Search found 213 matches

by Bob
Mon Apr 13, 2015 4:41 am
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Working with wafers
Replies: 8
Views: 13112

Re: Working with wafers

Hi Havi, I too like the balance in the composition. I don't see the additional shrinkage in the second firing as a problem. Good old surface tension. If you want to minimize the shrinkage fire the the piece upside down on top of fibre paper. The weight of the glass will hold the wafers in place. You...
by Bob
Fri Apr 10, 2015 9:09 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: DRAWING ON THE kiln-washed SHELF
Replies: 20
Views: 25852

Re: DRAWING ON THE kiln-washed SHELF

Hi Havi, More adventures with wafers. I don't see any reason why you cannot mark the kiln wash on the shelf with pencil prior to sifting on powder. A statement of the obvious... draw your pattern backwards because the wafer will be flipped over. You have a concern about thickness... I suggest going ...
by Bob
Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:39 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Waffers
Replies: 34
Views: 43224

Re: Waffers

Hi Havi, Wafers will shrink if they are heated above tack fuse temperatures. At high enough temperatures they will just rip apart. So you can determine the amount of shrinkage you want and use visual observations to control the outcome. I haven't fired wafers on top of thin fire but I do it with 1/1...
by Bob
Sat Mar 14, 2015 1:12 pm
Forum: Business Topics
Topic: Designing a new studio
Replies: 38
Views: 58321

Re: Designing a new studio

Marty, Congrats on the new studio. We renovated a 750q ft building as a teaching studio and it works very well for up to 7 people. 1) One strong recommendation is to have your kiln room separate from your work/design room. It keeps the heat and off-gas smells away from the students. 2) Have one wate...
by Bob
Sat Mar 14, 2015 12:03 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Books from the Light Reading series
Replies: 14
Views: 22394

Re: Books from the Light Reading series

Continuing on the book theme... and seeing we have librarians in our midst.... here are 12 books that I completed in December and January that collectively reminded of a library table after a busy day.

Cheers,

Bob
by Bob
Tue Mar 03, 2015 5:20 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Waffers
Replies: 34
Views: 43224

Re: Waffers

Sorry Havi, I quickly went back through the thread and can't find where I said the wafers would shrink 30%.I think the 30% might refer to the contraction I get with freeze and fuse. If you fire wafers to the the point that the powder just holds together then the shrinkage is minimal. Keep increasing...
by Bob
Fri Feb 20, 2015 2:57 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Waffers
Replies: 34
Views: 43224

Re: Waffers

Hi Havi, Yes you can. You might get some texture from the vermiculite. I don't know if you are looking for larger surfaces to make wafers on but if not I recommend using unglazed bisque fired tiles for mini shelves. They are cheap (I pay $60 for 50 tiles that are 6in x 6in) and easy to work with. Ch...
by Bob
Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:28 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Waffers
Replies: 34
Views: 43224

Re: Waffers

Thanks, Bob Of course I KNOW this work, and admire it! Good to know that this is the method you use, i.e. including wafers between layers of glass. May I ask how thick is the glass you use for that??? Havi it was 3mm sheet glass. I placed wafers, often several pieces overlapping, so that the wafers...
by Bob
Mon Jan 26, 2015 2:14 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Waffers
Replies: 34
Views: 43224

Re: Waffers

Hi again Havi, You mention .. My my idea is also to build coloration in the waffers, and with them, but I go more for the abstract ... I attached an image where wafers made from transparent powders have been layered between sheets of glass. The top of the piece was then cold worked to expose the gla...
by Bob
Sat Jan 24, 2015 11:09 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Waffers
Replies: 34
Views: 43224

Re: Waffers

Valerie, I just wet the wafer and then rub the kiln wash with the flat blade of a putty knife... save the vinegar for the chips. Havi... I find that wafers are very versatile. I really like the concept of building from components. If the wafer doesn't work out then you haven't wasted a lot of glass ...
by Bob
Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:30 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Waffers
Replies: 34
Views: 43224

Re: Waffers

Havi,

Reactions are possible with wafers but they really need to go to higher temperatures for loner periods of time to get the reaction to fully mature.

Cheers,

Bob
by Bob
Fri Jan 23, 2015 5:22 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Waffers
Replies: 34
Views: 43224

Re: Waffers

Havi, From the amount of contraction between the pre-fire and post-fire images I would say that you have fired too hot. The degree that the edges have pulled in, and the amount of glassy/shiny lustre are the indicators of overfiring. I suggest firing to 696C for 10 minutes and turn off. Also the col...
by Bob
Wed Jan 14, 2015 11:01 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Books from the Light Reading series
Replies: 14
Views: 22394

Re: Books from the Light Reading series

Tim... "novel" idea... very good... consider yourself ripped off. Here is another variation on the book theme. This is the first of my "songbooks". Like most of us I listen to a lot of music while working in the studio and Liesbeth and I love live music. Sometimes there is a line...
by Bob
Tue Jan 13, 2015 10:37 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: what am i doing wrong????
Replies: 5
Views: 9082

Re: what am i doing wrong????

Paul, My thoughts are the glass is not properly annealed. The first suggestion would be to slow the ramp down from 482. The soak at 482 is to equalize the temperature. The cooling from 482 has to be slow enough to prevent reintroduction of a temperature difference between the interior and exterior o...
by Bob
Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:34 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Sealing Agents
Replies: 8
Views: 10706

Re: Sealing Agents

Hi Tim, In addition to Marty's list I have heard of Danish Tung Oil, beeswax, the stuff used to sheet water off glass in showers. I have often wondered about the sealer that is used for stone tile flooring. I asked Mark Bollick at HISglassworks about sealers and he said that tung oil will yellow wit...
by Bob
Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:33 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Screen Melt
Replies: 28
Views: 42196

Re: Screen Melt

Hey Jim,

From the perspective of your image it appears that the amount of "flowage" might be related to viscosity variations. Interesting.

Cheers,

Bob
by Bob
Mon Jan 12, 2015 1:28 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Books from the Light Reading series
Replies: 14
Views: 22394

Books from the Light Reading series

I haven't been on WGBB for a while but that doesn't mean I haven't been working. Most of my work this past year has been on making glass books in a series called "Light Reading". I've been trying several versions of page formats and covers. Here is a stack made as a commission that I am pa...
by Bob
Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:00 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Hang your Glass glue
Replies: 16
Views: 27358

Re: Hang your Glass glue

Thanks Bert, I was looking for information/experience with just silicone adhesives. They are cheap and easily obtained. I have heard of people mounting wall panels on french cleats using silicone (I believe). I was all set to glue something up and enquired with the manufacturer who thought that the ...
by Bob
Sun Jan 11, 2015 2:46 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Hang your Glass glue
Replies: 16
Views: 27358

Re: Hang your Glass glue

Hi Bert, You are right about the one week cure time for Hxtal (I have a cold studio too). You can also cure the glue by heating it to 120F for 24 hours. I do this and it helps warm the studio as well. Has anybody bonded sheets of glass together with silicone (or a derivative product called Lexel? I ...
by Bob
Sun Mar 03, 2013 11:05 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: kiln in unheated garage
Replies: 5
Views: 7682

Re: kiln in unheated garage

Hi Susan, Don't have an answer but a possible idea. Is the relay switch temporarily sticking in the on position causing the kiln to heat up and then releasing to enable the kiln to cool properly. Check when it starts the unwanted heating. Do the relay switches click on or off at all? It may be that ...