Author: Steve K

What’s the best way to clean a thermal banger?

We find it best to clean it out after each use with a Tidy Tip.

If it gets too dirty, soaking in a super soaker will help clean it.  Alcohol works great, but to get it, even more, try resinate.

Never heat alcohol in a microwave for more than 10 seconds.

NEVER EVER heat alcohol in a sealed container

NEVER EVER breath the fumes from alcohol, this is why we say do not heat alcohol, Its better to just let is sit longer.  We only mention the 10 second thing as people have been heating for a long time.  We just want you to be careful as alcohol can cause you to go blind and damage your lungs.  ISO alcohol is NOT the same as the alcohol you drink.

 

What is the best way to keep my EOK dish for SSV clean?

We suggest after each dab using our tidy tips! Use the flat side to mop up what’s leftover then use the pointy side for getting anything in the creases!

If you need some extra cleaning help it is great to use a wet paper towel and let a few drops drip into the dab dish.  Be careful not to burn yourself as the water will turn to HOT steam very fast.   BE CAREFUL

What is the oxygen tank used for when using a glassblowing torch?

The oxygen is used to get the flame hotter. Oxygen is what allows things to burn.  With no oxygen, there is no flame.  Oxygen in the air will allow a propane or natural gas fuel to burn, but not at its maximum temperature.  This is where oxygen comes in.

Oxygen is not flammable, but oxygen will cause any flame to be MUCH bigger than it would be.  So oxygen does fall into the category of a burning hazard.

To learn how oxygen effect a flame you can see our terms and techniques

Neutral

Reduction

Oxidizing

 

How is iridescent glass made?

It is made by fuming metals onto the glass.  Its kinda like dichro, but not in a vacuum, and yes, still different

Here is a neat soft glass video.

Do all CFL colors have to be transparent? Are there any opaque CFL colors?

No.  Some colors will change that are opaque.  When canary gets worked it will glow yellow also in UV, but it not worked a lot it does not glow.  We have no clue why this happens.

Other companies also have colors that change and are opaque.  This is a neat time in the color world for borosilicate glass as there are more and more companies making color.  In turn competing with colors, in turn giving us dope new colors!

Exp. #89 Opaque CFL Reactive is one color by Northstar that is opaque