WarmGlass.com

Hi everyone, I was wondering what kind of possible difficulties I would have for installing a large outdoor sculpture in a garden. I have a possible commission from my neighbor for this and would like to hear some advise before I start designing it. Remember that it will probably need to withstand ...

Stoneware?

Steve

Your first pot melt looks just like my first one. I agree with everything everyone else has posted. I found that the kiln wash did stick to the back of the piece, and that sandblasting it off worked well. I don't think I could have gotten it all of without the blaster. I also blasted off any devit b...

The firing schedule depends on what you are firing ie what kind of glass, how thick, how large, and what effect you want. You might want to check the turorials on this site, search the archives, and check the Bullseye Firing and Annealing Schedules at this link: http://www.bullseye-glass.com/techinf...

Dick, Thanks for the suggestion. I purchased one from amazon for $43 and it works well. Just the solution I needed. This is how it looks assembled, with the wheels "up" so it won't roll. Flip a lever on each wheel, and they are down and it is "mobile". http://www.clearwaterglass....

Paul, So far, I've viewed this as an "all or none" phenomenon at the macro level. ie Either visible haze is present or not. The only variable that I found that made a difference was changing abrasive, so these photos were made to answer the question: "Am I nuts, or is there something ...

Having my blast chamber already filled with SiC 120 as I like to carve I would be interested if there is any difference related to the pressure of the blast. I could blast up some samples of black, clear and clear on black that were blasted at different pressures. I was wondering if you blasted SiC...

Nikki O'Neill wrote:Steve and Tony: May I keep the samples for a little while longer? I'd like to try a different scope.
Nikki

Nikki,

You don't have to send mine back at all, and you can cut them or do whatever you want with them.

Steve

Ron Coleman wrote: Looks like the silicon carbide grit is blasting deeper holes in the glass that seal over with firepolishing trapping air.
Ron

Ron,

That theory sure seems to explain what we're seeing.

Steve

Here are more micrographs of sandblasted BE glass comparing SiC with Al2O3: http://www.clearwaterglass.com/images/SB_Thumb_UnFired.jpg Clear, unblasted, firepolished http://www.clearwaterglass.com/images/SB_Thumb_SiC.jpg Clear, blasted with Silicon Carbide, firepolished http://www.clearwaterglass.co...

Char, From the appearance of the break I'd also suspect an annealing problem. However, you might want to run a compatiblity test with a couple of scraps of the same glass just to make sure it is not a compatibility issue. As your pieces get bigger and thicker, annealing becomes more of a problem. Yo...

I just purchased a new tile saw, MK-100. It works great, but is too heavy for me to move around by myself. I want to be able to get it in and out of the garage easily. I need an idea for a way to make it roll when I want it to, but not when I don't. It came with a very nice, sturdy stand, and I'd li...

It also helps to use a kilnwashed shelf, rather than paper.

Also, make sure your piece is two 1/8" layers.

Steve

There are many posts in the archives about this that you might find helpful.

I have tried drilling out the holes, and filling them with an appropriate color frit with good results.

Steve

Also,

Pot melts

Make stringers and murrini out of them in glory hole

Make beads with a torch

Steve

Yes, each rim had a relief cut. They are very hard to see, but you can find them if you look.

Steve

Rob,

Nice site, nice work and good photography. I like the layout.

My only negative comment is that I think you could use a more attractive font.

Steve

No, you didn't make a mistake buying a kiln. You will solve this problem and move on. I struggled with this bubble issue myself for quite a while years back, before figuring it out. As for the bubbles, take a straight edge and hold it on the shelf, to see if the shelf is perfectly flat. If it is not...

Tony,

I agree. I also asked her to see if she can get higher power views of the sandblasted, but not firepolished, surfaces to see if there is any obvious difference. With the power we have, I don't see much difference.

Steve

Hi. I was going to wait to post this, but since we're back in the middle of this discussion again, I'll show you what I have so far. Nikki is making a few more photos for me, but the following web page has the info so far. I'd be interested in everyone's opinion on this. My theory is that there is s...