Lampwork Etc.
 
Send a PM to CorriDawn!

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 2013-12-05, 11:10am
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default Concrete Bell Flower Press?

I am thinking of making my own Bell Flower Press out of Portland Cement using a paraffin wax mold to shape it.

I thought I would ask the LE collective mind if any problems can be seen with the idea.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2013-12-05, 11:19am
bob's Avatar
bob bob is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 02, 2007
Location: Nahant Ma
Posts: 1,901
Default

The only problem I see is you have to add some sort of matrix like sand and stone to give the cement strength. I would use a low fire clay you can get at any local pottery store. Once it is dry fire it to about 1400 degrees, you would have to use a kiln wash or bead release.
Bob
__________________

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.

e-mail:
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 2013-12-05, 11:22am
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

Any possibility of using bees wax instead of bead release or kiln wash?
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 2013-12-05, 12:23pm
bob's Avatar
bob bob is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 02, 2007
Location: Nahant Ma
Posts: 1,901
Default

Sorry Phil, I have never used bees wax so I don't know. I do know I have made alot of reusable moulds out of clay. Hopefully someone will come along with the answer to your question, I would be interested in the answer.
Bob
__________________

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.

e-mail:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 2013-12-05, 1:07pm
bshelle's Avatar
bshelle bshelle is offline
Shelarious
 
Join Date: Jul 18, 2007
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 1,953
Default

What are glass casting molds made out of? Do you have to break them to get the casting out?

What about a tapered mandrel? I think I've seen some vessel mandrels that are tapered. Poke hot ball of glass with it. Use tweezers to tweeze out the petals?
__________________
~Shelley


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 2013-12-05, 1:12pm
losthelm losthelm is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 27, 2008
Location: Albion NY
Posts: 517
Default

Regular cement is not a good idea.
It tends to hold moisture and pop when heated.
Sometimes with a lot of energy.

Ceramics like they use for slumping or kiln forming may be a better option.
__________________

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
  #7  
Old 2013-12-05, 2:56pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by losthelm View Post
Regular cement is not a good idea.
It tends to hold moisture and pop when heated.
Sometimes with a lot of energy.

Ceramics like they use for slumping or kiln forming may be a better option.
See? I knew someone would be able to tell why it hasn't been done before.

Good point. I'll see what I can find in the ceramic potters studio. Maybe refractory cement, the kind used to make brick kilns or smelters pots or crucibles. Hmmm. Have to give it more thought. Most likely I will wind up making a home brass forge and pouring my own brass.

Ah, who knows where this will wind up.

I will share it if I find something that works or doesn't work that has dangerous results. Thanks.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.

Last edited by Speedslug; 2013-12-05 at 2:59pm.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 2013-12-05, 4:17pm
bob's Avatar
bob bob is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 02, 2007
Location: Nahant Ma
Posts: 1,901
Default

That is one thing about this glass adventure, It leads in so many directions.
Bob
__________________

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.

e-mail:
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 2013-12-05, 4:21pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

Yeah ! I love that part of it. I think I have as much fun building tools and the studio as I do melting glass. I have a technical bent and I love creating things, especially when I am finding another purpose for something.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.

Last edited by Speedslug; 2013-12-05 at 4:28pm.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 2013-12-05, 6:22pm
KJohn's Avatar
KJohn KJohn is offline
Slogan Challenged...
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Maricopa, Arizona
Posts: 6,274
Default

Phil, would it be easier to carve some graphite blocks?
__________________
Kristin ~

Facebook:
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.

Etsy:
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
  #11  
Old 2013-12-05, 6:33pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

Yeah, I was thinking that earlier myself, Kristin.

I think Arrow Springs has some for not a whole lot. Boy, I was looking on the web for graphite and that stuff can get spendy.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 2013-12-05, 6:49pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

Also my carving skills end at the scars on my knuckles.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 2013-12-05, 6:59pm
RSimmons's Avatar
RSimmons RSimmons is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 01, 2005
Posts: 2,159
Default

Check out a material called Refractory Castable. Cement is likely to explode from retained moisture. It's is used with lost wax casting and and metal so it can take the heat.

Robert
__________________
Robert Simmons
(Former) Director for Bead Donations
Beads of Courage, Inc.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 2013-12-05, 7:07pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

Thanks Robert.


Does anyone know of another source for the brass bell flower press besides Italy?

I find it hard to think that they are the only makers on the planet.

I do realize that the Dona family are the best, though. I recognize quality. I just can't always afford it.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.

Last edited by Speedslug; 2013-12-05 at 7:20pm.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 2013-12-06, 6:08am
fionac fionac is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 07, 2012
Location: Oz
Posts: 195
Default

Phill, have you thought about metal clay? I have a couple of imprints I've made from bronzeclay that work great. Helgas and goldiebronze are fairly cheap and easy to work with ....
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 2013-12-06, 1:05pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

Oh cool. No, I had not thought of metal clay. That is exactly why I love the collective hive mind of LE. That may be answer I was looking for!! Thanks again.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 2013-12-08, 12:01pm
isaberg isaberg is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 08, 2010
Location: The warmer half of MN
Posts: 155
Default

If you come up with something, I'd love to hear how you did it! What a great project!
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 2013-12-08, 12:40pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

My "thinking 'bout it" phase can sometimes last for years but I promise to post what I come up with as and when I do.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bell, concrete, flower, press


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 4:56pm.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Your IP: 3.227.239.9