studio sereis glory hole lighting procedure

zot · #1 2011-04-02, 1:40pm

Wasnt exactly sure were to write about this but i had seen a few members have used the studio series glory hole.
I recently bought one off ebay and dont know the lighting procedure for it.
Wasnt sure if you have the blower on when you light it?
If you light it through the front? Ect

Dont want to blow anything up just because i want to work some glass.

I did contact glass obbsessions but i guess scince i didnt buy it from them they dont want to help.

thanks for your help

RSimmons · #2 2011-04-02, 6:30pm

If memory serves, and it's been a while since I worked with Don, you turn on the gas, light the burner head and turn on the blower. I remember reaching in the front with a fireplace lighter to light the burner head, then turning on the blower. So long as you don't let the fuel gas run for a long time without lighting it you're not likely to blow yourself up. Cool buy off eBay - I'd love to have one myself.

Robert

laserglass · #3 2011-04-03, 9:16am

i would turn the fan on and adjust the baffle plate over the fan down low so only a little air is blown into the burner. then turn light a handheld propane torch. place the torch at the exit of the burner and turn on the gas until you get a stable flame. then you can adjust the air, then the gas, then the air, then the gas...repeat, until you get the best hottest neutral flame. once you have done this, you do not need to fiddle with the air again, just turn on the blower. be advised that those small gloryhole's are basically a POS and that the flame can go out easily until the inside of the gloryhole gets hot. also note that most of them are insulated with frax fiber blanket material thus are a respritory hazard unless periodically sprayed with rigidizer.

cheng076 · #4 2011-04-03, 9:55am

Standard Furnace lighting method;
Purge furnace of combustables and establish air flow (in case vent is blocked),
Adjust air to minimum flow,
Turn on fuel and light flame,
As Dale says, raise air, raise fuel, etc until optimal,
Monitor closely until stable.

Mike H · #5 2011-04-03, 10:32am

As I recall, these gloryholes do not have an adjustment for the air, just the fuel.
My friend has one and I helped her fire it up for the first time.
The way I lit it was, I stood off to the side that the fuel valve is on holding a lit plumbers torch by the bottom of the canister ( making sure your hand in not in front of the opening but to the side because it will burn all the hair off your hand and arm ) pointed into the hole while the blower was running,
I slowly turned on the fuel valve until I heard it lite. As the gloryhole heats up you will start to see some flames coming out the front which means it is a reduction atmosphere, at that point you can turn down the fuel until you see the flame no longer coming out the front creating a neutral flame. You are now ready to blow glass!

zot · #6 2011-04-03, 10:38am

wow thanks for all the help.
I think their is a damper on the unit for the blower. Ill look it over

zot · #7 2011-04-03, 10:52am

the only other thing is it has abbq grill reg and hose. I was wondering about putting on a reg propane reg and flashback arrestor. Not sure what the psi of the propane is for this.
I suppose i should have bought one from the mfg

Mike H · #8 2011-04-03, 11:11am

That is great if you have a way to turn down the air. I think the regulator that comes with those is a 7 lb. You can put your own adjustable regulator and flashback arrestor on it. You can probably run your fuel at 4-5 psi.
As you use it you will develop your own system and it will be easy to dial in.
What are you planning on doing with it?

Dale M. · #9 2011-04-03, 11:38am

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheng076

Standard Furnace lighting method;
Purge furnace of combustables and establish air flow (in case vent is blocked),
Adjust air to minimum flow,
Turn on fuel and light flame,
As Dale says, raise air, raise fuel, etc until optimal,
Monitor closely until stable.

Umm... Think that was Mark...

Dale

zot · #10 2011-04-03, 12:07pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike H

That is great if you have a way to turn down the air. I think the regulator that comes with those is a 7 lb. You can put your own adjustable regulator and flashback arrestor on it. You can probably run your fuel at 4-5 psi.
As you use it you will develop your own system and it will be easy to dial in.
What are you planning on doing with it?

Going to make what i can out of it christmas balls tumblers ect.

laserglass · #11 2011-04-03, 5:59pm

No flashback arrestor is needed.

Mike H · #12 2011-04-03, 8:14pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by zot

Going to make what i can out of it christmas balls tumblers ect.

Nice. I hope you have fun with it. Keep us posted!

