I'm relatively new to glass & am aware that my torch setup (which only cost $60) is my problem. I've used this setup for 3 months & know that I want to invest in something better that allows me to heat larger amounts of glass (as you're doing) & be able to spot heat. Can you give me a recommendation on a good torch setup?
@bigmathgeek well, a lot depends on how far you plan on going in glass and if you really plan on sticking with it long term. if you plan on staying with it, GTT! a lot also depends on how much you are able to spend and the scale of work you intend to do. I would look at the Mirage. its what I use now, and is the best torch I have used (I have used carlisle, nortel, and bethlehem torches). also , make sure to think about and consider the higher amount of oxygen and propane that you will use.
thanks acro, think you could show how to pull clear encased stringers? i hear that it is important to clear encase yellows and other flame sensitive colors.
Nice vid for me as I can't seem to pull stringers longer than 2" - I use a minow torch. How much glass do you heat beforehand...1"? 1/2 "? Thanks to your demo I realised I was pulling too fast but I think I don't heat up enough glass beforehand.
when you pull down stringer, heat anywhere from 1" to 4" at a time and then mull consistently as the glass is in transition. it has to be very hot and very flowing before you initiate the pull. if it is too cool, you can actually cause devitrification in the colored glass by pulling it while its cold.
Thanks for that tip - I'll try it out later when I have some torch time. I notice the Italian masters let gravity work when pulling things a lot larger and let it drop towards the floor before starting to pull. Would that work with a puny stringer?
oh yes, gravity works! but its much harder to use gravity with the stiff working charicteristics of boro, a piece has to be propotionately larger in boro and you have to get it real hot for gravity to be a big help, but its doable. i let gravity pull off the tip and dirty glass on punties all the time when my hands are full!-)
why not use another glass rod for a handle? hot seal both ends, tug a little for a good fuse, don't mash 'em together so they look like hersheys kisses. should be a slow taper from the clear rod into the color. like this technique because it allows me to waste very little color. 7 or 8 mil works great. not trying to tell you how it is, just sayin'
at times i do use a punty as a handle, most times I actually pull the stringer I need as I am working, a lot of times I will pull stringer right on the end of my workpiece, then I remove the small unwanted with a tearing rods, I really never do it the exact wame way. but oh well, thanks for the comment, your right, after a week I end up with a pound or so of little ends of colors, I like to beat them into frit for getting the last dollar out of it.
your right!-) but god that huge flame is so freaking addictive! i tend to use my barracuda a lot more the more precise I become with heat control. sorry for the tone of the earlier response! I must have been an asshole that day!
not sure I am familiar with the term cane pulled stringers. I am assuming you mean lattichino stringers? tell me please, i want to know what I am missing!!!
yes, consistent stringers and drawing down seems to go faster and easier in morretti rod. but it can be done in boro, it just takes a lot more heat than and must be done quicker since the boro solidifies so damn fast.
I'm relatively new to glass & am aware that my torch setup (which only cost $60) is my problem. I've used this setup for 3 months & know that I want to invest in something better that allows me to heat larger amounts of glass (as you're doing) & be able to spot heat. Can you give me a recommendation on a good torch setup?
bigmathgeek 6 months ago
@bigmathgeek well, a lot depends on how far you plan on going in glass and if you really plan on sticking with it long term. if you plan on staying with it, GTT! a lot also depends on how much you are able to spend and the scale of work you intend to do. I would look at the Mirage. its what I use now, and is the best torch I have used (I have used carlisle, nortel, and bethlehem torches). also , make sure to think about and consider the higher amount of oxygen and propane that you will use.
acroduster 6 months ago
thanks acro, think you could show how to pull clear encased stringers? i hear that it is important to clear encase yellows and other flame sensitive colors.
thanks!
bakerman4444 1 year ago
where do you get your large diamiter color rods? it would be so much easier to pull stringers out of those than the small ones i get from northstar.
floydfan21 2 years ago
@floydfan21 the larger rods are odds you can go to northstar color and buy odds, they are off size pulls and they sell them by the pound.-)
acroduster 2 years ago
oh, ive got odds befor but they were just a tad larger on one side than the other, i havnt been able to find larger mm color rod tho...
floydfan21 2 years ago
Nice vid for me as I can't seem to pull stringers longer than 2" - I use a minow torch. How much glass do you heat beforehand...1"? 1/2 "? Thanks to your demo I realised I was pulling too fast but I think I don't heat up enough glass beforehand.
Scythian1 3 years ago
when you pull down stringer, heat anywhere from 1" to 4" at a time and then mull consistently as the glass is in transition. it has to be very hot and very flowing before you initiate the pull. if it is too cool, you can actually cause devitrification in the colored glass by pulling it while its cold.
acroduster 3 years ago
Thanks for that tip - I'll try it out later when I have some torch time. I notice the Italian masters let gravity work when pulling things a lot larger and let it drop towards the floor before starting to pull. Would that work with a puny stringer?
Scythian1 3 years ago
oh yes, gravity works! but its much harder to use gravity with the stiff working charicteristics of boro, a piece has to be propotionately larger in boro and you have to get it real hot for gravity to be a big help, but its doable. i let gravity pull off the tip and dirty glass on punties all the time when my hands are full!-)
acroduster 3 years ago
Cool - I see I'm going to have to try different ideas to see what I can do :)
Thanks!
Scythian1 3 years ago
why not use another glass rod for a handle? hot seal both ends, tug a little for a good fuse, don't mash 'em together so they look like hersheys kisses. should be a slow taper from the clear rod into the color. like this technique because it allows me to waste very little color. 7 or 8 mil works great. not trying to tell you how it is, just sayin'
AtavistArise 3 years ago
at times i do use a punty as a handle, most times I actually pull the stringer I need as I am working, a lot of times I will pull stringer right on the end of my workpiece, then I remove the small unwanted with a tearing rods, I really never do it the exact wame way. but oh well, thanks for the comment, your right, after a week I end up with a pound or so of little ends of colors, I like to beat them into frit for getting the last dollar out of it.
acroduster 3 years ago
tell him how it is acro
beachboy8969 3 years ago
you just like using that big torch dont you cause honestly a pm2d for stringers :)!
ramanglass544 3 years ago
your right!-) but god that huge flame is so freaking addictive! i tend to use my barracuda a lot more the more precise I become with heat control. sorry for the tone of the earlier response! I must have been an asshole that day!
acroduster 3 years ago
Comment removed
ramanglass544 3 years ago
i like the cane pull style stringers not the drawn down ones
ramanglass544 3 years ago
not sure I am familiar with the term cane pulled stringers. I am assuming you mean lattichino stringers? tell me please, i want to know what I am missing!!!
acroduster 3 years ago
yes, consistent stringers and drawing down seems to go faster and easier in morretti rod. but it can be done in boro, it just takes a lot more heat than and must be done quicker since the boro solidifies so damn fast.
acroduster 3 years ago
Thanks for the info. I can never get really big stringers.
GrangerGlass 3 years ago
great vid i do it two ways im going to start making vids and posting i just need a cam.
IloveGlass 3 years ago
Very good video. Imma put up a video response to this soon. About some issues i have with stringers.
FunWithGlass 3 years ago