Optic molds are used to give glass texture. Bubble trap can be created from this Sometimes people will use these for simple millies (mostly soft glass) and is used commonly in soft glass, not so much in boro work
Fuming shows up against dark colors or blacks much better than lighter colors or clear. When you go ahead a fume a dark piece of glass, the effects of the fuming automatically show up. This is for artists who want their piece to show the fuming effects right off the bat, instead of having to …
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A frog used for bubble trap is the same thing that florists use for flowers. See our blog for implosion
Slumping glass is a highly technical operation that is subject to many variations, both controlled and uncontrolled. When an item is being slumped in a kiln, the mold over which it is being formed (which can be made of either ceramic, sand or metal) must be coated with a release agent that will stop the …
A Gilson terp pearl or a Gilson encased terp pearl will both last about the same time. We feel an encased opal may last longer as the opal never gets any oil in it. But we also feel that the opal is compatible with glass, so it will not absorb oils. Really you can get …
Boro sticks makes some really good pastel colors as well as some other new companies. We find pastel colors are still new to the game and a bit shocky. As of now soft glass has many more pastel colors.
The more minerals the harder it is to work. So jet black could be that. But then there are also colors like cadmium based that too much heat will cause to boil. Cadmiums we feel are the hardest to work as they take the most time. No color is really harder to work than another, …
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The simple answer is no. What a person can do is slowly move up the chain of compatibility. While 33 and 34 are not comparable fully, they will work, then you can do 34 to 35 and move all the way up to 104. This would only make a rod of different glass, and not …
Yes, quartz is quartz and anyone who says different needs more education. Most quartz is made in China. It is then sent to the USA and is worked by Americans. Affordable bangers are cheaper in price usually because they are fully worked in China, or they are using thinner quartz glass. The thicker the quartz …
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 …
Continue reading “What is the oxygen tank used for when using a glassblowing torch?”