WarmGlass.com

The first thing anyone learns when being taught elementary salesmanship is to let the buyer sell themselves. Don't try convince them to buy, but convince them to satisfy their desire to buy. I don't believe the general public is uninformed or uneducated (about art or anything else). I believe the op...

We're putting on Victorian Glass Art Festival this coming Sept as a beginning towards a similar goal. This year will be purely educational, but next year will devote an equal effort to exhibiting glass art of all forms. http://victorianglassartfestival.com/ Wanna come teach a kiln building class? I ...

It makes no difference what you produce or what you price it at. The price a buyer is willing to pay will be governed by the buyers "perceived" or "believed" value. If people are willing to pay a higher price for a work done by Picasso or Chihuly, it's because they believe the wo...

They all succeeded by producing something the marketplace accepted. Perceived value is about what the market accepts - not about what the producer expects. The value of anything is determined by what a buyer is prepared to pay. If an artist prefers to work with opalescent glass but the buyer prefers...

I think the key isn't so much size as "perceived" value. This can be used to your advantage. Making it larger is one way. Customers do usually equate size with value. Adding embellishments is another way to improve profits. Often you can add some small thing that doesn't take much time but...

Agreed. The key to pricing is perception. The customer doesn't know and doesn't care how long it takes to make something. They care only what they perceive it's worth. Most believe bigger is worth more. The customer isn't entirely wrong in this attitude. How long it takes for an artisan to make some...

Try "cracking" the strip off instead of running it After scoring, hold the glass on the edge of your work table with the score facing up and 1/8" to 1/4" off the table edge. Hold the glass near both ends. Lift it about 3 in and pull it rapidly down to hit the table. It the strip ...

I believe the reason kiln formed work is perceived as being of little value is because much of it is of little value. It seems like every wannbee takes a beginner slumping/fusing class then runs off to buy a kiln expecting to make a fortune selling "glass art". The problem is precisely tha...

If you can't find a satisfactory local source, I can supply for US $6/100. - $50/1000.

They're almost weightless, so cheap to mail.

For commercial quality bits (or just about any commercial quality glass equipment/supplies) I'd suggest C R Laurence. http://www.crlaurence.com/ The primary advantage of a drill press is it allows you to come down with a smooth steady pressure. That's critical for drilling glass. Yes, you can use th...

It's fairly common to ask a new account to pay COD on the first order. It's also fairly common to ask for a significant opening order. If a store has only a sprinkling of your work on display, it's unlikely to sell. They should be encouraged (as aggressively as you can get away with) to start with e...

Don't know what you're using for drill bits, but using either a Glastar or Inland 1/8" bit on a drill press we do hundreds - each in just under a minute. Using a dremel, a minute each is reasonable. For high speed production, you'll need a drill press and better grade drill bits. Expect to pay ...

Why not make your own stringers from Armstrong glass that IS compatible with float?

We tried making boat hulls by slumping into molds but the glass refused to go into the sharp points of the hull and the keel. We're now experimenting with both slumping and casting using a 3 piece mold - 2 sides and a top/insert. Some success, but still needs work. The key element appears to be how ...

We tried making boat hulls by slumping into molds but the glass refused to go into the sharp points of the hull and the keel. We're now experimenting with both slumping and casting using a 3 piece mold - 2 sides and a top/insert. Some success, but still needs work. The key element appears to be how ...

Although we sell the starfish, we don't make them. Fella named Mark Lauckner does. http://www.mayneislandglass.com Recycled glass is melted in a small electric furnace and ladelled into a brass mold then press stamped to form the detail. Mark has designed and built a small glass furnace for casting ...

The development that may be the most interesting (and perhaps have the greatest impact on the market for fusing supplies) is Armstrong's introduction of COE80 that's compatible to fuse onto float glass.

Ceramic molds can be used several hundred times, but probably the best material for multiuse casting is brass. If you can make a ceramic mold, it's not a big step to making a brass one. If you want detail, you'll probably have to use some mechanical means to press the glass into the mold. Gravity is...

Not directed at any PERSON specifically, but at PRODUCTS specifically. There are several different compounds marketed to be used to putty leaded windows that DO contain these ingredients. They should NOT be used. It's wise to read the ingredient labels. It's wisest to make your own putty and have a ...

The best possible putty for leaded glass is whiting (calcium carbonate) mixed with 50/50 natural and boiled linseed oil. Mix to the consistency of thick peanut butter. NEVER......repeat NEVER...use ANY material that contains either cement or plaster. Both these ingredients absorb water and will prod...