Thick casting

[tonyroberts]

I have to make a number of large (approx 700x600x30mm) slabs containing a logo. The client wants a 'just poured' look to the edges - he's seen my 10mm glass slabs which have a very free rounded edge. However, I think 30mm thick slabs will require damming else they'll just run away. Has anyone any idea how to create such an edge in thick glass in the kiln?

(Some more technical detail: I can use 30mm float for this job, but three layers of 10mm would be easier to handle, and make the logo placement easier. The logo is to be formed in relief in the floor of the kiln (think kiln-carving with a filling of frit) and the slab slumped into it - I usually take the glass high (850C)and give a good long soak (90min) to make sure it fills the thin bits. The back surface is to be sand textured).

Tony

[Rick Wilton]

30mm float.... really??

The thickest I can get is 19mm, on occassion I've seen 24mm. but 30 ?? That would be nice to use for some jobs.

[Morganica]

I frequently pick up old glass tabletops and shelves up to 2 inches thick at the local store fixture resale/salvage place--it's actually a pretty steady source of supply since I'm not fussy about chips and such. About every 6 months they have a backlog of damaged or oddly shaped glass, offered for free or $1 per piece to whoever will take it away.

Very happy day when that happens. I've got six 36x10x1.25 inch shelves in the trunk of my car right now--they'll become portrait sculptures next week.

It's not a consistent, uniform supply, of course, but it works for me. Amazing how many store fixtures contain chipped/cracked glass that nobody wants. And the salvage people are really tickled that this stuff is becoming art.

[Rick Wilton]

I know Portland is like art glass Mecca, but I have never seen nor heard of ANY float thicker than 1" unless it's been through the kiln. I've spend many hours working and picking up glass at one of the largest decorative glass companies in North America and have never heard of such a thing. I'd LOVE to get my hands on some.

Bert... have you?

[tonyroberts]

Sorry Rick, brain overload... I don't get 30mm float either. These panels need to be 30mm: I shall probably use 2x15mm or 3x10mm sheets to make them.

I just searched, and see up to 32mm being advertised... see http://www.newportglass.com/float.htm...???

Tony

[Morganica]

I know Portland is like art glass Mecca, but I have never seen nor heard of ANY float thicker than 1" unless it's been through the kiln. I've spend many hours working and picking up glass at one of the largest decorative glass companies in North America and have never heard of such a thing. I'd LOVE to get my hands on some.

Bert... have you?

Well...maybe it isn't float? I tend to call really thick glass that looks like plain old float glass...float glass. That doesn't mean it is--as long as I can cast with it, I don't really ask where it came from.

Whatever it is, it's in the trunk of my car right now, so I can definitely vouch for its existence. If you'd like to find some, check out salvage stores, especially those that buy salvage from large upscale department stores. Couple years ago I picked up a 2-inch thick tabletop, bronzy colored, two feet wide and four feet long. Paid $5. Heavy as hell. Not tempered (conchoidal fractures all down one edge). Took a sledgehammer to break it up and it had some kind of plasticky coating on it that only came off with acetone...but it made a lovely series of bowls. Wish I hadn't sold them.

I called that piece float glass, too. But maybe it's drawn glass? I just figured that you couldn't get that thick with the drawing process so float was more likely...but what do I know?

[Bert Weiss]

1" is all I know about. I have a project coming up where I will fuse 3 layers of 10mm, then chip the edge. I plan to do this twice and laminate them textured sides in the center. I'd choose 30mm for this if I had the option.

[Morganica]

Sorry Rick, brain overload... I don't get 30mm float either. These panels need to be 30mm: I shall probably use 2x15mm or 3x10mm sheets to make them.

I just searched, and see up to 32mm being advertised... see http://www.newportglass.com/float.htm...???

Tony

Hmmmm. From that page:

Although float glass has a commerical thickness range of only .040 to 1.250 inches, custom fabrication can produce parts measuring several inches in thickness down to thicknesses measured in thousandths of an inch.

So possibly I should have charged more money for those bowls...

[KaCe]

An interesting topic.

@ Cynthia... how do you find salvage companies that specialize in store props? Just wondering. I can find a lot of stuff, just ask my husband. But to score on a source that is so specific would be wonderful. TIA.

[Morganica]

An interesting topic.

@ Cynthia... how do you find salvage companies that specialize in store props? Just wondering. I can find a lot of stuff, just ask my husband. But to score on a source that is so specific would be wonderful. TIA.

Someone turned me onto this place when I was looking for interesting displays for a booth, and the glass was a happy bonus. I'd imagine they have these places in larger cities--you might google "used store fixtures" or similar to see if there is one nearby.

It really is a wonderful place--I've found old paintbrush displays that make great stringer storage, sign holders for about a tenth of the new price, tables and display shelves, gift bags and styrofoam heads and candlesticks. And mannequins...
http://www.morganica.com/bloggery/2010/ ... -or-three/

The display shelving in this booth came from there, cost $35 each, with extra glass shelves. They fold up for easier transport.

[Bert Weiss]

Sorry Rick, brain overload... I don't get 30mm float either. These panels need to be 30mm: I shall probably use 2x15mm or 3x10mm sheets to make them.

I just searched, and see up to 32mm being advertised... see http://www.newportglass.com/float.htm...???

Tony

I called about 32mm glass. They cast it themselves, not float. Surface ground and polished.