Trying My Hand At Glass Pipe Making
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researchkitty
Well-Known Member
Usually I post pictures of my work, if it isnt me as the author, it's probably someone showing an example of something. 
So Sr, the first picture is a reticello that has been partially filled in. The rest of them are standard reticellos.
Reticellos: Time to completion around 60-180 minutes depending on complexity
Reticellos are made by drawing straight lines on a tube in exact "o'clock" positions, then twisting the tube twice as far as you want the pattern to go, draw the exact same lines again straight down and terminate them at the same lines as the others. Then twist the tube the opposite direction half as far as the first time and then you have a reticello done. If you wanted to fill some in as in picture #1, you'd fill in the clear areas as you wanted with color stringers one partial line at a time till its filled..... Now that the reticello is done, congratulations, but its inside out. You need to reverse the tube by flipping the reticello on a disc then applying it to whatever you wanted.
Fillacello: Time to completion: 90 to 240 minutes, depending on size and complexity
Fillacello's are a similar principle, except the starting is very different to get the distinctive patterns. However, since the entire thing is filled in, it takes a lot longer. THere's also substantial risk to hurting the pattern as you work. Very delicate and time consuming. Start with some 25x4 tube (6" long should work) and attach a blow tube to it. Center it. Close the other end of the tube. Keep entire tube heated and warm, but not molten hot as you work. Only time it shoudlnt be in the flame staying hot is when your using the stringers. Attach a stringer about an inch from the end of the tube. Let the stringer fall down perpendicular to the flame so it makes a perfect ring. Then do it again further down the tube, lets say 1.5" away from the first line. Then make 4 dots on the tube on each end, for 8 dots total. The dots should be at 12, 3, 6, and 9 oclock positions EXACTLY (FUCKING EXACTLY!!) on both sides. THese arent touching the first two lines you already made, they are to the outsides as guide lines. Connect the 12 to the 3, the 3 to the 6, the 6 to the 9 and the 9 to the 12, and then do it again at the 45 minute mark for 8 diagonal lines. Then do it again the opposite way. Now, assuming you kept the tube hot and it didnt crack, gently paddle it so it sticks to the tube. You want the surface to still be rough. Next, take your assortment of stringers that you should have already pulled even though I forgot to tell you to, and fill in the fillacellos lines as you see decorative. Continue to heat the tube every few lines so it doesnt crack on you. You can start with red, then orange, yellow, etc for a fading color, or solid colors, or color each panel in differently, whatever you want.
Your probably at least 90 minutes in at this point if its your first one. Maybe further.
Next, the pattern is done, but it has to be melted into the tube. If bubbles appear because of too much heat, you will see them more on the good part of the filla than the back side, which is very bad. For that reason you MUST use a highly oxidizing flame and the back of it to slowly melt it in. Hold it around 40 degress so gravity brings it down a bit. Once thats done, punty up and puff out the section closest to the blowhose. THen remove the punty and remove all clear and color glass to and including the first line you drew. If you dont spin the glass in both directions, you will distort the pattern heavily. (Bad!). Once your happy how its terminated, continue to melt it into a disc. If your making an oil dish, just shape it and remove it and your good. If its going on something else, you have to gently puff out the clear tube while its puntied up as a cold seal, and rip it off, then use glass scissors to cut all the glass into a perfect circular shape, and then attach it to whtaever you were working on.......
I'm sure I missed a few steps but that gets you the general idea.....
So Sr, the first picture is a reticello that has been partially filled in. The rest of them are standard reticellos.
Reticellos: Time to completion around 60-180 minutes depending on complexity
Reticellos are made by drawing straight lines on a tube in exact "o'clock" positions, then twisting the tube twice as far as you want the pattern to go, draw the exact same lines again straight down and terminate them at the same lines as the others. Then twist the tube the opposite direction half as far as the first time and then you have a reticello done. If you wanted to fill some in as in picture #1, you'd fill in the clear areas as you wanted with color stringers one partial line at a time till its filled..... Now that the reticello is done, congratulations, but its inside out. You need to reverse the tube by flipping the reticello on a disc then applying it to whatever you wanted.
Fillacello: Time to completion: 90 to 240 minutes, depending on size and complexity
Fillacello's are a similar principle, except the starting is very different to get the distinctive patterns. However, since the entire thing is filled in, it takes a lot longer. THere's also substantial risk to hurting the pattern as you work. Very delicate and time consuming. Start with some 25x4 tube (6" long should work) and attach a blow tube to it. Center it. Close the other end of the tube. Keep entire tube heated and warm, but not molten hot as you work. Only time it shoudlnt be in the flame staying hot is when your using the stringers. Attach a stringer about an inch from the end of the tube. Let the stringer fall down perpendicular to the flame so it makes a perfect ring. Then do it again further down the tube, lets say 1.5" away from the first line. Then make 4 dots on the tube on each end, for 8 dots total. The dots should be at 12, 3, 6, and 9 oclock positions EXACTLY (FUCKING EXACTLY!!) on both sides. THese arent touching the first two lines you already made, they are to the outsides as guide lines. Connect the 12 to the 3, the 3 to the 6, the 6 to the 9 and the 9 to the 12, and then do it again at the 45 minute mark for 8 diagonal lines. Then do it again the opposite way. Now, assuming you kept the tube hot and it didnt crack, gently paddle it so it sticks to the tube. You want the surface to still be rough. Next, take your assortment of stringers that you should have already pulled even though I forgot to tell you to, and fill in the fillacellos lines as you see decorative. Continue to heat the tube every few lines so it doesnt crack on you. You can start with red, then orange, yellow, etc for a fading color, or solid colors, or color each panel in differently, whatever you want.
