Search found 328 matches

by Tony Serviente
Fri Mar 05, 2004 5:26 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Diamond belts for WBS
Replies: 13
Views: 13691

I checked into it a few years ago, and HIS glass carried them then. I decided to stick with the disposable belts as I was leery of the durability and life of the very pricey diamond belts. My belt costs end up being almost negligible, in relation to the value of work they help create. I'd love to kn...
by Tony Serviente
Wed Mar 03, 2004 9:36 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: shelf height?
Replies: 1
Views: 3223

In what way have your attempts failed, puddles, dimples, cracks? Raising the shelf will just make the kiln effectively cook hotter for the same temperature readings as when the shelf was low. I don't think it will do anything useful for you, no matter what the problem is. The biggest factor with suc...
by Tony Serviente
Wed Mar 03, 2004 5:41 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Cutting Spectrum Baroque - total frustration
Replies: 27
Views: 32936

I use Baroque extensively, and what I can offer is the observation that when you are doing narrow strips, or any delicate shapes, the biggest problem will be the difference in thickness that occurs where the swirls are. The bigger the difference between thick and thin, the more of a problem it will ...
by Tony Serviente
Wed Mar 03, 2004 5:27 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Famous Phil!!
Replies: 10
Views: 10196

Congrats Phil. Nice article. They always get something(s) wrong. I am delighted to get any publicity I can, but always shudder in anticipation of how wrong it may be. Good luck with your new kiln, looks like a beauty. I like the color. Mine are an all natural iron oxide brown.
by Tony Serviente
Wed Mar 03, 2004 5:24 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Perfect white for fusing( Liquid Paper???) YES
Replies: 40
Views: 46295

Wonder if they use zinc oxide. Anyone ever try the life guards friend in a kiln. (Mafia members need not respond.)
by Tony Serviente
Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:56 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Post BMAC
Replies: 9
Views: 10108

Really enjoyed catching up with you Sara, and meeting you Robin. The quality of work that you both offer is helping put warm glass on a par with the other techniques, among them blowing. When I started doing the shows in '85 kiln work was a barely acknowledged field. Blowers held the top position in...
by Tony Serviente
Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:30 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Post BMAC
Replies: 9
Views: 10108

Thanks, and yes, I heard the grumbles too. I sense a kind of shake down happening in the field, and suspect we will see some changes in the number and type of exhibitor in the next few years. BMAC stands for the Buyers Market of American Craft. It is a trade show for people like me to market their w...
by Tony Serviente
Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:46 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Post BMAC
Replies: 9
Views: 10108

If a buyer thinks it can't be glass, but must be plastic, I offer them this : Purchase my work, and then drop it from a height of 4 feet onto a concrete floor. If the item does not break I will cheerfully refund the purchase price. So far, no takers on my offer. Compared to last year, the stores and...
by Tony Serviente
Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:25 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Stainless Steel mold ???????
Replies: 2
Views: 3460

Depends on how smooth the edge is. If it is a nice rolled edge, and not a rough saw cut , I am guessing it will work. Other factors are the height and diameter of the form, but if the edge is smooth I think it will work. Just don't forget to kiln wash it.
by Tony Serviente
Wed Feb 18, 2004 11:38 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: motors
Replies: 10
Views: 10166

Hi Marty-Sorry you didn't walk Philly. Before you do anything else, see if you can borrow a gear puller from a mechanic, or you can buy one from an auto parts store for less than $20. They are easy, controlled and safe. I once spent too much time trying to get a stuck pulley off a shaft, using every...
by Tony Serviente
Wed Feb 18, 2004 11:32 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Post BMAC
Replies: 9
Views: 10108

Post BMAC

Was a pleasure to meet some other WG posters at the BMAC in Philly this past weekend. We're working hard to raise the awareness of warm glass in the American Craft community, and I think we are making inroads. The buying public is looking at kiln work with increased respect, and greater understandin...
by Tony Serviente
Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:08 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: flat lap questions
Replies: 40
Views: 41477

I didn't know he was still selling ungrooved. What happened to my first 24" pad, ungrooved, was after five years or so of daily use, it became a big, magnetic, diamond plated taco. I think the daily compression on the center third or so of the pad deformed it and caused the warp. The idea behin...
by Tony Serviente
Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:49 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: helP asaP
Replies: 8
Views: 9695

A few weeks ago I took a few 6 x 6 squares of float, and liberally sprinkled them with Spectrum frit, and went up to fuse. Not only are they still whole, but the polarized view shows no stress. I am under no illusions that the COE is the same, but since the frit are tiny pieces of glass, they will e...
by Tony Serviente
Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:43 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: have new evenheat GTS 2541 and am experiencing BIG BUBBLES
Replies: 18
Views: 21488

I'm also a thinkin that when I soaked at 1285, my kiln was probably more than likely firing at around 3000, which would explain the devit. Pam-When you soak at 1285, assuming your thermocouple is accurate and well placed, you really are at 1285. Not sure what you mean by your kiln was firing at 3K(...
by Tony Serviente
Fri Feb 06, 2004 10:05 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: flat lap questions
Replies: 40
Views: 41477

I am a fan of SW. I have his 24" magnetic lap, going on 13 years old. Only maintenance has been a new belt for $8.
by Tony Serviente
Thu Feb 05, 2004 4:13 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: have new evenheat GTS 2541 and am experiencing BIG BUBBLES
Replies: 18
Views: 21488

Sounds like you are figuring it out Pam. The more mass in a kiln, the slower it will heat, so the shelves may be the culprit, but it could also be the ratio of wattage to cubic footage, as well as the kilns insulation. I would not worry about the shelves heating unevenly, as they all do to varying d...
by Tony Serviente
Thu Feb 05, 2004 11:24 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: BMAC anyone?
Replies: 2
Views: 3562

Amen. But just in case, I'm throwing a snow shovel in the truck. See you there.
by Tony Serviente
Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:15 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: have new evenheat GTS 2541 and am experiencing BIG BUBBLES
Replies: 18
Views: 21488

Pam-I'm reluctant to believe that your shelves are warping, only because I regularly go from 1000 to target afap, with no bubble problems. While I accept the reasoning behind going slow around 11-1200, I get good results without doing that. I am guessing it is overfiring. You said it was a new kiln....
by Tony Serviente
Wed Feb 04, 2004 9:22 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: BMAC anyone?
Replies: 2
Views: 3562

BMAC anyone?

I'll be at the Buyers Market in a week, booth 4402. Any other warm glass folks going to be there? Always good to meet the people behind the text.
by Tony Serviente
Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:30 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Firepolishing, tack fuse and anneal - multitasking
Replies: 3
Views: 4773

Just a few weeks ago I healed a piece, and added a decorative edge at the same time, so you can do a few things at once, just all depends on the situation. I often try to do a few processes at once, especially with the thicker pieces, just to avoid as many heat ups as I can, since that is the danger...