Search found 108 matches

by Alecia Helton
Sat Jan 31, 2004 9:07 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Gecko fusible
Replies: 23
Views: 24264

Cheryl,

You're thinking like a customer. We don't need and don't want a third coe standard. Gecko probably doesn't wasn't to support either BE or Spectrum by supplementing their standards. OR the only coe they can consistently produce is 109.

Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Sat Jan 31, 2004 12:02 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Gecko fusible
Replies: 23
Views: 24264

The bottom line is: if Gecko Fusible wants to be a major supplier they will have to become as good as Spectrum and Bullseye. No company, Chinese, European or American, can start from scratch and compete with the top suppliers in an industry. But if they want to stay in the business and not lose thei...
by Alecia Helton
Sat Jan 31, 2004 12:28 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Disappearing act~~~~~~~~~~
Replies: 10
Views: 11234

Or rub with a candle. It's not as messy as using chapstick.

Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Fri Jan 30, 2004 5:56 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: power requirements for many kilns
Replies: 7
Views: 8209

Jolly, I just went through this with my house which had a 200 amp panel. I bought a 50 amp kiln, already had 2 small kilns, and every spot in the panel was full with some other function in house, or the hot tub. Plus, being in Texas, an AC in the garage studio is a requirement. With the help of my c...
by Alecia Helton
Wed Jan 28, 2004 8:43 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: which glue for pendants
Replies: 7
Views: 9277

I use two- part epoxy.

Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Mon Jan 26, 2004 2:03 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: new to kiln
Replies: 15
Views: 12923

I'm probably showing my ignorance ... I was taught that kiln wash is only effective at full fusing temperature once. So if you prefire at 1500, haven't you already used it? Bob, I really appreciate you asking the question about prefiring because I've been puzzled by it also. I was taught to complete...
by Alecia Helton
Sun Jan 25, 2004 7:50 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: question about silver polishing/yumbling
Replies: 10
Views: 10381

Steve,

See my response to your other post.

Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Sun Jan 25, 2004 7:48 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: how to shine sterling
Replies: 11
Views: 10649

Steve, It depends on what is preventing the silver from being shiny. If the silver is tarnished from exposure to the air, you can polish it with a jewelers' polishing cloth or any of the chemical silver cleaners. The cheapest and quickest are the ones you buy at a store like Bed, Bath & Beyond f...
by Alecia Helton
Sun Jan 25, 2004 7:35 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: workshop ideas
Replies: 7
Views: 8300

Barbara,

Jewelry is always a good idea. Perhaps a cabochon and earrings. If you'll have men in your class, cufflinks and a bolo?

I would worry about having sufficient time for slumping with twelve small bowls.

Coasters.

Good Luck and Have Fun,
Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:02 pm
Forum: Business Topics
Topic: pendant display ?
Replies: 6
Views: 7778

You might want to check out the Rio Grande Display catalog.

Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:55 am
Forum: Business Topics
Topic: setting up warm glass studio
Replies: 8
Views: 12645

Lisa, I have just gone through this process. In addition to what has already been said, Sam's Club has been a great resource. Their Gorilla Racks were the best shelving units I could find. The best. Adjustable shelving, can hold 750 pounds each, 7 feet tall, under $60 per set. Sam's also has the adj...
by Alecia Helton
Sun Jan 18, 2004 12:05 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Morton System
Replies: 9
Views: 9101

A & A Products.

Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Sun Jan 18, 2004 12:03 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Pyrometer on Paragon Quickfire 6 kiln
Replies: 9
Views: 12334

I used to use a Quick Fire 6. I always fired much higher than my larger kilns even after I changed the pyrometer.


Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Sun Jan 18, 2004 11:58 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Tile Saw or Manual Cutting?
Replies: 9
Views: 9831

Peggy,

I cut single sheets of "pre-fired" glass with a glass cutter and use these pieces in my designs. I only use a saw on glasss has been fused. The kerf is significant. Once you see how much glass you are losing you will cut as much by hand as you can.

Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Fri Jan 16, 2004 6:33 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Tile Saw or Manual Cutting?
Replies: 9
Views: 9831

I always cut pre-fired glass by hand. I can't think of a good reason why you would want to use a saw for that. I sometimes fire a 3 X 5 piece that may be up to 6 layers deep (mostly dichroic) that I then cut into smaller pieces for pendants and earrings. I don't use my tile saw for this, but use a t...
by Alecia Helton
Thu Jan 15, 2004 6:44 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Tauras ring saw
Replies: 41
Views: 34957

I set my Taurus in a deep plastic tub. It contains moist of the mess.

Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Tue Jan 13, 2004 2:34 pm
Forum: Business Topics
Topic: Which Yellow Page Category do you Use?
Replies: 1
Views: 3198

Which Yellow Page Category do you Use?

I am biting the bullet and putting a real business phone in my studio instead of an extra line attached to my home phone. I thought I was ready every question but was really stumped when they asked what yellow page category I wanted to be listed in. There doesn't seem to be a good fit. Which categor...
by Alecia Helton
Tue Jan 13, 2004 9:47 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Looking for body mould
Replies: 11
Views: 9909

The Rio Grande Tools Catalog has a necklace mandrel made out of harden steel. I don't know its temperature tolerance, but it is strong enough to forge metal on.

Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Mon Jan 12, 2004 12:06 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Tauras ring saw
Replies: 41
Views: 34957

Denise,

I have both the Taurus II and a tile saw. If you don't do cut outs, you'll definately get more use out of a tile saw, or a table saw with a diamond blade.

Good Luck,

Alecia
by Alecia Helton
Wed Jan 07, 2004 12:17 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Anyone use "527 Cement" to Glue on Bails to Fused
Replies: 12
Views: 13332

While I haven't used 527 cement to glue bails to glass, it was recommended by my jewelry wholesaler for glueing bails to semiprecious stones when another glue I was using wasn't working.

Alecia