Trying My Hand At Glass Pipe Making

I just discovered this. Fucking amazing. Basically a hand lather. Spun out a perfect foot first time. Just heat and flare with a graphite rod.


Figured is share..

No need to even use a graphite rod. Set your torch to a pretty thrusting oxygen flame, and it'll spin out like that naturally. Its called flipping a rondel! Thats how they usually do bases/feet for goblets and other glassware....

[youtube]5LweUhQmvjM[/youtube]

And if you want to make a Drillachino with the drill:

[youtube]4e6dYCc7zFs[/youtube]

Woah, the guy in the first video is doing some crazy shit!

upthearsenal said:

Woah, the guy in the first video is doing some crazy shit!

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Believe it or not, all of his videos are the "Glassblowing 101 Basics" pretty much! Its amazing how many "novice" techniques I dont even know/understand yet. Too much knowledge in glass, its a never ending process......

Cool. I'll try that too. Never thought to use my drill. I bet if u could invent a glass drill w/ a bigger better chuck and on/off switch you could make $$$

I've been asked by every friend that sees my metal lathe if it could be adapted for glass. I think it can be. Project for another day if I ever upgrade lathes. <G> Properly setup with the right tailstock attachment could allow you to make your own ground joints with nothing more than a smith little torch!

It was fun watching his videos, I see the things the guys are teaching me and some things they are waiting to teach me. It sucks he doesn't put glasses over his camera, but I am going to try some new things and see if I can impress my teachers lol

its been done on larger scales kitty

chiefpuffaloe said:

its been done on larger scales kitty

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Larger scale for sure! The Mini lathe is about the size of one of those handles. <G>

is it possible i can melt glass with a butane torch? i think i just did on a nail it was scary..

Sr. Verde said:

is it possible i can melt glass with a butane torch? i think i just did on a nail it was scary..

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Butane can hit 2600(f) or so, and clear borosilicate glass melts at about 1500(f). Given the diameter of a nail is only 5-7mm in diameter, it can surely melt them.

But, good for you, since you can repair your own glass nails if they break. Just heat up the end while still spinning it (you'll have to hold it with bbq tongs or something, it'll get hot) and then press a new pad on it using a good old fashioned pencil, that you've dipped in water for a few minutes before use. It wont make many before it burns up, but its a workable tool. It would take me about 4 or 5 minutes in total to do with a butane torch, I think.

The glass will start to turn red, then brighter red, then pink, then white. "work" the glass while its red/pink, white is overcooked and dull red is underheated.....

Yeah it was an accidental discovery... oops!.. I was trying to smooth out some bubbles and it started sagging


You guys have a tough job... that shits weird when it's melting

Sr. Verde said:

is it possible i can melt glass with a butane torch? i think i just did on a nail it was scary..

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I worry about this when heating up my hot wand. I fear one day I'm going to drip molten glass on my foot.

Here's some videos, showing a lot of the things you've seen in the thread already, but now 3D!

[youtube]1prqSslPpZw[/youtube]

[youtube]cRv9ldgqFW8[/youtube]

[youtube]Z13NDleOls4[/youtube]

I'll be selling everything in the videos in the next few days, so if anyone does see something they like, better not kick the tires too much longer! All prices for RIU folks are around one half of what the stores/online folks pay for them, so shoot me a PM.

Also, I'll be doing more videos of the glass rather than pictures. Pics are neat, but it really doesnt show the entire memory of the piece after its made and sold and long gone..... Feel free to +subscribe to the YouTube channel too!

Thanks for looking!

Let me know how much for the first oil dome along with an adapter for my bong and a glass nail - unless you have ti nails for sale.

Gastanker said:

Let me know how much for the first oil dome along with an adapter for my bong and a glass nail - unless you have ti nails for sale.

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No ti nails yet.... I've been super duper lazy lathe-wise. Havent touched it since at least a month ago or so....... I'll get there -- eventually!

Any of the oil domes there are $45 delivered and adapters are $10 with the same order......... Thanks!

Still working on dirtying up my piece for a picture....it's starting to turn colors real nice, I'm very pleased! Got busted a few weeks ago though, so I've been taking it easy. I'll get some up soon! Thanks again Kitty!

Psychild said:

Still working on dirtying up my piece for a picture....it's starting to turn colors real nice, I'm very pleased! Got busted a few weeks ago though, so I've been taking it easy. I'll get some up soon! Thanks again Kitty!

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Booo and Yay at the same time, I'm sure you know which is for which! Hope it all works out for ya dude. Glad the pipe is working well.

Pineapple Domes, 14mm

Then a dome and dish set, the colors are hand mixed and then made into tube, then repulled out for each piece. It took a bit of time but the colors are really blingy.


Thanks for looking!

woah! funky designs! i'm down with that

everything looks really clean and even too.