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Author: Dale_Lynn, Contributing Editor
| Did I mention I have made myself a pest on hot glass art internet discussion boards of the last week or so with endless questions!
This is getting pretty near the end of week three. Head over to new source and see what they have. Hmmmm. Another good supply of "glass" stuff and information. Store owner suggests I buy a good book on beadmaking and lampworking. So I buy "Making Glass Beads" by Cindy Jenkins. And some Moretti "stringers" just to show I know a bit about glass. Also while I'm there I eye a Hot Head torch. This place is kind of expensive so I will wait, after all I have the new hardware store super propane torch waiting for me at home. Get home and assemble new torch head on propane bottle, fire it up. Yep has a bigger flame than old head. I'm really going to make beads now. An hour or so goes by! I now have many beads. Better let them cool. Ok, they are cold. ACK! They are better shaped mainly because of my new found experience with the glass. BUT the whites and clears are still a grungy gray and the other colors are not quite bright. Go into house disappointed and decide to abandon the bead thing for a bit, but pick up my new book, start reading. There it is, if I want enough heat I need a HOT HEAD torch and to use MAPP gas. And MAPP gas is a clean fuel. Dang, I knew this, because it was stated on internet sites many times, but I knew better, and I had my trusty Bernz-O-Matic torch. Anyway, I spent next day or two reading the Cindy Jenkins book, cover to cover. Over the week end, mulling over my experiences, and what I have read on the internet and Cindy Jenkins book, I have come to the conclusion that I can't cut corners with this endeavor. I need at least a Hot Head torch and MAPP gas. Easter Sunday comes and goes, And I bit the ears off the chocolate Easter bunnies! Beginning week four! I had previous found a larger dealer "up north" that had a bigger selection than either of my "local" dealers. And since my wife was off for Easter vacation and we wanted to visit with her niece "up north" we spent a day "up north". Went by the large supplier and finally committed my self to a Hot Head torch a pair of Rose Didymium glasses, a graphite paddle, a marble mold and a large "sample pack" of Moretti glass. Was there about 30 minutes, figured that stop was about $5 a minute. Anyway, went on and had nice visit with niece and viewed the store she just became manager of, and took her to lunch. Ah ha! We now have a good torch and glass and tools, I must be a real "lampworker" now. Struggling around in my little shed that is a work shop was no fun so we decided to set up a "studio" in the enclosed porch on the side of house. Realizing I did not want MAPP gas cylinder in the middle of my work space, I went to local hardware store and purchased a hose that would allow the torch to be on the bench and the cylinder on floor. Bummer, Now I have no way to support the torch head. Did I mention I have made myself a pest on internet discussion sites of the last couple of weeks with endless questions! Another day, and other search of building supplies and hardware stores. Nothing out there is designed to support the torch head; guess I will have to build something. Back out to shop, a lot of cutting, bending , filing, grinding, brazing, a little paint and radiator hose clamp, I now have a pretty respectable torch mount, but another day gone and no beads made that day. As I drift off to sleep that night I realize that the table top in my studio is wood and I should have something on top of it to protect it from accidents. Hmmm, Wonder what I can use...... It's morning towards end of week four, I ask the question on internet site, "what are people using to protect bench tops"? replies are, stainless steel elevator doors (sure don't have any of those), aluminum plates, bricks, concrete tile backer board, sheet metal and a few other possibilities. As I'm taking my morning walk, I spy a auto oil drip pan in neighbors driveway. DING, inspiration strikes. Why not a diveway/garage oil drip pan. It is large and has rolled up smooth side like a baking sheet (for those who bake cookies, yum!). Ok where to find one, as usual plan to dedicate a whole day to searching one out because of past experiences, if I specifically want something, I can't find that object anywhere. Surprise, first auto parts store I visit, BAM!, there is rack with several of them . It's 25 X 36 inches and has 1/2 inch high smooth lip all around its edge and it's only $6.45. Lucky day. Better stop while I'm ahead, any way can spend rest of day setting up work area and relaxing. |
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| The arc welding hood to the left, will not work for any "soft" glass applications.
Oxy/acetylene welding/cutting glasses, shown to the right are not acceptable for any glass work. |
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| Left is a pair of sun glasses, YEP, don't even think about it.
Right is a pair of rose didymium safety glasses designed for soft glass - soda lime- work. |
| I have come a long ways in my working with my glass in the last few days, beads and colors improved dramatically with a good torch and proper fuel (there is a lesson here for anyone reading this). I am even brave enough to show my work to a few select people. I even get some real encouragement that they are "nice", even one suggestion I should give a "set" of them as a birthday gift (you know how sisters are).
I am also brave, I sent pictures of my work off to a fellow I am in contact with via e-mail, who seems agreeable to help a new bead maker. His response is not over critical, but suggests I need work more on shape of the bead, more practice with round beads, more practice with "donut" shaped beads. More practice on ends of beads where they meet the mandrel, to avoid sharp ends on the beads. More practice with bi-cone shaped beads to get the ends true and "not all wonkie" as one person described them. So I guess here I should say I am trying to work for consistent size and shape of a round bead, and a donut beads. Practice, practice and more practice. Did I mention I have made myself a pest on internet discussion sites of the last couple of weeks with endless questions! Well it's towards the end of week six. And my bi-cone beads are still wonkie, I have not mastered the bi-cone yet. My rounds and donuts are getting pretty good though. Have also come to conclusion that buying MAPP gas in 1 pound disposable tanks at $7.00 a pop at local home and building supply is going to get rather expensive. When to local welding supply and I am now in possession of a "customer owned cylinder" that I can refill at about 1/4 the price per pound of MAPP gas as disposable tanks. Now another subject. Disposable tanks. I now have a bunch of them lined up along the wall like little trophies. I can not seem to get rid of them because every place I try to dispose of the of them seem to think they are hazardous and will not take them. I ponder what disposable really means when you can't dispose of them?. AGGGGH!!! Also have decided to order the back issue of October 2001, Lapidary Journal as there is supposed to be a excellent article from Jim Smircich on how to control shape and forming of your beads. Conclusions at this point. (4-20-02) 1. You have to have a decent torch. A minimum of a HOT HEAD and MAPP gas, nothing less will do you any good. It will only cause you frustration and pain to try with anything less 2. You need to have a good reference materials and believe in it. Find all the books you can from libraries and book stores, buy the ones you think that will help you the most. Lots of good information available on internet. 3. Do not skimp on beginning tools, you don't need a lot, but a good torch (see #1) and Rose Didymium or AUR-92 glasses to protect your eyes from sodium flare when working with soft glass such as Moretti-Efferte. Also get at least one graphite paddle and some basic tools as scissors long nose pliers and tweezers. These can be rather inexpensive because they will get mucked up with glass and loose their temper with constant exposure to head over time. 4. Get a large selection of glass and many mandrels, make a lot of practice beads each day. At the beginning practice beads are more important that "show" beads. 5. Be careful, the glass and torch head will be HOT. 6. Protect your eyes, glass can shatter with improper heating and cutting techniques, small shards fly everywhere. (see #3) |
 | This is a terrible places to try to makes beads. Notice clutter and all kinds of safety hazards. |
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