Lampwork Etc.
 
Mountain Glass Arts

LE Live Chat

Enter Live Chat

No users in chat


Jelveh Designs - Glass Beads Torched One-by-One

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 2009-09-26, 10:13am
!ngridh !ngridh is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 13, 2005
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 1,192
Default Why aren't you blowing your own shards?

I guess I don't get it...I have a ? blow pipe...hollow mandrel? it is maybe
1/4 inch ok maybe a bit more...

it is very easy to blow shards...with a little practice

IF I can do it you can do it...and no one showed me how...it is intuitive.

you start by winding the glass around the tip...and slowly add glass for a disk...
then build it out etc...using some heat from the flame.... I would think this would be intuitive...like making a hollow bead....of course you can't have holes...
but you want the shards ...the glob you are adding and blowing isn't the finished product so don't be so fussy about your process...if you get a hold heat up some glass and cover it...just do this slowly....good grief I have so many bits and pieces of glass on my work table ...I could melt them all together and make them into shards until the proverbial cows come home ))
__________________
Never lose your sense of awe.

Beads galore at my ebay store!

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


Minor with a REGALIA heavenly!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2009-09-26, 10:15am
jamie lynne's Avatar
jamie lynne jamie lynne is offline
Tweedle Dumb
 
Join Date: Jan 16, 2009
Location: Dolphins are just gay sharks.
Posts: 1,934
Default

Yeah! I blow my own too... they are addictive to make... so many shorts to use up so little time!
__________________
Jamie Lynne (aka Bitty)
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.
<Click For My Latest Murrini!

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
<Click! For Pandora Style Beads!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2009-09-26, 10:18am
Moth Moth is offline
Mary Lockwood
 
Join Date: Jun 21, 2005
Location: Boonies
Posts: 5,831
Default

Probably for the same reason people don't make their own twisties or canes or murrini. They either hate to do it, don't think they can, or don't want to take the time to do it when their torch time is limited they want to make beads...not components. Maybe it is cheaper to pay $4 for finished shards than it is to buy a 1/4 pound of the glass, pay to ship it and then spend time blowing the shards.

I personally love to make all my own parts, but not everybody does.
__________________

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
  #4  
Old 2009-09-26, 10:51am
missbatteries's Avatar
missbatteries missbatteries is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 11, 2006
Location: TX
Posts: 586
Default

because mine suck...they end up being too thin and it takes me forever to get one done. I wish I knew the trick. I've watched others do it and tried to mimic what they've done, but again....mine suck!
-elaine
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 2009-09-26, 10:56am
Jayne's Avatar
Jayne Jayne is offline
Just Plain
 
Join Date: Jun 18, 2005
Location: Trevor, Wisconsin
Posts: 4,279
Default

I've done it, but prefer to spend my very limited torch time making beads. Same with murrini
__________________

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
  #6  
Old 2009-09-26, 11:10am
polka dottie's Avatar
polka dottie polka dottie is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 16, 2006
Location: New Hampshire Seacoast
Posts: 756
Default

because i get much prettier shards from people who have lots of great glass to combine and who know how to combine it to make terrific shards. ....kath
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 2009-09-26, 12:49pm
GlassGalore's Avatar
GlassGalore GlassGalore is offline
Live and Let Live
 
Join Date: May 06, 2007
Location: Southern NH
Posts: 2,292
Default

Because mine end up too thick or I get a huge blow-out like cellophane flying around which is very hazardous to breathe and I can't seem to find that 'middle ground' where they come out usable still...
__________________
Lisa ~~burning a Mega Minor on 2 M10's~~
This life is more than just a read-through. ~Anthony Kiedis


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 2009-09-26, 12:53pm
*Naos*'s Avatar
*Naos* *Naos* is offline
Etch Fiend Organic Junky
 
Join Date: Mar 31, 2006
Location: Arvada (Denver), CO
Posts: 11,443
Default

I don't have time for it and I also don't mind supporting our community.
__________________
-Amber
Naos Glass and Jewelry Supply - ~*~ Custom Orders Happily Accepted~*~

...
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 2009-09-26, 1:00pm
Gelly's Avatar
Gelly Gelly is offline
Smile, it's contagious!
 
