Search found 1077 matches
- 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: 7975
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...
- Thu Sep 03, 2015 8:16 pm
- Forum: Kiln Casting
- Topic: Adding kilnwash to plaster/silica investment
- Replies: 11
- Views: 22574
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...
- Thu Aug 20, 2015 7:03 pm
- Forum: Techniques and Tools
- Topic: Water drip system
- Replies: 6
- Views: 9536
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.
HIS Glassworks carries them here, not sure who might have them in your area.
- Thu Aug 20, 2015 2:27 pm
- Forum: Kiln Casting
- Topic: Experience casting pot melt into molds?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 13076
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...
- Wed Aug 19, 2015 7:04 pm
- Forum: Kiln Casting
- Topic: Experience casting pot melt into molds?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 13076
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...
- Sat Aug 15, 2015 5:56 pm
- Forum: Techniques and Tools
- Topic: 10" Wet Tile Saw
- Replies: 9
- Views: 15264
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...
- Fri Aug 14, 2015 5:05 pm
- Forum: Kiln Casting
- Topic: Smoke from refractory investment molds
- Replies: 5
- Views: 11439
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.
- Wed Aug 12, 2015 5:20 pm
- Forum: Kiln Casting
- Topic: Smoke from refractory investment molds
- Replies: 5
- Views: 11439
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...
- Mon Jul 27, 2015 12:53 pm
- Forum: Techniques and Tools
- Topic: float glass
- Replies: 8
- Views: 13198
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...
- Sat Jul 25, 2015 9:27 pm
- Forum: Jewelry Making
- Topic: Silver Corrosion in a Gallery
- Replies: 6
- Views: 39236
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...
- Fri Jul 24, 2015 5:37 pm
- Forum: Kiln Casting
- Topic: Mixing large amounts of dry plaster and silica
- Replies: 14
- Views: 58395
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...
- Fri Jul 03, 2015 3:47 pm
- Forum: Techniques and Tools
- Topic: challenges making a glass mask
- Replies: 7
- Views: 15106
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 ...
- Fri Jul 03, 2015 3:16 pm
- Forum: Newcomer Forum
- Topic: matte finish
- Replies: 8
- Views: 20167
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...
- Tue Jun 30, 2015 1:08 am
- Forum: Newcomer Forum
- Topic: matte finish
- Replies: 8
- Views: 20167
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...
- Sun Jun 28, 2015 4:53 pm
- Forum: Newcomer Forum
- Topic: matte finish
- Replies: 8
- Views: 20167
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. ...
- Sat Jun 27, 2015 1:53 am
- Forum: Techniques and Tools
- Topic: Skutt GM1014 - Can Handles Be Used to Lift?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 7863
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...
- Fri Jun 19, 2015 12:14 pm
- Forum: Kiln Casting
- Topic: Ball milling residue
- Replies: 15
- Views: 55920
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...
- Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:06 pm
- Forum: Business Topics
- Topic: Designing a new studio
- Replies: 38
- Views: 61444
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...
- Tue Jun 09, 2015 7:10 pm
- Forum: Newcomer Forum
- Topic: Slumped glass form
- Replies: 6
- Views: 11328
Re: Slumped glass form
The formal name for them is "fazzoletto" or "fazzoletto vase." But like Marty said, it means "handkerchief."
- Mon Jun 01, 2015 1:13 pm
- Forum: Techniques and Tools
- Topic: High pressure water sandblasting?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 7151
Re: High pressure water sandblasting?
Isn't that essentially what a waterjet does? Would you just be diffusing the flow?