New to Glass

[JtownGlassNewb]

I had a talk with a patron at my local smoke shop, and he does lampworking, and I'm interested in getting into glasswork to make beads, pipes, and waterpipes. I'm just wondering what i'd need to get started on a somewhat tight budget. Not looking for anything spectacular, just entry level tools + equip.

Thanks.

[Shatner]

Get out before you are completely consumed by glass! :D

Just kidding.

If you do a search you will find everything you need to get started. If you can't just come back to this thread and you'll be filled in.

[gravdigr]

You will need a torch, propant tank (20 grill tank is fine), oxygen supply (I don't recommend going smaller than a K size oxy tank which is 251cf), regulators, hoses, and glass. Other items you may want to consider are a kiln for annealing your glass, a graphite pad and some small graphite tools. Tongs are handy as well as a set of hotfingers. I'm sure others will chime in on this because I know I've forgotten things.

And you will need a work area. If inside you will need a good exhaust to remove harmful fumes generated from heating glass. A hood is recommended. You will also need a work surface (bench) preferably fireproof though I have seem some wood ones.

Do a search on some of these items and you will come up with a wealth of information. I was kiinda lucky when I got started a friend had all the equipment and I had a building. All told the equipment we use, torch, kiln, tools, and tanks came to over $3k but I'm sure people here can chime in with suggestions for low buck items to start out with.

Welcome to the madhouse :dieslaugh

[somberbear]

dont expect to make money for a whil and when ya do........ youll spend it all on glass .... working poor i say!

[newmexicomagma]

my buddy just started. i told him that he would need 1000 dollars to start. it might sound high but the reason i said that is cause he seemed real interested in it and said he wanted and planned on doing it for years. so i recomended getting a torch that will last him years before he wanted to upgrade. all in all he got a barracuda for just under 700, he got a claw, 2 bowl pushes, a reamer, hose a pad a case of 26 mill tube, 3 pounds of color seconds and a bunch of clear rod. now i have the regs already but if u need to buy those it will be around 150 and then to rent o2 tanks it all depends on where ur at and what kinda deal they give ya. where u at? i would recommend trying to jump on a torch just so u can try it out and see if it is something ur interested in. but like somber said if u do get into it just like any hobby u spend all ur money on glass. but as long as u keep practicing it can be a really cool job. good luck man.

[JANKYglass]

dont forget glasses,kiln,and ventilation.i say 2000 w/a decent torch or 1500 with a begginer torch.

[Shatner]

dont forget glasses,kiln,and ventilation.i say 2000 w/a decent torch or 1500 with a begginer torch.

I would forego the beginner torch if you can afford it. It's just more stuff to buy down the line. If you can swing it, I'd recommend a Carlisle CC. Those things are tanks.

[Glacier_Arts_Studio]

i'm about $3,000 into glass equipment (with my $800 worth of raw glass) and i have only a red max torch... it can be expensive but, thats just the way things roll...

don't think of making money with glass...
if your chasing money, fame or, fortune, learn to play guitar,
your chances would be better at that...

[JtownGlassNewb]

Sounds good, yeah.. I was planning on spending around 1K on a setup so the necessities for lampworking are oxy supply, propane(or other fuel), torch, ventilation, regulators and hoses, and various prongs probes and tongs? Should I be good with just a propane tank, the oxygen supply grav mentioned, a beginners torch and hoses and regulators to tie it all together (plus tools and vent)?

Yeah I understand it is quite an addicting and money consuming hobby.. the guy I talked to said "I'm going to be doing it til the day I die" lol.

[Nokey]

Worst addiction you'll ever come across - just check straight into treatment
(Oh fuk, I'm a junkie!!!!!!!) Try to keep your fingers out of the flame and by all means have fun

[knaz]

When I started I spent 600 on lessons and about 1,500 for my equipment. This is only setup costs. The real expensive stuff is all the glass, oxygen, and propane your going to use. Super expensive habit worse than crack.

Starting supplies (min aka cheapo):
Attic fan (vent 1500cfm)$80
barbecue propane tank $20-30
oxy K tank (can rent) $5+mo
Minor+redmax(very good beginners torch) $500,
Kiln (aim analog) $500 - you should get a digital if ya can afford it
EYE PROTECTION (aura lens) $300 - try not to cheap out here
misc tools (reamer,push,paddle, scoring knife, ++) $100+
I probably forgot something but ya get the gist of it.

[Toby]

I just started about 4 days ago actually... I spent a bit over $2000 for my full setup, including propane/oxy and a case of tube and some color. It seems like alot, but if you are serious about it, it will save you from wishing you bought better gear in the long run.

Heres what i bought to start:

Surface Mix RedMax
Paragon SC2 w/Digital Controller w/bead door
Regulators Oxy/Pro
Flashback Arrestors
2 sets of hose
Graphite Marver w/handle
Graphite Flare w/handle
3 different blunt graphite rods for bowl pushes
Finger Grabbers
Set of Tweezers
Set of Picks
Tongs
Boroscope shade 3 Glasses(kinda wish i could have gotten the Auralens)
Case of 25mm clear tube
20 6mm clear rods
Glass Alchemy sampler, the big one
Northstar Sampler, the big one
Contemporary Lampworking Vol. 1-2
Rented/Ripped the Humboldt Glass Pipes series 1-4

Built my bench and found a free squirrel cage fan in some guys trash, but it works GREAT, and its BIG as hell.