Join Date: Oct 31, 2005
Location: Location: Location
Posts: 4,938
Default

Making shards on my HH takes about 3 years... I'd rather do other things with that time.
__________________
Squid says I'm a special kind of Bithc.
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.

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.


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.

Some people are like a Slinky... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 2009-09-26, 2:58pm
ellyloo's Avatar
ellyloo ellyloo is offline
Ellyloo-YAH!
 
Join Date: Aug 01, 2006
Location: Port Colborne
Posts: 2,775
Default

I don't like them when I do it.
Plus, i like the people I buy them from.
It's fun to buy from friends.
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 2009-09-26, 3:39pm
PerfectDeb's Avatar
PerfectDeb PerfectDeb is offline
Unmedicated since '62
 
Join Date: Jan 18, 2009
Location: Hunter Valley, Australia
Posts: 5,907
Default

i love making my own stuff - when i make jewellery i try really hard to not use bought components at all
__________________
Deb

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.
- my 17yo sons first novel


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.
- download, get organised, enjoy
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 2009-09-26, 4:07pm
playswithfire104's Avatar
playswithfire104 playswithfire104 is offline
Dangerous Woman
 
Join Date: Nov 21, 2005
Location: Southcentral PA
Posts: 5,018
Default

I love to make shards, twisties, ribbon and other complex cane, stringers, and I'm getting into making murrini. My problem is I don't use them!!! Maybe I should sell them.
__________________
Nancy

May your torch burn brightly and your oxy never run out. - Karen Hardy


On a Cheetah with a hurricane Still have my Lynx as a back up.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 2009-09-26, 4:38pm
Debbie's Avatar
Debbie Debbie is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 10, 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 6,485
Default

I can't imagine paying for shards. If I couldn't do it, I'd figure it out. It's not THAT time-consuming.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 2009-09-26, 4:49pm
PyroBarry's Avatar
PyroBarry PyroBarry is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 07, 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 679
Default

I have a few reasons why some people don't make their own shards.

1) We have customers who do several of the big shows across the U.S. They tell us they don't have time to make shards. They need to spend their time making beads so they have stuff to sell.

2) Some peoples skill level is not there yet.

3) Some don't want to learn how. They just want to make beads.
__________________
Jesus didn't wear socks with his sandals, you shouldn't either.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 2009-09-26, 5:17pm
PaulaD's Avatar
PaulaD PaulaD is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 11, 2005
Location: SUNNY FLORIDA~West Coast!
Posts: 9,423
Default

Jen Geldard has a really nice (FREE) tutorial on her website on how to blow shards for those that want to make their own! We blew them in classes at Tin City and they were a lot of fun!!
Paula
__________________

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

Still North America's Largest Lauscha Dealer!
Now reopened in South Florida!!
Like US on Facebook !
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 2009-09-26, 6:14pm
infernoglassbeads's Avatar
infernoglassbeads infernoglassbeads is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 01, 2005
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 1,061
Default

I like supporting other artists who have taken considerable time to come up with cool reactions and recipes...like someone else said, I'd rather spend my limited bead-making time making beads.
__________________
Rachel

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
  #17  
Old 2009-09-26, 7:15pm
Ravenesque Ravenesque is offline
Naysayer
 
Join Date: Sep 22, 2009
Posts: 1,203
Default

I'm on a HH and make shards, it doesn't take long at all, in fact about 2 years ago I thought of selling them but I didn't think there was a want. *silly*
I don't think it takes much skill. I was making them on a fireworks torch even lol! It's fun to break them too

I do see some nice ones out there, and I would buy, or should I say will when I can, but I'll also keep making my own.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 2009-09-26, 7:21pm
Nicker's Avatar
Nicker Nicker is offline
Broken
 
Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Victoria BC/Stettler Alberta
Posts: 13,418
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by *Naos* View Post
I don't have time for it and I also don't mind supporting our community.
Plus mine SUCK!

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulaD View Post
Jen Geldard has a really nice (FREE) tutorial on her website on how to blow shards for those that want to make their own! We blew them in classes at Tin City and they were a lot of fun!!
Paula
Jen showed me in Chinook (she's such a sweetheart) and mine still SUCK LOL
__________________
You are on this planet for a reason, find it.