Your probably at least 90 minutes in at this point if its your first one. Maybe further.
Next, the pattern is done, but it has to be melted into the tube. If bubbles appear because of too much heat, you will see them more on the good part of the filla than the back side, which is very bad. For that reason you MUST use a highly oxidizing flame and the back of it to slowly melt it in. Hold it around 40 degress so gravity brings it down a bit. Once thats done, punty up and puff out the section closest to the blowhose. THen remove the punty and remove all clear and color glass to and including the first line you drew. If you dont spin the glass in both directions, you will distort the pattern heavily. (Bad!). Once your happy how its terminated, continue to melt it into a disc. If your making an oil dish, just shape it and remove it and your good. If its going on something else, you have to gently puff out the clear tube while its puntied up as a cold seal, and rip it off, then use glass scissors to cut all the glass into a perfect circular shape, and then attach it to whtaever you were working on.......
I'm sure I missed a few steps but that gets you the general idea.....
KidneyStoner420
Well-Known Member
Love your work man...Can't wait to put my order in.
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
Here's another one next to the first one....... The first I spent my time on, the second I did in 90 minutes while a few people watched, so it was a little rushed. Still turned out decent......
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
I like the first filla the best the B&W one..... The blue COULD have looked better, but I rushed and it shows. On the third spider-man colored one, the middle didnt come out too good. I should have done it better. Maybe fourth is the charm.
At least they dont break as easy as toros. <G> <G> <G>
At least they dont break as easy as toros. <G> <G> <G>
dankshizzle
Glassblowing Moderator
Sux its not even remotly fixable. I wish I could just throw another fitting on it for ya. What happen? Just butterfingers?
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
There's broken, and then there's Sr. Verde's Toro Broken........
I do have a jar of UV Glass Glue. You just apply it like super glue, but very thin, and put it under a black light to make it permanent.... In your situation, haha, no. BUT, if you ever have a piece that "reconnects" and didnt shatter, the UV Glass Glue is a GREAT fix for about $5 at any art supply store.
Dont worry man, I'm starting my oil rigs now, you'll have one soon enough.
I do have a jar of UV Glass Glue. You just apply it like super glue, but very thin, and put it under a black light to make it permanent.... In your situation, haha, no.
BUT, if you ever have a piece that "reconnects" and didnt shatter, the UV Glass Glue is a GREAT fix for about $5 at any art supply store. Dont worry man, I'm starting my oil rigs now, you'll have one soon enough.
upthearsenal
Well-Known Member
Did you say oil rigs?
My bong broke recently (I'm gonna look up the uv glass glue stuff, it was a clean break) and I'm looking for a new piece, I'm def going to keep an eye out for your upcoming work!
My bong broke recently (I'm gonna look up the uv glass glue stuff, it was a clean break) and I'm looking for a new piece, I'm def going to keep an eye out for your upcoming work!
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
Haha, the first few days are the most exciting yet the least productive for something "cool'...
It all begins somewhere! Every little "trick" you learn gets amplified when you realize a really large super heady tube is only a hundred little tricks combined into one piece.....Here's some stuff from yesterday:
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
Its a Slyme dish, not a Slime dish! Trautman Art Glass has some tubing sales right now (tagglass.com) and I've planned to pick up about 10#'s of their tubing for the pure bling of it... Your tubes look pretty round to me! Nice even wall thickness and no nipples............ Wait till you see what you make a month from now.
Trautman Art Glass has some tubing sales right now (tagglass.com) and I've planned to pick up about 10#'s of their tubing for the pure bling of it... Your tubes look pretty round to me! Nice even wall thickness and no nipples............ Wait till you see what you make a month from now. 
jdro
Well-Known Member
Im sorry "slyme" lol. Pictures hide the inperfections good LOL They thought I was going to have a harder time with the thicker diameter tubes but it seemed easier to me than the smaller ones. But it may have just been because I was getting the hang of it by the time I started in on the bigger ones. Tomorrow I work on gathering.Its a Slyme dish, not a Slime dish!
Sure is a fun job I got I must say lol
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
Current inventory, going to be posting most of these to shops/auctions next week....
ledgrowing
Well-Known Member
no inline bubblers?
researchkitty
Well-Known Member
The next time I turn on the torch, that's what I'm makin'......
Considering whether to use male or females for the connector, aka whether they should be oil rigs or for herb (dome vs slide)......... What'cha think?- Status