Figured I'd say, this tube was pulled by hand, not on a lathe. Is that usual or unusual? I'm not really sure of the difference to be honest.
I'm going to order another custom piece from him when he has a lathe in a month. Something a lot bigger.
A lot of people confuse glass blowers with the ability to turn stuff on a lathe.
Lampworking -- Torch on a bench. Use your hands. In Lampworking, we CAN make tubes. But, your holding it with your hand. How heavy can you hold? For me, the biggest I've ever made is about one foot tall. But, others can do really nice tubes on a bench. Usually, if its a tube made on a bench torch its going to be an artsy small one. Very rarely would someone crank out clear tubes on a bench torch, because for the money it isnt worth it.
Latheworking -- Torch on a lathe or hand torch, lathe turns tubes/rods for you. It sounds like it'd be easier, it isnt, its different. But, since the lathe spins the glass for you, your arms will hurt much less, your walls will be a lot straighter, and usually a much larger or heavier piece.
Glassblowing -- Generally soft glass making vases, wine glasses, sculptures, other non pipe stuff. Soda Lime Soft Glass. Since they pull from a furnace of hot glass, that's why its glass blowing not lampworking.
If he's getting a lathe in a month, I'd wait four months before you bought *anything* from him.
There's a bit of a learning curve to them........
My new baby is one her way! Can't wait, the guy who made it put a male joint on it by accident, should have been a female 14mm. But to make up for it he is making me a super sick female slide for it, and sending it out tomorrow free of charge. Can't wait for her, hopefully the slide won't be too far behind it. It got shipped out yesterday. It has a dome type perc on the top and stemline on the bottom, and it's about 12" tall. Will update with a video once I have it!