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
  #19  
Old 2009-09-26, 7:54pm
CCraig's Avatar
CCraig CCraig is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 28, 2005
Posts: 541
Default

I am one of those people who do the larger bead shows and would rather spend my time making beads to make money than making shards. I also pay a studio assistant to clean my beads though. My torch time is worth about $100 an hour when I make beads, NOT when I make shards or clean beads though....... Just my 2 cents
__________________
Cindy
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 2009-09-26, 9:01pm
menty666's Avatar
menty666 menty666 is offline
Borovangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 26, 2007
Location: Auburn, MA
Posts: 3,002
Default

I can make bread but I buy it in the store. I can smack a rod of glass with a hammer to make frit but I buy that sometimes too. Sometimes for the sake of expediency it's easier to just buy certain things.

Plus this way I can play with some colors I don't already own.

For what it's worth, though, I make ornaments this time of year and some of them to wind up as (boro) shards.
__________________
-Tom

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
  #21  
Old 2009-09-27, 8:47am
likes to make glass stuff likes to make glass stuff is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 06, 2009
Posts: 501
Default

For the same reason folks buy commercially pulled stringers. Because I don't want to blow my own. Especially this time of year, my time at the torch is better spent making things rather than doing prep work.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 2009-09-27, 8:47am
SquareOneBeads's Avatar
SquareOneBeads SquareOneBeads is offline
High Maintenance
 
Join Date: Jun 19, 2005
Location: A Godless F@#K Palace with Yarn
Posts: 6,438
Default

I make my own when I want shards out of a color I have but a lot of the shards out there are made from colors I don't have and don't need so when that's the case its much cheaper and faster just to buy some shards rather than buy glass, pay to ship it, and then make shards.
__________________
Get your hand dyed yarn here. Custom orders welcome.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 2009-09-27, 9:21am
lunamoonshadow's Avatar
lunamoonshadow lunamoonshadow is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: Yarmouth, Maine...home of the Clamfest
Posts: 7,693
Default

Lots of reasons:

1) Mine suck.

2) To get a silver color I'd have to pay $25 for a quarter pound of the glass, PLUS some shipping, PLUS make a "decent" shard (again, mine suck) & then I *might* hate the result. I can get a bit of the color to "try" for a couple bucks--try it out, see if I like it for a minimum of cash outlay. And a fraction of an ounce can last me MONTHS with the fraction of time I get to torch. For $25+ shipping (what I'd pay for ONE color of silver glass) I can try a couple DOZEN colors of shards--enough to try DOZENS of colors--and eliminate HUNDREDS of DOLLARS from my glass budget, or narrow down a few colors of "must have" for what works best "for me & my torch/working style" Same goes for frit.
How often do you see posts in the garage sale of "I hate this glass" (I'm sure the long-time members remember the "I hate raku" sales from folks who bought pounds of it, I'm still occasionally seeing "I hate chalcedony" posts & "I hate XXX" posts about specific DH/TAG colors ...a few dollars on frit/shards can avert that!)

3) Blowing shards AT HOME scares me--I have cats--they stay away from the torch, but because I suck @ blowing, if I get "cellophane" bits, I'm always afraid I'll miss a few bits @ cleanup & the cats will get them in paws, or breathe them, or whatever...it's SAFER for me to buy them!

4) I still can't make hollow beads (rofl) consistently.

5) I'd rather make a bead than blow shards....or pull stringers for that matter--unless it's something "cool", like a striped cane, or a color I can't get in stringer--if the price is the same, it seems silly to pull white, black, etc! there's no creativity in being able to pull a piece of white just so I can use it to "poke & twist"!