P.S. meaning post some pics of your set up

zot · #13 2011-04-04, 9:48am

Ill keep you posted and send some pics along.

laserglass · #14 2011-04-04, 10:53am

very important
1) no tanks inside larger than a 1 pound
2) propane/natural gas should be plumbed in with copper tubing.
3) have a master shut off valve for the gas located away from the gloryhole
4) IMHO i would have a baso safety valve with pilot burner for safety.
5) have a fire extinquisher located near by
6) no combustible materials near the gloryhole
7) you need good ventilation and make up air supplys
8 ) the air of your studio should be replaced every 2 minutes.

zot · #15 2011-04-04, 12:13pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by laserglass

very important
1) no tanks inside larger than a 1 pound
2) propane/natural gas should be plumbed in with copper tubing.
3) have a master shut off valve for the gas located away from the gloryhole
4) IMHO i would have a baso safety valve with pilot burner for safety.
5) have a fire extinquisher located near by
6) no combustible materials near the gloryhole
7) you need good ventilation and make up air supplys
8 ) the air of your studio should be replaced every 2 minutes.

Thanks mark

this little glory hole isnt like one im used to.
Basicly its an orfice screwed into a black pipe fitting with the air coming from underneath.
I dont know might just scrap it and use something i know about or atleast more comftorble with
again thanks for everyones input

Robyn · #16 2011-04-04, 1:26pm

Winston Doull in Germany makes something called The Grotto, which is a table top glory hole. I've seen him and my son working with it and if I had the space, I'd get one. Here's a link to his noisy demo. The Grotto

Mike H · #17 2011-04-04, 2:54pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by zot

this little glory hole isnt like one im used to.
Basicly its an orfice screwed into a black pipe fitting with the air coming from underneath.
I dont know might just scrap it and use something i know about or atleast more comftorble with
again thanks for everyones input

Don't scrap it, just melt some glass and have fun.

Dale M. · #18 2011-04-04, 4:00pm

Since blacksmiths are getting away for coal as a fuel source and going natural gas or propane...

This link could give you something to think about....

http://www.arscives.com/bladesign/forge.tutorial.htm

And...

http://ronreil.abana.org/minifor1.shtml

Don't see much difference from gas forge and glory hole...

Dale

Mike H · #19 2011-04-05, 8:28am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale M.

Since blacksmiths are getting away for coal as a fuel source and going natural gas or propane...

This link could give you something to think about....

http://www.arscives.com/bladesign/forge.tutorial.htm

And...

http://ronreil.abana.org/minifor1.shtml

Don't see much difference from gas forge and glory hole...

Dale

The main difference is that a forge is a venturi style burner which is a reduction flame and a gloryhole has a blower which produces a neutral flame.
You can still blow glass in a forge though. Mark Wilson's outside setup has a venturi burner I think.

laserglass · #20 2011-04-05, 9:06am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike H

The main difference is that a forge is a venturi style burner which is a reduction flame and a gloryhole has a blower which produces a neutral flame. You can still blow glass in a forge though. Mark Wilson's outside setup has a venturi burner I think.

yes my outside gloryhole has a venturi burner i made from steel pipe. but i would never use it inside for many reasons. it is less efficient so it generates hydrocarbons and NOx. i get natural ventilation outside so it isn't a problem, but inside it would be a problem. here is a link for more info.

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=60344

goldenearring · #21 2011-09-21, 12:07pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by laserglass

yes my outside gloryhole has a venturi burner i made from steel pipe. but i would never use it inside for many reasons. it is less efficient so it generates hydrocarbons and NOx. i get natural ventilation outside so it isn't a problem, but inside it would be a problem. here is a link for more info.

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=60344

I have a mixed opinion on this. I've only heard of one person using something like this indoors (in their garage) and lets just say he got a little sick, probably a good call to keep it naturally ventilated and have vented air conditioning. Hope this post isn't too old, just felt like chiming in, scald me if this is poor etiquette.

LarryC · #22 2011-09-21, 12:59pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldenearring

I've only heard of one person using something like this indoors (in their garage) and lets just say he got a little sick...probably a good call to keep it naturally ventilated. Hope this post isn't too old, just felt like chiming in, scald me if this is poor etiquette...

Aside from the hazard of the loose frax liner, which can be serious, They are perfectly fine for indoor use as long as you have sufficient ventilation. I would build one out of either castable refractory or fire brick if I needed one. All of these, except for the grotto, appear to have non rigidized frax liners which seems like a really bad idea.