite Triple Ripple Drills from Kingsley North were the best bits for drilling. They were only $125 per 100 back in the day but are $225 per 100 now. Most glass is fairly easy on drill bits so you should get many holes with 1 bit. It sucks when it takes 4 or 5 bits for 1 hole! I have drilled many hundreds of holes with bits. I have a 4 X 6 X 3/4" dish that I use a piece of obsidian in the bottom with water covering the pendant. The obsidian is to pendant on to help keep the back from blowing out. Obsidian is soft so no harm to the bit. I do not use a drill press, tried it did not like it. Well that is basically the way I 'did' it because I have am ultrasonic drill that I use now. The cost to drill with that is very low but they cost a lot to buy. If you keep at this and drill thousands of cabs it may become the way to go. Highland Park I bought mine used but it came from this dealer Ultrasonic Drill and he is a very nice person to talk to. Ultrasonic drill are a bugger to figure out how to use the right way but once a person gets it right it is very fast.............MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 9, 2018 12:03:58 GMT -5
What was the 'fix'.........................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 9, 2018 12:00:20 GMT -5
Fixed the lotto, dedicated drum for polish. Two days took the jamesp glass where it needs to be. Thanks everyone. When you are good you don't have to be lucky!...............................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 9, 2018 11:55:36 GMT -5
James how much more would it cost to have him spin it out flat?.................................MrP We discussed that method Michael. That automatically doubled the price and some as he has to spin the glass out. More heat, more handling, more tedious. I have him hired on bare-bones-minimal, the globe fits the bill according to him. Grit coverage is cheapest color additive, stringers/confetti/pattern glass etc is quite a bit more costly. One of those globes was half price simply because it is thin and has half the Frit. If this works I can have him do quantity at discount. most blowers would not do this as they are all about making art pieces. this guy is young and not famous yet like the others in town, give him a few years. I pick his scrap up every 2 weeks and each time there is a couple of messed up vases of finest workmanship in the trash pile. vase glass that I could not afford. That answers that! Thanks.............................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 9, 2018 9:16:13 GMT -5
James how much more would it cost to have him spin it out flat?.................................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 9, 2018 4:37:43 GMT -5
I worked for a utility in Minnesota so have been able to run numbers on a few systems. You seem to have better numbers on your system in the winter months so you either have less snow days or you clean the snow from the panels. The first system that went in would have zero production once we got our first heavy snow because the panels were hard to get at. That system was put in at a cost of almost $6 a watt so with the production in our area there is almost a 20 year payback. How long ago was your system installed because I know the installed cost has went way down. In Texas they are starting to face the panels in a slightly different direction to take advantage of peak usage time vs peak production time. At least with solar in the summer peak production somewhat lines with peak usage where as wind rarely does. I like that you put the link on here because I like to see production records. My fellow workers thought I was nuts but I always watched usage numbers for those things or when LED lighting was installed in large business....................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 8, 2018 7:59:19 GMT -5
What a color combination!............MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 7, 2018 13:49:46 GMT -5
Great job again James....................................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 7, 2018 13:48:26 GMT -5
Took a better look at my Lot-O. Even if the nub rests on the bottom it is still on the frame of the part that is vibrating not contacting the board for the base. I do not see where it could be a problem..............................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 7, 2018 12:45:46 GMT -5
Have you ever noticed the difference between the person that wants the job because it is a promotion that they want to further there career and the person that wants it because of the money? The person taking it for the money never rises to the level of the person taking it because they want to better them self..................MrP If the "mercenaries" see their position as a way to finance their real goals and passions they usually turn out better than the guy climbing the ladder because they derive their entire sense of worth from their job. The ladder climbers tend to have such a self improvement focus that they have little concept of loyalty and long term business relations, and their legacies blow away in the wind once they move on to the next stepping stone. I'm sure your comparison is more to the guy that reaches minimum competency, then thinks their value should be equal to those who trained them, and they should no longer have to perform the tasks that they feel are beneath them. Frequent days off also are common with these. I refer to those individuals as "warm bodies". You are correct about "mercenaries" . I guess I am referring to the person who could have the capability but has no real desire to learn more then is needed to barely keep the position. They only do the job because it pays more then the job they came from. I have also worked with a person who 'stopped' learning because he had 'learned all he wanted to'. That was sad................................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 7, 2018 11:21:47 GMT -5
Have you ever noticed the difference between the person that wants the job because it is a promotion that they want to further there career and the person that wants it because of the money? The person taking it for the money never rises to the level of the person taking it because they want to better them self..................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 7, 2018 10:37:29 GMT -5
Every batch has been with the nipple on the bottom of the hopper resting/making contact to base for what it is worth. This might explain the slow rolling action and need for extended run time. I think there'd be a fair amount of damping going on with the nipple touching the wood under the frame. grumpybill I never thought of it that way but you are right about the damping. I am going to put a wrap of Gorilla Tape around the barrel to hold it up..............MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 5, 2018 20:45:21 GMT -5
Yes Lot-O works great on glass but glass can be a real bugger to get a great shine on. I have had times that I have had to rerun the load a number of times. It is almost like it just gets stubborn. Take it back a step and give it another go. toiv0 I know the stuff you got from James had a great shine so it should get that way again but I have had some glass that will not take a 'brilliant' shine. It will have a 'nice' shine but if you look with a magnifying glass you will see micro bubbles. Glass is still fun to work with and great to look at when finished............................MrP
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Post by MrP on Apr 5, 2018 20:32:14 GMT -5
toiv0 mine has bearings. I know this because I have had to change them and that is part of the reason the end came lose. The end is held in place by bending tabs from the main motor body over the end plate. After I bent them back I could not get them as tight as they were to start with. It ran over a year before it became a problem. Now that I am thinking about it I had to take it apart again because the weld broke on one of the studs. To weld I clamped a vice grip to the motor body and placed the ground on that. gmitch067 that is something to check. Maybe you have a loose nut or a broken stud that holds the motor on. If a stud breaks loose it gets loud. I had to tack weld two studs on mine. I can't complain because it has only run 24/7/365 for 8-10 years. I also want to say that I have two of about the same vintage and the both act a little different. Both shine well but just a little different. The one works better with the block setting on 3 firm yellow kitchen sponges. The bowl on one of mine setts on the nub because the barrel has been squeezed in after it has run for so many years. Seems to work just fine. Good Luck.....................................MrP
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