6) echoing that I'd rather support the community--there are so many people who can take glass, melt it up, turn it into fabulous shards that do fabulous things in record time & make a bit of profit off it, why *wouldn't* I support them? If they can do in 5 minutes what takes me 2 hours to do, it just makes sense! That way MY 20 minute bead that I'm only gonna be able to sell for $7 still makes ME a bit of profit

~luna
__________________
And if I laugh at any mortal thing, ‘Tis that I may not weep...” ~Lord Byron

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.

new purple cricket @ home! minicc @ playing with fire in rockland! Sue & Nikki fighting over who gets to anneal the wonkies
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 2009-09-27, 9:37am
Chuckie's Avatar
Chuckie Chuckie is offline
Looking for my waistline
 
Join Date: Sep 13, 2005
Location: Greer, SC
Posts: 3,025
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by missbatteries View Post
because mine suck...they end up being too thin and it takes me forever to get one done. I wish I knew the trick. I've watched others do it and tried to mimic what they've done, but again....mine suck!
-elaine
You're probably making your hollow base too thin. When people say it's "like" making a hollow bead, they don't mean to make a hollow bead and blow it out. You have to make the walls a lot thicker than if you're making a hollow bead. When you make the walls thicker, it's easier to build the hollow shape. It doesn't collapse as easily as a hollow bead with it's thin little wall of glass. It holds it's shape better when the walls are thicker.
__________________
"The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had." -- Eric Schmidt
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 2009-09-27, 10:07am
ChaseDesigns's Avatar
ChaseDesigns ChaseDesigns is offline
Formerly Travelin'gal
 
Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Cajun Country
Posts: 14,359
Default

I can blow shards, but if I see a pretty shard combo for sale, I'd likely try it.

Is it any different than buying frit? Sure I could make my own frit, but I really don't want to. And what about those pretty combos Val and others come up with?

I could also make my own silver glass for that matter, but I sure as heck and not going to do that.

Everyone has different priorities.
__________________
Deanna
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.


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.
~
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
  #26  
Old 2009-09-27, 3:39pm
Ruth Nichols's Avatar
Ruth Nichols Ruth Nichols is offline
In spite of it all!
 
Join Date: Aug 19, 2005
Location: Bend Oregon
Posts: 4,724
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by *Naos* View Post
I don't have time for it and I also don't mind supporting our community.

yup.... just my nickels worth.... supporting the folks I like, that have great fun stuff and it causes great connections! What a fun circle of friends to have!

Isn't connecting and making new friends the REAL point?? lol.... OK... well, it is to me!
__________________

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


Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us. ~ Stephen Covey


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 2009-09-27, 4:33pm
Ruth Nichols's Avatar
Ruth Nichols Ruth Nichols is offline
In spite of it all!
 
Join Date: Aug 19, 2005
Location: Bend Oregon
Posts: 4,724
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lunamoonshadow View Post
I suck @ blowing
~luna
Really??? Jeez... I would never have thought THAT!







Hugs!
__________________

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


Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us. ~ Stephen Covey


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 2009-09-27, 4:44pm
lunamoonshadow's Avatar
lunamoonshadow lunamoonshadow is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: Yarmouth, Maine...home of the Clamfest
Posts: 7,693
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth Nichols View Post
Really??? Jeez... I would never have thought THAT!







Hugs!
Well, think about it Ruf....
__________________
And if I laugh at any mortal thing, ‘Tis that I may not weep...” ~Lord Byron

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.

new purple cricket @ home! minicc @ playing with fire in rockland! Sue & Nikki fighting over who gets to anneal the wonkies
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 2009-10-12, 10:46pm
gemsinbloom's Avatar
gemsinbloom gemsinbloom is offline
Jacqueline Parkes
 
Join Date: Nov 04, 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 4,497
Default

Bump. What size hollow mandrel do I need to purchase to blow shards? I am itching to try this............
__________________

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
  #30  
Old 2009-10-12, 11:11pm
DesertDreamer's Avatar
DesertDreamer DesertDreamer is offline
Ad astra per aspera
 
Join Date: Jun 15, 2005
Location: Apache Junction AZ
Posts: 7,324
Default

I know how to make them, I'm not too bad at it, either, but I'd much rather spend my time making beads than blowing shards. Half the year, I have very limited bead-making time, and I prefer to make beads, not components. In the winter I spend a lot of time pulling stringer and making twisties. I cheerfully buy shards and murrini from those more talented and more willing, because it saves me time. Same reason I buy pasta and bread.
__________________
Karen Sherwood

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 3:16am.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Your IP: 3.85.215.164