You are getting this way too hot. There is no need to get the glass red hot.
You can also upgrade to quartz if you do like to get your tip red hot. Quartz is thermal resistant and will not melt from the extra heat you give it from butane or propane torch.
Learn to use a dab straw here.
It all comes down to the COE of the elements put in the glass. Boro is 33 so it must be very very close to this or it will crack the glass as it cools.
Moldavite is actually very close to borosilicate glass molecularly (both mostly composing of SiO2), making it more stable for blowing compared to other crystals.
Small glass does not always mean affordable or cheap. Small glass can have a lot of time put into it, hence the higher price tag for small glass.
A small pipe may take the same time to make as a large pipe, the small intricate work is very difficult for a person to do.
There could be a few reasons.
Each time a piece of glass makes a hit, that hit can cause stress in the glass that you might not be able to see. As the stress builds up, this can cause the glass to break.
Just a scratch in glass can cause a nasty stress in the glass making that a weak point for potential breakage in the future.
Also, the angle of the hit has a huge role in how it will affect the glass. Glass
Why are some colors more “bubbly” than others? (i.e. slyme vs sublime)
This is due to the minerals that are added to the glass to get the color. Sometimes the minerals just keep boiling causing the air bubbles.
We also think this happens as the color companies may be in a rush to find new colors as, after time, the colors start to lose the bubbles when purchased from the manufacturer.
Round bubbles will not affect the quality of the glass. Sometimes bubbles are added to the glass for the look. As long as the bubble is round and has no acute angles, all is good.
The glassblower can push the opal into the glass, drop the opal in a tube and suck the air out. A good blower will make sure there are no air bubbles around the opal. Cut opals can be hard to completely remove the air, so it requires time and dedication.
These are basically the same thing. Really depending on what part of the country will determine what terminology is used.
The artist draws an image or pattern on the outside and then turns it inside out.
See a fillacello
See Flip Disc
Our blog on how to use a banger will really help you out with this. Please see the Bangers Banger Bangers blog.
Graphite can withstand a ton of heat. It is also very easy for a glassblower to shape graphite to a more usable tool compared to a hard metal like steel.
Basically carbon, it is the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions.
Graphite by a Glassblower – This will be found in any blowers arsenal. Usually it will be in flat plates that a blower will roll their glass on, or it will be in the form of a rod. The graphite can withstand shit tons of heat and can also be put in water without damage. Its easy to grind or carve for a simple mold.
