Search found 152 matches

by Ed Cantarella
Wed Oct 21, 2020 4:40 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: looking for a clamping solution
Replies: 7
Views: 12739

Re: looking for a clamping solution

Old thread but maybe this is "out of the box" - if your ceiling is low and this wouldn't be destructive, maybe running something down that is adjustable, with a pad at the end, would be the ticket. Less obstructive than trying to essentially build an arm that can reach out onto the table A...
by Ed Cantarella
Fri Sep 11, 2020 10:17 am
Forum: Business Topics
Topic: Buying Bullseye Glass
Replies: 7
Views: 27041

Re: Buying Bullseye Glass

Many make the mistake(I did for a few orders) of completing a BE order online when they are in the 50% discount range. Never do that. Save the order and call them. They can arrange for UPS freight for a few hundred dollars less than their shipping system generates for regular UPS. I was placing a ro...
by Ed Cantarella
Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:45 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: source for mica flakes
Replies: 14
Views: 23892

Re: source for mica flakes

I've been using mica powder from an ebayer "contrysoapfolk". Golds, silvers and pink hold up good. Purple and green both became silvery-grey schmutz - very unattractive unless that's what you want.
by Ed Cantarella
Thu Jan 23, 2020 9:43 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Paragon Kiln Repair
Replies: 2
Views: 9604

Re: Paragon Kiln Repair

https://www.joppaglass.com/
All the different rods and explanations you need.
by Ed Cantarella
Wed May 15, 2019 8:41 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Making small pieces glass
Replies: 5
Views: 9331

Re: Making small pieces glass

They'll resist getting smaller as the smaller pieces can take the stress better or just plain have less of it. You'll need to crush or grind it beyond that. If you get a crusher, I'd suggest you get one with a sturdy, solid handle(not the Aanraku) and instead of pumping up and down, put it on a soli...
by Ed Cantarella
Tue May 14, 2019 10:21 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Do I need to “season” my new shelf?
Replies: 6
Views: 12402

Re: Do I need to “season” my new shelf?

I just got a new Skutt Kiln, with new shelf, and kiln wash powder. My first two firings had lots of adherence to the glass (four of wash applied), but I am noticing that the wash that stays on the shelf is looking more paint-like and firm. The first application was pretty dusty even after firing an...
by Ed Cantarella
Wed May 01, 2019 11:36 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: SSR question
Replies: 17
Views: 33285

Re: SSR question

I always use SSRs rated for at least 3 times the load as their real life rating drops quickly with a rise in ambient temps - see the pic. And the higher capacity is a trivial amount more imo.
relay temps.png
by Ed Cantarella
Wed May 01, 2019 11:29 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Need advice on cooling AFAP with Paragon CS-26
Replies: 6
Views: 8754

Re: Need advice on cooling AFAP with Paragon CS-26

Its moving from a very small Paragon manual front loader (< 1 ft x 1 ft inside) to a Paragon clamshell with about 2 ft x 2 ft and an Sentry 2.0 controller. I'm using a kiln shelf from Bullseye on 1" posts. I think the heat mass is so much larger than my little starter kiln perhaps my expectati...
by Ed Cantarella
Sat Apr 27, 2019 12:14 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Need advice on cooling AFAP with Paragon CS-26
Replies: 6
Views: 8754

Re: Need advice on cooling AFAP with Paragon CS-26

I'm wondering what type of kiln you were using before this, that the cooling cycle was substantially shorter. :-k If you are using a corderiete (feels like clay, heavy, hard) shelf, you could try a ceramic fiber board one to cut the time on flat work. Fiber board cuts away probably 20 lbs on a shelf...
by Ed Cantarella
Fri Mar 08, 2019 12:17 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Beginner questions
Replies: 3
Views: 7521

Re: Beginner questions

Regarding the Primer - this discussion has been made before. Bullseye says their primer(not PRimo) should be washed off and re-applied after every use. Hotlines/Primo says NOTHING regarding when to remove. If we assume PRimo is good for at least one use, then they both are single use. At very least....
by Ed Cantarella
Thu Mar 07, 2019 3:16 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Re-fire brittle glass
Replies: 1
Views: 5089

