Lampwork Etc.
 
TrueDesign

LE Live Chat

Enter Live Chat

No users in chat




Glacial Art Glass


 

Go Back   Lampwork Etc. > Library > Tips, Techniques, and Questions

Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 2014-01-30, 3:34pm
MardiGrasGlass's Avatar
MardiGrasGlass MardiGrasGlass is offline
Linda Linda Honey, lookit
 
Join Date: Oct 31, 2008
Location: Almost paradise... ccept for the humidity.
Posts: 951
Question Glass & Copper Wire....

Anyone ever successfully put 104 on copper wire - cause I have two questions.

1. Melting temps of copper are around 1900 degrees, did you have any issues with it softening and bending?

2. What gauge wire did you use, and what length did you have to use to be able to handle it since copper is an excellent heat conductor?


I want to put glass ON a wire that is thick enough to hold shape, but small enough that I can bend it after annealing, and have the glass stay there. So basically, working without bead release.
__________________
Christopher

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2014-01-30, 3:48pm
MaryBeth's Avatar
MaryBeth MaryBeth is offline
novembersfyre everywhere
 
Join Date: Jun 11, 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,833
Default

I've made a bunch of glass headpins directly on copper wire. I tend to use mostly 18 and 20 gauge but I have used 16. I've had no issues with the glass coming off of the copper. The copper is nice and soft after annealing.

Edited to say: just briefly warm the end of the wire in the flame and apply the glass to the wire (keep the wire out of the flame while applying the glass).
__________________
Mary Beth


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2014-01-30, 3:52pm
losthelm losthelm is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 27, 2008
Location: Albion NY
Posts: 517
Default

Late last year there was a tutorial in step by step wire work useing tompson enamels with copper wire.
You local library may have a subscription.
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 2014-01-30, 4:04pm
queenofsheba52 queenofsheba52 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 22, 2012
Posts: 443
Default

Chris, I make flowers on copper wire. I use 18 gauge but can use 20 in a pinch. Just like MaryBeth said, warm your wire a little so the glass will stick. I use about a three inch piece and use a hemostat to hold the wire. After I anneal the copper wire is black, but a little scrubbing with Comet or Bon Ami makes the wire shiny again. It is very easy to make a loop in the wire.

Good luck!
Helene
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 2014-01-30, 4:12pm
Elizabeth Beads's Avatar
Elizabeth Beads Elizabeth Beads is offline
Lampworkaholic!
 
Join Date: Apr 22, 2008
Location: Cornelius, NC - because weather
Posts: 5,158
Default

20 gauge wire will melt in the flame quite quickly. Keep the flame on the glass, barely flash the wire to pre-warm it.

I use a pin vise from Arrow Springs to hold it.

You can pickle the wire to remove fire scale after your piece comes out of the kiln.
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

"And all will turn to silver glass, a light on the water, grey ships pass into the west." Annie Lennox
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 2014-01-30, 8:33pm
Eileen's Avatar
Eileen Eileen is offline
Loving learning
 
Join Date: Oct 11, 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 11,650
Default

Christopher, I don't know what gauge this is, 20ga or heavier though I think. I haven't tried it on thinner, I was just playing with my new leaf masher. I used a piece about six inches long I think, then just wrapped the rest. I did use it in a short holder from Agate58 (is that right?), didn't have a pin vice handy.


I used a piece of 0000 steel wool to clean the wire off before I wrapped it.
__________________
My current "hot" fantasy involves a senior discount on glass & tools!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 2014-02-01, 5:45am
labelleperle's Avatar
labelleperle labelleperle is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 30, 2009
Location: Perth, West Australia
Posts: 278
Default

Most of my work is headpins made on copper wire. I have gone as fine as 24 gauge for some projects but mostly use 22 gauge. As already mentioned, I use a pin vise to hold the wire, and just flash the tip in the flame. You can also precut your glass rod ( I use about a half inch), soften the glass in the flame and plunge the heated wire into it, rather than wrapping the glass on the wire.
__________________
It's not about having what you want - it's wanting what you have.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 2014-02-02, 1:40pm
allicat's Avatar
allicat allicat is offline
Senior Moment
 
Join Date: Jun 16, 2012
Location: New Yawk
Posts: 4,161
Default

24 gauge works fine, but you'll need to clean the scale off afterwards:

Name:  IMG_6225-001.jpg
Views: 608
Size:  27.1 KB
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


I never finish anything. I have a black belt in partial arts.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 2014-02-02, 4:41pm
AmorphousDesigns's Avatar
AmorphousDesigns AmorphousDesigns is offline
Wonder-wench
 
Join Date: Aug 09, 2010
Location: land of milk & honey
Posts: 1,104
Default

love your headpins Allicat
__________________
Elizabeth

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 2014-02-02, 4:58pm
glass obsessed's Avatar
glass obsessed glass obsessed is offline
Katherine
 
Join Date: May 27, 2009
Location: Santa Fe, NM - the land of enchantment
Posts: 335
Default

Many of us have make Bell Flowers on cooper wire and many images are posted on a variety of Bell Flower threads using mostly cooper wire or German silver wire. Here is one of the thread: http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...ht=bell+flower
__________________
Katherine

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 1:39am.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Your IP: 3.88.60.5