Trying My Hand At Glass Pipe Making

pftek said:

I think i found this exact same piece in my gf's dresser drawer. i don't think she smokes out of it though.

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That's funny, I plan to make some of them too out of solid rod. =) =) =) Dildos sell for like $300 for a chunk of glass shaped like a peepee!

themistocles said:

Nice setup, your into some serious blowing.

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Aha, made me laugh especially with the comment above.

feva said:

damn nice you went balls deep! i wish you the best of luck looks like fdd got some competition or some mentoring ahead of him.

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fdd was my inspiration the entire time. Seeing what he did, and watching him dance to Stryker while working, and always having wanted to do it myself.

fdd2blk said:

subscribed and excited.

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yeah he inspired me too but i dont have the money thought about taking a class just to see if i really like it though.

This is the first pipe that didnt crack, cause problems, and look overall pretty nice.



The last 3 pipe attempts in order from ugly (left) to not so ugly (right)



To make this shape on the pipe, its melting and compressing in3 sections to collapse it onto itself. The coloring is from frit, which is ground up colored glass that gets rolled on while its still molten hot.

I felt really comfortable with this last one. Once the technique is over its onto making them prettier.

Bombadil said:

$3200, I'm psychic.

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why dont people just read properly lol btw how much did it cost u in total lmao

sweeeet setup m8 hope it all go's well.

lookin better already good job i see you test them for quality assurance. lol how soon before your shipin to riu members put me on the list

congrats on your success so far. That must be exciting smoking out of something that you made.

feva said:

lookin better already good job i see you test them for quality assurance. lol how soon before your shipin to riu members put me on the list

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Soon as the quality is good enough that I'd be HAPPY to have someone smoke from em. Took fdd what, 3 months-ish? I figure probably about the same............ The color and kilning is what I need to learn now and to get the technique a little better down pact. Thanks for the compliments.

you're making me nervous. here goes half my sales. lol

fdd2blk said:

you're making me nervous. here goes half my sales. lol

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BANN HIM fdd lmfao

Awesome stuff, nice setup! *Subscribed*

Fdd you don't have anything to worry about YET

I'd like to see a collaboration

sub'd

Wow that is quite the setup for someone just starting. You don't mess around. I have been manipulating glass for about 10 years if you have any questions. A class will really help with the learning curve.

I forgot to add that you should get a dewar liquid oxygen tank. The oxy generator will not be able to keep up with the redmax. I can't remember how many k tanks are in a dewar but it is a lot. You save money even if you let some of the tank vent off.

Thanks glassmanipulator.... There's a place close by that offers classes, and I've met a few local glass blowers who live in the state and hopefully we'll meet up here shortly too.

For the oxygen tanks right now I have two 150 tanks for that. It's nowhere near enough, each tank is a full days of torch time it seems.

There is an Oxygen Concentrator (not generator) that is capable of running the Red Max at 95% full power which is PLENTY for me! I have to dig up the link again, its buried in the glassblowing research folder. The manufacturer assures me that it'll be compatible, any torch higher and it would be insufficient. The concentrator was around $950 including shipping to the door, I just cant seem to find that link to it right now.

i go thru a full sized bottle of oxy in 10 hours. i have 3 owner bottle i got off craigslist for cheap. when 2 are empty i run over and fill them. i am paying less than 20 a bottle. i have looked into liquid oxy. i use 3 bottles a week right now. at this point i think i'm cool with bottles. one heady spoon sale pays for my gas for the week.

i have never heard of anyone running anything more than a small bead torch on a concentrator. it will limit you if you ever upgrade. which you will if you enjoy this at all. i'm halfway to purchasing my GGT Mirage. if you do upgrade you will end up with a dusty concentrator sitting in the corner next to your liquid tank.

fdd2blk said:

i go thru a full sized bottle of oxy in 10 hours. i have 3 owner bottle i got off craigslist for cheap. when 2 are empty i run over and fill them. i am paying less than 20 a bottle. i have looked into liquid oxy. i use 3 bottles a week right now. at this point i think i'm cool with bottles. one heady spoon sale pays for my gas for the week.

i have never heard of anyone running anything more than a small bead torch on a concentrator. it will limit you if you ever upgrade. which you will if you enjoy this at all. i'm halfway to purchasing my GGT Mirage. if you do upgrade you will end up with a dusty concentrator sitting in the corner next to your liquid tank.

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I'm glad to hear how much Oxy you go through, I wasnt sure what was "normal" or not. I keep the oxygen at 20psi and the Propane at 6psi. Still learning the temperature of the flame, neutral vs oxidizing etc......

Originally, Oxygen Geneartor-wise, I was referred to the OG-20 (http://www.ogsi.com/og_20.php) -- so I called up the manufacturer and told them I'm a pipe maker that likes big heavy pieces, and use the Nortel Red Max. He said with my torch, the generator wasnt necessary, and that to run my torch at 85% of its heat (I typed 95% earlier, it isnt, it's 85%). I cant seem to locate the MODEL of the Oxygen Concentrator, but its on the website there and its price is $950 delivered.

Alternatively, http://www.ogsi.com/glass_artist_og_15_with_microboost_o2_compressor.php this looked pretty interesting too.

Tank refills here are $40. Kinda in the middle of nowhere so we get the welding gougers. I have two owner owned Oxy and one owner propane. Have a 500 gallon propane tank for the house too, figure I'll tap into that eventually but the tank lasts soooooooooooo long it isnt necessary yet...........

Whats your thoughts on lugging refill tanks around, tank filling compressors, and concentrators? Any torch larger than the Red Max wont work with the concentrator either, but I cant figure why I'd ever really need to upgrade the torch?

Thanks!

I envy you guys with glass blowers close by. In the state Im from there is only me and the guy that taught me. The only other glass blowers I have met in town are old ladys that make beads in their spare time.

I have never heard of a concentrator that will do that either. I agree that even if it works now, you will eventually want to upgrade. Liquid is where its at. A tank last me 3-4 weeks.

This awesome! Great setup FDD has made me want to start also. Just dont have those kind of funds Im scribed!!

my gas people started me at 35 a bottle. after a few months i talked to the billing dude and he dropped me down to 21 a bottle. after a year i talked to my buddy who works within and he got me down even lower. they usually fill their own bottles so if you talk to them they can work with you. the more you use the cheaper it should become. it's hard at first because you aren't getting much back from your bottle. i would go thru a whole bottle and be lucky to sell one thing to pay for it. so you kinda are "investing" in oxygen your first few months.

i want a new torch. ====>> http://www.mountainglassarts.com/s.nl/it.A/id.2018/.f

wow 1800 I had no Idea the torches where that expensive.

That reminds me I need a new slide. I just busted my old one, the first Fadedglass I have broken.

It was dropped on the concrete basement floor.
going to go check out our inventory right now.