Search found 328 matches

by Tony Serviente
Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:37 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Annealing Temps
Replies: 18
Views: 16971

I am as puzzled as Marty. Either I have pleased the gods and benefitted by their blessing of my glass, or a considerably faster schedule works. As to the controller, can you put a switch in to bypass it. It'd be like going from automatic to manual trans in a car. Might be tedious, but then you could...
by Tony Serviente
Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:36 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Circle Cutting
Replies: 33
Views: 25968

I like that idea Lani-How about cutting iced beer steins, now that would be a challenge! As to the state of mind of those doing the cutting, a before and after contents consumption comparison could be easily made. Safety glasses, kevlar body suits and insurance policies mandatory!
by Tony Serviente
Tue Jan 20, 2004 12:01 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Circle Cutting
Replies: 33
Views: 25968

NSF wasn't interested but I cooled some glass down anyway. I chilled an 18" by 24" piece of double strength float to about 20F and cut strips, very deep curves, and 4 and 6" circles. I could not discern a difference, other than that my hands were freezing. The glass behaved as if it w...
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:33 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Thermocoule precision?
Replies: 30
Views: 26975

I've had my eye on one for a while that reads from minus 25 to 1500F. It is hard for me to justify getting one on the basis of need, since I am doing what I want in the kilns without one, but it would sure be a cool learning tool, and might be useful for bigger projects than I am doing now. I guess ...
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:28 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Lap grinders
Replies: 14
Views: 16169

What I was thinking of was the the flat plane edge, what you get by inverting a bowl on a lap. I actually like the more "organic" edge I get from my WBS.
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:22 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Circle Cutting
Replies: 33
Views: 25968

I've been pondering this, and I could tighten it up quite a bit. I'll use a sheet of float cut in half. Float for it's uniformity of internal stress, the same sheet so I know it is from an identical run. Next would be the cutting itself-The outside sheet would have to be cut outside to maximize the ...
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:43 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Lap grinders
Replies: 14
Views: 16169

Mary-For perfect straight edges, a lap is it. Belt sanders with a flat platen behind the belt are ok for short straight edges, mine can do about 8" or so, but if you want to do longer, or the edges of bowls they get difficult, if not impossible to use. My water supply is non recirculating.I hav...
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 19, 2004 3:57 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Circle Cutting
Replies: 33
Views: 25968

You have inspired me to do yet another test Brock. We have single digits in the forecast for the next few mornings, and I am going to put a couple of sheets outside while their identical twins bask in the comfort of my studio, then do identical cuts and see what happens. Stuff I worked with years ag...
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 19, 2004 3:53 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Lap grinders
Replies: 14
Views: 16169

I have an SW 24" lap with magnetic pads, going on 14 years of hard use with no major problems. I don't know if Steve is still in business, but he offered great service and used to make smaller machines. I have heard lots of good things about Bob Stephans machines too-hisglassworks.com. I am a d...
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 19, 2004 3:38 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Circle Cutting
Replies: 33
Views: 25968

I don't think cold has anything to do with it. I used to store my glass in sub zero temps, haul it in, throw it on the bench, and it cut the same as the room temp stuff. I think the work surface theory is the best one. Did something get under the carpet to add a little hump? Or maybe the cold made y...
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 19, 2004 3:34 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Thermocoule precision?
Replies: 30
Views: 26975

Of course this would not work for enclosed castings, but anyone use optical pyrometers? They should be able to give a direct surface temperature measure of the glass. Only problems I can see is that you have to pop the lid to shoot a temp, and if the glass is glowing there is the issue of aim, the l...
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 19, 2004 1:51 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Tack Fusing on Irid Surface
Replies: 18
Views: 19192

I've been tack fusing spectrum irid to irid for many years, with no pop offs. I fire to a temp that gives a gently rounded edge to the tacked decorative elements, but still shows the irid well. Too hight and the irid is absorbed, too low and the edges are sharp, and the tack is poor. I have a line b...
by Tony Serviente
Sun Jan 18, 2004 9:55 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Sound , Frit and Crop Circles
Replies: 5
Views: 6470

Some stringed instrument makers use this technique to figure out where the dead spots of the instrument are. Where the particles collect is where there is no movement. This simple test reveals very complex acoustic patterns, since live or dead areas are the result of wave interaction throughout the ...
by Tony Serviente
Wed Jan 14, 2004 9:52 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Wanting high gloss finish top and bottom
Replies: 6
Views: 7485

Bruce-It can be very difficult to bend glass without any marks, the exception being very shallow contours with large pieces of glass, and ring forms. Windshield makers get around this by using positive and negative forms that give them the ability to bend at a much lower temp by mechanically manipul...
by Tony Serviente
Wed Jan 14, 2004 10:33 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Quieting an Air Compressor
Replies: 18
Views: 20989

And with the enclosure and bafflling, don't forget to allow easy access to the drain plug at the bottom of the tank. If you don't make it easy to get to it you won't drain it often, and not only will your tank rust faster, but there will be more water vapor in the lines.
by Tony Serviente
Tue Jan 13, 2004 9:58 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: vermiculite board as dams
Replies: 9
Views: 11537

Cheryl-Last I heard Boyce was in California making tiles, and Camp Colton, my alma matar of sorts, is now available for weddings and retreats.
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 12, 2004 2:40 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Hi Fire Question
Replies: 21
Views: 25148

Didymiums are useful for reducing the yellow sodium flare that torchworkers see, but it's the infra red that is a problem for the eyes lens. Make sure that the glasses you use are rated specifically for IR protection.
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 12, 2004 2:26 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Vermiculite board as shelf?
Replies: 10
Views: 12197

Not sure how big or heavy your pieces are Barbara, but my experience with vermiculite is that it's too delicate for much handling. The one inch board I have is very friable, and would be useless for transport to and from the kiln. Perhaps there are better grades than what I got years ago. My favorit...
by Tony Serviente
Mon Jan 12, 2004 2:21 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Tauras ring saw
Replies: 41
Views: 38193

For me, I'd call my Taurus a poor mans water jet. I find it most useful for stained glass work, though am incorporting it more into kiln jobs. It is one of those tools that I did Ok without for 20 years, but find it opens up alot, both from an economic as well as design perspective. Brock, interesti...
by Tony Serviente
Fri Jan 09, 2004 12:27 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Cold Kiln
Replies: 28
Views: 26546

It was ten below here this morning, but my studio was a toasty 45 degrees when I came in. My two cents on this thread is in agreement with Berts, that the elements see the difference as negligible. Car headlights coming on at ten below and getting hotter than kiln elements don't fail more in the win...