I think that's about it...



My advice depending on what you want to make, im assuming pipes, is to get a big enough torch that you wont outgrow it too quick, and a digitally controlled kiln is really useful unless you want to babysit the thing all day...

The vids help alot to let you see it done live, and you can rewatch till you get it.

Contemporary Lampworking helps ALOT, a must buy in my opinion.

After about 12 hours on the torch, i am able to make clear spoons and pull points. Still cant seem to get good melt in on my colors tho???

Anyways, im pretty hooked, spend about 4 hours a day messing around, and getting to know the glass, looking forward to colors and fume and things besides spoons and or pipes...



If you have anythign else you need help with this is a great place to be!



Toby

[gravdigr]

Don't be too discouraged by the cost...I had another hobby that was worse...rock crawling. Some guys have over $5k in just a front axle, $10k in the engine, plus the extras it can come to over $30k to build a buggy you will beat the hell out of trying to break something.

Also buy your shades first, don't go cheap. A good pair of 3/5 splits are gonna run $300-$400.

Toby:

Melting in the color is tricky at first. You want to condense the glass. Heat it, blow it out a little bit, then put it back in the heat and you'll see the glass condense in on itself and smooth out. You just got to get the feel for the heat base as you don't want the glass runny, just soft enough to work.

[Cosmo]

If you want to buy new stuff, give me a call or e-mail. I can put together a kit for you, and give you options for the bare minimum, going all-out, and in between.

[harpentuan]

Also there's a spell that rubs on to newbs with glass. For the first 6 months to a year, the influx of glass info. will swell your head up, so much so that you consider yourself a glass expert.
Wait until your first 6 months become a few years. Then you'll realize that there's plenty you don't know, although you know 10x more than when you started. If ya can hang in there.. youll see. I swear. Don't be too cocky ;)
I am sure any seasoned glass artist will agree. :)

[JtownGlassNewb]

Haha, I can see what you mean.. This is a great community from the looks of it. Lots of help! :learn:

[pacosaki]

I'm a noob too. Been at it about 8 months, maybe 10 hrs a week. I had a budget of $2000.00. Spent about that, but I bought 2 lynx torches and 2 of the 282 oxy tanks. I already had the kiln....it's 30 yrs old from my jewerly making days, but it still rocks! I didn't get much glass to start, and I traded for some color, so I got in within budget. I got the Auralens 203s. I am not gonna do this full time, so I went to the low end on the glasses. They are fine for most everything I do, but once in a whle when I get some color really hot, the glare is intense. Not enough to see spots though.
I am just making marbles and beads and pendants, so I am just starting on tube work. I bought Chinese glass rods because I figured the fist stuff I did was gonna be crap....I was right....now I can see some improvement and I don't have to make 25 things to get one that looks kinda good. So I am slowly shifting to Simax.
The problem (for me ) was not the initial investment, but the constant additional cost as I continue to work. I guess it is like anything you do. It becomes a hole in your garage that you are throwing money into. Soon I'll start selling some of my stuff...that will make the wife happy!
Videos amd lessons help move you along.
Since I have 2 torches and 2 stations, I have invited other glass blowers over for torching....BWuahahahah...little did they realize I was watching them and learning from them...Bwuahahahaha!

Hey Fred, when do you want to come over again?

Good luck!
Marble On!

[taylorp]

mad cash to spend and watse hahahha mad cash dont buy the cheap ass tools they breack so quick stright buy the more expensive ones you will not have to replace them when i fist was starting i broke 3 shitty asss paddle s just to buy a phatty one down the line i like the menzie paadle

[gravdigr]

I have been blowing for about 3 months. Due to the lack of good glass in the area our stuff is selling already. That by no means indicates I'm anywhere near pro though my progress is about 8 months ahead of what I expected. I am always looking for new things to try. The fun part is when I come up with an idea and look around to see that it has already been done, makes me feel like more of a blower when I find I have come up with something on my own that other much more experienced lampworkers already thought of...makes me feel smart. hopefully sometime in the next decade I may come up with something original that no one has done. Until then I am a sponge soaking up everything I can find here...also no one here is shy about answering questions to help us nooblets.

[somberbear]

think about getting health insurance........

nothing puts your mind at ease when you slice or burn yourself so bad you gotta go stich it up..... or get surgery.....

good luck
rob

[The Lorax]

get ready to dedicate a lot of your money to glass, i've already thrown about 5,000$ into my studio but i decided to go a little "overboard" cause im a 18 year old bum with no bills to pay. but the glass im buying is slowly adding up a lot too, ahhaha.
i can't deny that i love it and i felt great tonight after finishing my best inside out yet though, it is awesome.

[mer]

be patient with yourself. don't try to conquer rome this week.. just do a little recon. my teacher made me stick to solid work for the first six months. it was frustrating because i REALLY wanted to make the cool things other guys around the shop were making but in the long run i was glad that i took it slow. there is sooo much info to take in at first it can be overwhelming. in a year you will know more than you currently imagine possible (including how much more there is to learn). it's amazing how many people race past the basics to get to the glory. eugene is crawling with kids who can make switchy reversals but haven't even learned how to build a safe workstation. anything worth doing is worth doing well.
good luck, m