Search found 168 matches

by Nikki ONeill
Thu Jan 22, 2004 2:29 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Blowers & Filter questions
Replies: 6
Views: 7407

Cathy: I checked with my vet when I started fusing and he said not to put my 33 year old African grey in the workshop, as I had been doing during parvious stained glass days. (Even with hepa filtered air circulator and a good hood that pulls 400-600 cfm). I want her to live another 30-40 years and b...
by Nikki ONeill
Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:44 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Can I use this bowl as for slumping?
Replies: 9
Views: 9786

Jerry and Paul: Thanks for the info on zinc fumes; the effects are very unappealing, even if not acutely toxic. I'll pass on using galvanized pipe. Paul: You have taken on a great challenge! I'd like to comment on making glass for lamps, as I am working in that area too. The quest for beautiful ligh...
by Nikki ONeill
Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:47 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Can I use this bowl as for slumping?
Replies: 9
Views: 9786

Paul.. Speaking of toxic fumes, I recently bought several pieces of glavanized steel nipples for making cylindrical pattern bars, not knowing at the time that I should have bought black pipe. I'm thinking of firing them anyway, just venting well to clear out the zinc fumes. Do you know how hazardous...
by Nikki ONeill
Tue Jan 06, 2004 5:52 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: large circle cutter
Replies: 18
Views: 19305

A beam compass does a great job drawing circles, and works well in 3-D too. I used to index dome-shaped fiberglass molds for lamp making with it. You can add a cutter to cut paper and thinfire, too.
Has anyone used an oval glass cutter? Are there any out there except Fletcher's?
Tool Junkie Nikki
by Nikki ONeill
Tue Dec 30, 2003 2:44 pm
Forum: Business Topics
Topic: ACC Baltimore in Feb.
Replies: 9
Views: 12111

Marty: I'm visiting, not showing, but please count me in. Thanks
Nikki
by Nikki ONeill
Tue Dec 23, 2003 1:41 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Fusing Schedules like cooking a chicken
Replies: 21
Views: 19766

Marty..Burt.... But there IS an art to cooking chicken, most importantly the annealing cycle. At full fuse, remove the bird from the oven and anneal at room temperature up to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the project. Annealing is necessary because the pressure from the heat of the coils duri...
by Nikki ONeill
Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:26 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Ever hear of these kiln shelves?
Replies: 5
Views: 6267

I talked to a rep at Bailey who told me that the Advantage shelves are meant to be used only above 1800 degrees, in a reducing atmosphere. They will deteriorate if used at lower tempertures. Evidently the components in the shelf must re-form and that only happens at the higher temperatures. However ...
by Nikki ONeill
Mon Dec 08, 2003 2:20 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Here is some really fantastic kiln casting
Replies: 6
Views: 9250

Paul:
I marked my calendar very early.
We have two extra two bedrooms it that tempts you further.
Nikki
by Nikki ONeill
Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:13 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Would like your thoughts...
Replies: 30
Views: 37024

Hi again Lisa. Hi again Nita. Nice to see you both again :) . Here's perhaps one of those un-swift questions. What is the advantage of using a pattern bar tray, as opposed to daming a pattern bar with kiln furnature? Is there less "crowning" at the top? I assume you still have to line it w...
by Nikki ONeill
Mon Dec 01, 2003 5:20 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: basic kiln question
Replies: 9
Views: 10235

Jenny: I hope you like your Caldera. I finally decided on this one because of its versatility, price, and the presence of a digital controller. I picked it up after a recent (fantastic) workshop at Vitrum in the DC area, given by Steve Klein. The Caldera was used as a vitrigraph kiln, made a nice po...
by Nikki ONeill
Fri Nov 07, 2003 6:28 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: ceramic shell
Replies: 11
Views: 12605

Thank you Luiza. I didn't know sand could be used in this way.
Have a great weekend.
Nikki
by Nikki ONeill
Fri Nov 07, 2003 2:24 pm
Forum: Business Topics
Topic: Philadelphia Museum and Wash. DC shows
Replies: 9
Views: 9058

Marty:
Have van will travel...from Steve's class at Vitrum to booth 800 on Friday. We're out of class at 6 and the convention center closes at 8. It's only a 30 minute trip. Bring Zin not cookies this year??

Nikki
by Nikki ONeill
Fri Nov 07, 2003 1:09 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: ceramic shell
Replies: 11
Views: 12605

Charlie:
Will any sand do? Do you know if common "Play sand" from the hardware store will work for supporting molds as well as be suitable for small-scale sand casting.? I was wondering about organic content, if any.
Thanks.
Nikki
by Nikki ONeill
Mon Oct 27, 2003 4:29 pm
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: skamol
Replies: 13
Views: 16186

Charlie: I've been working a little with the 475 compressive strength material and find it to be much more flaky and brittle than the 600. The distributor in Charlotte, NC was kind enough to send me a sheet of the 475 to test out. It's easily cut with a chop saw but throws out a lot of dust. The scr...
by Nikki ONeill
Wed Oct 22, 2003 9:55 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: float frit test cr loo
Replies: 7
Views: 7824

Rosanna: Nice test! The colors look really clear and bright. Were the frit and confetti fused on the surface of two pieces of float? At first glance it looked like the samples might be in a sandwich. I'm curious as to whether float frit really melts in well at full fuse or remains discrete (compared...
by Nikki ONeill
Fri Oct 17, 2003 4:10 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Lamp Hardware
Replies: 5
Views: 6478

Suzan: You may want to cut a large hole or drill a few small holes at the top to prevent heat build-up under the lamp. Depending on the style of the lamp, you could look into having a wooden base made with a center post and 3-4 horizontal arms to to support the lamp at the rim. This style, with an o...
by Nikki ONeill
Fri Oct 17, 2003 11:42 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: twist for flowerpot casting
Replies: 10
Views: 12996

Greg: Neat idea! However two-pronged pastorelli carriers are quite expensive; in stainless steel they're over $200. Last week I ordered from a local pottery shop a long-handled raku tool that should serve a similar purpose. In addition to moving or removing pots, I'm hoping that the tool won't be to...
by Nikki ONeill
Fri Oct 10, 2003 2:21 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Evocativerre-New Fused Pendant
Replies: 11
Views: 13591

Melissa:
The pendants are beautiful, and what a unique way to use pattern bar slices. Thanks for sharing.
Nikki
by Nikki ONeill
Fri Oct 10, 2003 2:05 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Evocativerre-New Fused Pendant
Replies: 11
Views: 13591

Mee too:
"user not found"

Nikki
by Nikki ONeill
Wed Oct 08, 2003 11:40 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Thoughtful work?
Replies: 145
Views: 128793

It seems to me that a collector is well justified in buying a piece of the artist along with the object. Objects have a history associated with them. Every scrap of information is retained by museums for their ancient objects. During a tour, the curator of the Smithsonian Renwick museum informed us ...