I’ve not a lot to report at the moment, but I did try to take a few one-handed pictures of a 'galaxy' spiral marble; although some steps aren't shown clearly as I needed both hands for those!
This now takes a lot of time to melt and get the shape right, also getting rid of as many imperfections in the front to make a nice crystal clear lens. At the moment it's more of a 'bulge' shape.
Still rounding! This one I've popped a Gilson Opal inside, which would be done before adding the lens glass.
As round as I can get it, the supporting thin punty rod will now be removed, any scar left given a quick work over to remove, then it's into the kiln for a very long soak to anneal.
Hope you enjoyed that, obviously there are alot more stages between that I couldn't show, but hopefully this give you a bit more idea about how it all comes together from a few sticks of glass to a little ball!
It’s not tidy, but ready to work! The black ‘thing’ is a graphite marble mould, the marble is rounded out partly in the flame and partly by rotating in a mould that is too small to fit it – only the rim is used. Weird, yes, but it seems to work!
2nd step, getting rod hot ready to add the spiral
Spiral is made! I couldn't show this step very well as I needed both hands!
Added some glass to make a nice, and hopefully interesting, base!
I've melted more glass off the fat 10mm rod to make the front and attached a thin 4-5mm rod to the back to hold it - very much a two handed job that! The thin rod is a 'cold seal' so can easily be removed, although sometimes it can remove itself thus the pie tin in case it falls!
This now takes a lot of time to melt and get the shape right, also getting rid of as many imperfections in the front to make a nice crystal clear lens. At the moment it's more of a 'bulge' shape.
Getting there! Front now rounding out nicely, the back rod will be switched to front and back again as I try to get all parts even and smooth, using the rim of the marble mould to try and tame it into shape where needed.
Still rounding! This one I've popped a Gilson Opal inside, which would be done before adding the lens glass.
As round as I can get it, the supporting thin punty rod will now be removed, any scar left given a quick work over to remove, then it's into the kiln for a very long soak to anneal.
Hope you enjoyed that, obviously there are alot more stages between that I couldn't show, but hopefully this give you a bit more idea about how it all comes together from a few sticks of glass to a little ball!
oh fascinating - I was wondering how you did that. Still can't suss out how you hold it and get it into the kiln once you have removed the thin rod though!
ReplyDeleteI have some clamp things that I use for the big ones, and ballance, luck, speed and tweezers for small ones! If you click on the first workshop picture it brings up a larger picture, they are just under the safety glasses ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love process photos!
ReplyDeletewow! love it.
ReplyDeleteAha.. now I understand. Skill in other words :)
ReplyDeleteWow, that's really amazing!
ReplyDeletevery very cool.. thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletemona & the gaffergirls