Re: Re-fire brittle glass

The tips are probably just brittle. Refiring won't help them, other than if you do a full fuse and cause them to retract(losing the sharp tips. Opening the kiln: extremely pointless to look in the kiln between 100-800+f. You can thermal shock(break) a piece going either direction in that range. If y...
by Ed Cantarella
Wed Feb 27, 2019 3:27 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: kiln elements
Replies: 8
Views: 17269

Re: kiln elements

The Kiln Book by Frederick Olson has a decent section on electric kilns and calculating electric element lengths, etc. *Get the 3rd edition.
by Ed Cantarella
Thu Feb 14, 2019 7:39 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: I need castable mould materials to melt plate glass into a disc.
Replies: 36
Views: 68767

Re: I need castable mould materials to melt plate glass into a disc.

I doubt I can cut tempered glass. But I can split it. I also saw videos of splitting circles from squares. I think that is much less difficult with 1/4" glass than with 1/2". So, my task is to fuse two 1/4" pieces of glass together and slump them, hopefully in the same cycle. Freeing...
by Ed Cantarella
Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:13 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: I need castable mould materials to melt plate glass into a disc.
Replies: 36
Views: 68767

Re: I need castable mould materials to melt plate glass into a disc.

Devitrification is not about cleanliness, it's about the glass being at a high temp for too long. No, bubbles won't float up through the glass like magic, the small bubbles could take days to reach the top, if ever. 1900f is not high temp for a ceramic kiln or a mixed media kiln. Those go to 2300f T...
by Ed Cantarella
Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:39 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: High Temp Powder Coating
Replies: 5
Views: 10035

Re: High Temp Powder Coating

Hi, I have a Paragon Kiln - Ovation 10, and my husband wants to powder coat his headers (high temp) it will have to go to about 1200 for 10-15 minutes. I make a living with this kiln and am afraid it will hurt it, does any one know if it will hurt my kiln. Thank you all so much. Lori Powder coating...
by Ed Cantarella
Fri Feb 08, 2019 12:37 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: I need castable mould materials to melt plate glass into a disc.
Replies: 36
Views: 68767

Re: I want to melt glass scrap into a disc.

OP - Google glass table tops - Someone will custom cut a piece that size for less than $75 each. Maybe double down and get a few to save on shipping.
Unsolicited advice - don't try this(molding your own). Nobody will 'post' you up the total learning curve required.
by Ed Cantarella
Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:05 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Desert Morning
Replies: 8
Views: 28814

Re: Desert Morning

Beautiful!!
by Ed Cantarella
Tue Jan 08, 2019 12:59 pm
Forum: Business Topics
Topic: Buying Bullseye Glass
Replies: 7
Views: 27041

Re: Buying Bullseye Glass

I usually save my pennies to make large-ish orders with BE, for maximum discount. I'm in USA so no customs, and even with BE's shipping, I am usually still 20% under any mail-order retail(or Delphi which is about 50 miles one away). The mail order would then have shipping added on. Delphi would requ...
by Ed Cantarella
Mon Dec 31, 2018 1:09 pm
Forum: Art, philosophy, and content
Topic: Using glass in children's projects
Replies: 13
Views: 40024

Re: Using glass in children's projects

Water jet cut glass items we brushed with CMC and then powdered with frit and fired, a few hundred beads made from small cut or grozed scraps and some larger frit. Add 17 adults and children after Christmas dinner . Add some Elmer's glue, wood toothpicks paperplates and a few colors of Glassline. Fu...
by Ed Cantarella
Tue Dec 18, 2018 2:33 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: is spray A dangerous?
Replies: 12
Views: 31036

Re: is spray A dangerous?

Five gallons of borax solution will last until the dinosaurs roam the earth for a second time. :) I mix one pint of hot water with enough borax to saturate the water. Let cool and pour off the liquid which is the devit solution. That amount lasts me years (but I son't do whole sheets). Barry Agree ...