Poking a hole in molten glass

[girlfriday1962]

Just a newbie question... I want to make a hole right through a bead as I am making it... like a handle on a jug as an example. I need to know if you heat a tungsten probe to do this, as well as the area to be poked. Also, does it take a couple of attempts to do it (reheating and re-poking the area)? Thanks!

[ShellyD]

Maxine, if I recall from some DVD's I've seen. Need to watch them again
It is a reheat and keep poking from one side then the other until you get through. Once you have got a hole, I think you use an Octagonal reamer to make it larger. Maybe someone who knows for definite can step in.

Later

[ValorieCox]

Originally Posted by ShellyD

Maxine, if I recall from some DVD's I've seen. Need to watch them again
It is a reheat and keep poking from one side then the other until you get through. Once you have got a hole, I think you use an Octagonal reamer to make it larger. Maybe someone who knows for definite can step in.

Later

Shelly, yes that's how I do it too. A heated tungston tool to poke through the molten glass, and then a graphite tapered tool, (which is a material the glass will not stick to) for cleaning up and shaping the opening, such as a handle. Yes, sometimes a couple attempts are needed. Val

[Mark Wilson]

i have only done this a couple of times so i am no expert on it. but the glass should NOT be molten but still hot. i use a sharpened tungsten tip in a dremel moto-tool. the tip is rotating and it is heated glowing hot by a torch. the tip then is slowly inserted into the glass. keep the glass warm, but not molten, keep the tip very hot and rotating. if the glass is molten, it will distort and could also also stick to the tip.

[ValorieCox]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

... keep the glass warm, but not molten, keep the tip very hot and rotating. if the glass is molten, it will distort and could also also stick to the tip.

Absolutely, thank you Mark for clarifying that. I said molten, but hot and soft glass is more correct...with a very hot tungsten tip.

I found it can take a little more strength than you expect to push through the glass. Let us know how it works for you girlfriday. Val

[girlfriday1962]

Thanks for the help! It worked! I can see I need practice though, but at least it is another technique I can add to my list!

[Dream Fire]

OK just a quick tip from the safety patrol. NEVER heat the tungston to a white hot. Really bad fumes. Red hot is Great. White hot NO.
Love Ya, Sam

[girlfriday1962]

Thanks for that tip! Much obliged!

[jonibirds]

I ran across this thread when I was checking out google to see if my tutorial comes up when you search this issue. So I thought I would share. I wrote a tutorial on how to make a tool that will do this! It works really great! I had learned to make the off mandrel hearts but could not figure out the hole. So I was determined to make a tool, and I did! It makes the hole in one step! It's pretty cool!
The tutorial is for sale on Etsy
www.boneyardbobs.etsy.com

You might like it!

[Juabeads]

Hello Everyone
I think this is my first post, so please bare with me. I've been trying to make off-mandrel pendants only to have problems w/the hole. I've tried making the loop in the back, but it usually ends up crooked.
I've also tried one of the tools that look something like this: ^ & it has bent-in pokey things. (Sorry for the bad description). You squeeze it & it either pokes a slight hole or makes a mark on both sides of the glass. I'm not sure what it's really for, but I've also tried it to make marks to try to line up dots. If I take too long, it sticks to the glass a little.
Val & ShellyD, I've tried the tungsten pick but end up making a crooked poke. Maybe I am working too hot & not out farther away?? I do have a graphite reamer but have not tried using that after I poke, so I'll try that too. Anyway, thanks for the advice everyone. I'll have to ppp a lot more!

[jonibirds]

You may want to make the Tool in my tutorial. It's much different than what you describe and the peter tweezers! Really, it works awesome! ;c)

[4PawsGls]

I use a bail biter - looks like a long needle nose plier. Works great. Check out Mountain Glass Arts. They carry them and give a good description on how to use them.

[5betsy]

Another tool you can use is called a towel clamp. Pretty cheap on Amazon.

[Khan_onthecomp]

Its sooooo simple... just take a pair of needle nose pliers ... get the kind with the long round jaws... and bend the ends so they are pushing towards each other. So the very tips are pointed exactly towards each other...so when you squeeze the pliers the tips will go together and thru the glass. Heat up your glass and then just sqeeze gently... you got a hole all the way thru.

Khan

[Khan_onthecomp]

I made a pair just like what i discribe above and i just used tweezers and that worked fine. The needle nose work even better.

Khan