I've noticed that we have several people that like to make things. I know I'm not the only one that likes to look at things like this. So, show us what you you can do!
Show your artistic side
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I can't show the final product, because it's a pipe and that's against the ToS, but I can post some action shots!
Pulling stringer
Flaring a tube
Laying stringer inside the flare
Fuming- vaporizing 24k gold or .999 fine silver. Gold gives a pink hue, silver gives a nice blue. Together I can get great ghosty greens.
The ultimate multi-tasking. Looking for a place to lay a line or dot to trap some fume while heating the 4mm clear rod to trap said fume.
Closing the flare
Melting all the color into the clear. I look tense because if it's going to crack, this is when it'll do it, closer to the point (blowtube) side because of stress put into the glass from pulling the handle and flaring it open.
This gives all y'all who've never seen flameworking an idea of how it's done. This is a specific technique called 'inside out', where the color is on the inside. The bottles I make are done in the same way.
Pulling stringer
Flaring a tube
Laying stringer inside the flare
Fuming- vaporizing 24k gold or .999 fine silver. Gold gives a pink hue, silver gives a nice blue. Together I can get great ghosty greens.
The ultimate multi-tasking. Looking for a place to lay a line or dot to trap some fume while heating the 4mm clear rod to trap said fume.
Closing the flare
Melting all the color into the clear. I look tense because if it's going to crack, this is when it'll do it, closer to the point (blowtube) side because of stress put into the glass from pulling the handle and flaring it open.
This gives all y'all who've never seen flameworking an idea of how it's done. This is a specific technique called 'inside out', where the color is on the inside. The bottles I make are done in the same way.
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You can get into it for as little as 5 or 600 bucks. But that's for a basic starter kit with no kiln. Like if you're just doing it for hobby and not selling your work. If you're selling your work you need a kiln so you can anneal your glass.
I dumped ~$5k into it when I first started 6 years ago. That was with a cheaper torch and a small jewelers kiln.
Now I'm on a bigger torch ($1,800), about to upgrade again to an even bigger torch ($4,000). I also have a larger kiln that was ~$2k.
You can make it as cheap or expensive as you want. Some tools out there cost $400 alone. A nice marble mold can cost between 1 and 200.
At this point I have about $30,000 invested in tools and equipment and another 1 or 2k in raw glass.
So yeah, I guess generally it's expensive. It's much cheaper to do torch work than furnace work, though.
Oh, and proper eye wear. If you're blowing softglass you can use cheap didydium lenses ($99). If you're working borosilicate (Pyrex), which is what I do, you need more intense eye protection. I use Phillips safety glasses made specificall for boro work. There the Green ACE line with a shade 5 welding lense. They cost ~$150, but can go all the way up to $400, depending on the frames, like if you want name brand Oakleys or something.
Generations is a fantastic vendor and Kristian will bend over backwards to make sure his customers are happy and get what they need.
http://generationsglass.com/ You can look around and see prices on various stuff there. I'm not affiliated with Generations, just a very happy and loyal customer.
I dumped ~$5k into it when I first started 6 years ago. That was with a cheaper torch and a small jewelers kiln.
Now I'm on a bigger torch ($1,800), about to upgrade again to an even bigger torch ($4,000). I also have a larger kiln that was ~$2k.
You can make it as cheap or expensive as you want. Some tools out there cost $400 alone. A nice marble mold can cost between 1 and 200.
At this point I have about $30,000 invested in tools and equipment and another 1 or 2k in raw glass.
So yeah, I guess generally it's expensive. It's much cheaper to do torch work than furnace work, though.
Oh, and proper eye wear. If you're blowing softglass you can use cheap didydium lenses ($99). If you're working borosilicate (Pyrex), which is what I do, you need more intense eye protection. I use Phillips safety glasses made specificall for boro work. There the Green ACE line with a shade 5 welding lense. They cost ~$150, but can go all the way up to $400, depending on the frames, like if you want name brand Oakleys or something.
Generations is a fantastic vendor and Kristian will bend over backwards to make sure his customers are happy and get what they need.
http://generationsglass.com/ You can look around and see prices on various stuff there. I'm not affiliated with Generations, just a very happy and loyal customer.
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Shatner, that is WAY awesome! Love the pics and think it's just insanely cool that you can do that! lol 
Okay: I do a lot of crochet. It's my current art expression. I've done others, this is the one I'm in love with right now. I make goofy toys for no reason other then they make me squee. Pictures:
and a bonus: What most of my projucts endure while they're underway is being slept on by our kitty.
it'll be a stroller blanket for my rock and roll sister in law.
MacArthurBug! Those are too cute!! The octopus is my fave, or maybe the mug... haha They are adorable!
I would love to learn to do that. I think once I get healed and I can sit up for more than 16 minutes at a time I just might look into it. Would be a way to make some extra money and get off disability. I hate the thought of not doing anything productive the rest of my life. At least I know who to go to for info!
Forget your crochet, I want your kitty,lol J/K You are really good at that. I can crochet an afghan and that's about it,lol
Shatner, that is WAY awesome! Love the pics and think it's just insanely cool that you can do that! lol
Thank you. My Grandmom is still amazed that I can do this. No body in the history of my family was a glassblower before me. So she's just amazed and proud that the talent is in the family. I'd be crazy without glass to distract my always racing mind.
Okay: I do a lot of crochet. It's my current art expression. I've done others, this is the one I'm in love with right now. I make goofy toys for no reason other then they make me squee. Pictures:and a bonus: What most of my projucts endure while they're underway is being slept on by our kitty.it'll be a stroller blanket for my rock and roll sister in law.
SQUEEEEE. lol. I like the coffe mug.
Shatner: I took up my hobby for the same reason. Having my hands full, having a project keeps me calm and happy. Also distracts me from my ADHD racing brain. I make the cups a LOT for friends and family. That little brown one is my favorite and won't be given away no matter what!
I love you glass work. It's something I plan on trying in the future.
Jules: Pablo is my elder daughters "baby" - I think he's a spoiled brat. Being a Main .... mix his vocal abilities are astounding. He can chirp like a bird, and does to get our attention when he's being ignored.
I love you glass work. It's something I plan on trying in the future.
Jules: Pablo is my elder daughters "baby" - I think he's a spoiled brat. Being a Main .... mix his vocal abilities are astounding. He can chirp like a bird, and does to get our attention when he's being ignored.
Thanks, if you're interested in glasswork, if you ever find yourself in Houston, hit me up. I do intro lessons.
About the mugs. Are they crochet'd around a usable mug? That'd be awesome.
Here is some of my work with chainmail.
We may have to collaborate on some glass/metal jewelry. That is, of cours, if you're interested.
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That sounds pretty cool, though probably not the right place for such a discussion
I have a long haired Russian and she started chirping about a month ago. I had never heard a cat do that before. She sits on my desk and chirps at the birds that come to the window and they actually chirp back. I keep trying to catch it on video,lol
Back on topic...That chainmail work is great. My oldest sob would love that!
wow crusty! Amazing. Really nice work!
Shatner: They're very small - maybe a smidge taller then my thumb. Interesting idea to "cozy" a real coffee cup though. Humm..
Jules: how cool!
Shatner: They're very small - maybe a smidge taller then my thumb. Interesting idea to "cozy" a real coffee cup though. Humm..
Jules: how cool!
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