Search found 1077 matches

by Morganica
Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:29 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: How to add glass marble as feet to a bowl
Replies: 4
Views: 7900

Re: How to add glass marble as feet to a bowl

I did this one with 3 transparent blue marbles. I ground identically sized spots flat on all 3 (about 1/2 inch in diameter) and roughed up identical circles on the underside of the bowl. Then I cleaned both the marble and the bowl well with denatured alcohol, let them dry, primed both with amino sil...
by Morganica
Thu Sep 03, 2015 8:16 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Adding kilnwash to plaster/silica investment
Replies: 11
Views: 21868

Re: Adding kilnwash to plaster/silica investment

You probably read something I wrote, because it's something I do frequently and I mention it quite often in my blog. I sometimes add a dollop of kilnwash to the face coat of plaster/silica molds because it does seem to facilitate a clean release. Typically, I weigh out the mix as I normally would, l...
by Morganica
Thu Aug 20, 2015 7:03 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Water drip system
Replies: 6
Views: 9417

Re: Water drip system

I use loc-lines, plugged into a garden hose or an inside water supply: https://youtu.be/lJjlqjK7HOE

HIS Glassworks carries them here, not sure who might have them in your area.
by Morganica
Thu Aug 20, 2015 2:27 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Experience casting pot melt into molds?
Replies: 6
Views: 12724

Re: Experience casting pot melt into molds?

I usually substitute a fine grade of alumina for the silica flour. More expensive than silica flour, but gives a much better result. That's only part of the equation, though. You also try to keep the temperatures as low as possible--the higher the temperature (I find), the more trouble I usually hav...
by Morganica
Wed Aug 19, 2015 7:04 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Experience casting pot melt into molds?
Replies: 6
Views: 12724

Re: Experience casting pot melt into molds?

That's a question with multiple answers. Are there mold materials that will take 1700-plus degree temperatures? Yup. Metal-casting foundries have several, and if you check with them they can probably point you to them. They won't be plaster-based, they'll be cement- or ceramic-based, and they will h...
by Morganica
Sat Aug 15, 2015 5:56 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: 10" Wet Tile Saw
Replies: 9
Views: 15095

Re: 10" Wet Tile Saw

Same here--I've cut glass on top-line glass saws and they're wonderful, but the blade is what really matters. Back in 2003 I promised myself that when my el-cheapo eBay special died (a nasty Chinese knock-off with an out-of-true sliding table that included stand, water tray, 3 10" diamond blade...
by Morganica
Fri Aug 14, 2015 5:05 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Smoke from refractory investment molds
Replies: 5
Views: 11184

Re: Smoke from refractory investment molds

Hmmmm. If that's the case, call Ransom & Randolph and ask if they've changed the formulation or something. The cases of it I've used haven't done that, but I haven't used any new 910 in about a year. They're pretty forthcoming with technical information, so you should have an answer quickly.
by Morganica
Wed Aug 12, 2015 5:20 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Smoke from refractory investment molds
Replies: 5
Views: 11184

Re: Smoke from refractory investment molds

Jen, for some reason I just saw this (don't ask me why)...you've probably solved it by now, seeing as how it's August and you asked it in January, but it's an important question. If you don't mind and still want to discuss, I have some questions in return: --When you say "smoke," do you me...
by Morganica
Mon Jul 27, 2015 12:53 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: float glass
Replies: 8
Views: 12792

Re: float glass

When I've tacked float glasses it's taken a fair amount of heat just to get them to tack stage, and even more to get them to round over. Unless the sandblasted image is extremely light it should stay visible within the tacked layers. But it depends on the amount of heatwork you're planning to give i...
by Morganica
Sat Jul 25, 2015 9:27 pm
Forum: Jewelry Making
Topic: Silver Corrosion in a Gallery
Replies: 6
Views: 30167

Re: Silver Corrosion in a Gallery

I think there's a somewhat bigger question here: The life of the jewelry goes beyond its existence in the gallery, so I'd have to wonder what happens when your customers get the jewelry home. What if they have similar chemicals/artwork nearby? Whatever solution you come up with probably needs to add...
by Morganica
Fri Jul 24, 2015 5:37 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Mixing large amounts of dry plaster and silica
Replies: 14
Views: 46107

Re: Mixing large amounts of dry plaster and silica

I wouldn't disagree with Whitely or Clayman (I would sweep their floors just to take moldmaking classes from either), but I think it depends on how you engineer the mold, and the moldbuilding techniques you employ. I have a base mix that I order from the place where I get my raw materials (Seattle P...
by Morganica
Fri Jul 03, 2015 3:47 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: challenges making a glass mask
Replies: 7
Views: 14493

Re: challenges making a glass mask

Hate to say this, but what you're trying to do really is a challenge, and if you've never worked with glass before it's a bit farther down the road from a beginner's project. Certainly doable, but let's take this step by step. First, kudos on the 3D printer making a positive that you used to make a ...
by Morganica
Fri Jul 03, 2015 3:16 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: matte finish
Replies: 8
Views: 19440

Re: matte finish

I seem to remember people posting about the difficulty of achieving a uniform matte finish using the standard off-shelf chemicals. I think the problem was the application of the product led to streaking. Sometimes it does seem like just about anything--a slightly different dilution, different press...
by Morganica
Tue Jun 30, 2015 1:08 am
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: matte finish
Replies: 8
Views: 19440

Re: matte finish

Or what Charlie said...a few nice words and a sixpack can work wonders. If there's a bit of a glass community in your area you can make friends with, you might be surprised at what turns up, too... ;-)
by Morganica
Sun Jun 28, 2015 4:53 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: matte finish
Replies: 8
Views: 19440

Re: matte finish

Any time you fire the glass, you are softening it (or at least starting to soften it)--the more heat you subject it to, the softer it's going to get, until it relaxes and flows and gets shiny. So heat >>> shiny. When you fire-polish an abraded (ground) glass surface, you're softening the abrasions. ...
by Morganica
Sat Jun 27, 2015 1:53 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Skutt GM1014 - Can Handles Be Used to Lift?
Replies: 4
Views: 7566

Re: Skutt GM1014 - Can Handles Be Used to Lift?

I think it depends on the age and condition of the kiln; when I gave away my GM1414 last year, we specifically did NOT rely on the handles. Over the years and hundreds and hundreds of firings, the steel jacket's gotten a bit looser. We were concerned that there would be too much shifting of firebric...
by Morganica
Fri Jun 19, 2015 12:14 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Ball milling residue
Replies: 15
Views: 43982

Re: Ball milling residue

Yes, any grinding or machining process is going to give you swarf, a mixture of residue from the abraded alumina balls, poly container and fine glass particles. If you fire with it, it'll muddy up your colors and cloud transparent glasses. It's the same thing that happens when you grind enamels or a...
by Morganica
Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:06 pm
Forum: Business Topics
Topic: Designing a new studio
Replies: 38
Views: 58337

Re: Designing a new studio

If you mean those foam puzzle piece ones like these, from Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_25170.jpg They're fabulous and really nice to work on when you're on a dry floor. In wet areas...I set a couple u...
by Morganica
Tue Jun 09, 2015 7:10 pm
Forum: Newcomer Forum
Topic: Slumped glass form
Replies: 6
Views: 11079

Re: Slumped glass form

The formal name for them is "fazzoletto" or "fazzoletto vase." But like Marty said, it means "handkerchief."
by Morganica
Mon Jun 01, 2015 1:13 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: High pressure water sandblasting?
Replies: 4
Views: 7081

Re: High pressure water sandblasting?

Isn't that essentially what a waterjet does? Would you just be diffusing the flow?