first things first?

[newbead]

ok hey guys whats up, finally got on here. Rep from ND.
Got some cash not much but would like to know what I should spend it on first, beginner torch etc. The most important things first, it would be great for some ideas.thanx.love.

[Dog Squeez]

If you have access to a place that teaches glass take a class. You will learn a lot more
in a weekend class than you will in 4 months on your own. You will also find out if
you really want to play with stuff that is going to cause you physical pain and damage
(cuts and burns, lots of them) and also eats up all your money. A class will also help
to figure out what tools YOU want should you decide you need to play with fire and
glass.

Brian

[Mr. "Awesome!"]

Yup, ^^^^ that's good advice. If you can't take a class or burn with someone experienced in your area, read some books. There's lots of good lamping info out there these days.
After that I would just say consider your safety first. Get good ventilation, good eyewear, flashback arrestors etc., then concentrate your monies on a torch and the other stuff.

[SteppingRazor]

contempory lampworking is an excellent book to start with. don't skimp on safey gear.
~jc

[Greymatter Glass]

Books intro class safety safety safety torch tools glass safety safety kiln safty safety more tools glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass....bigger torch bigger kiln more safety glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass glass.......

IN THAT ORDER!!!

NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!!


Seriosuly tho, a book and some time in someones shop would do ya good. If you can use someone elses torch or take a class for like $200 or less, do so because if you lose that money and never look back at glass at least you wont have $1000 worth of crap to unload on poeple and take a huge "used" tax.

Anyways... once you're determined, plan to set aside $500-1000 for a good starting setup, mostly depending on what torch you start with, and if you buy a kiln right off the bat.

You'll burn up $100-150 worth of glass before you make anything worth more than the glass and time you put into it (moms still love it tho, yay moms), and even then it may take years to start seeing a real profit, and at that not everyone can make a living wage off glass.

Even if you can't make a living off glass, it can easily be a rewarding and enlightening hobby.

Good luck, stick around here for lots of good tips, and don't let a few scrapes and burns turn you off.

-Doug

[Greymatter Glass]

ok to answer your question about torches...

There's a choice to be made right off the bat: Soft or Hard glass?

If you want to only make soft glass beads and very small pendants and marbles you can start on a Hothead torch, they're cheap, I think around $35-40, and hook up to $5 MAPP gas tanks (like a blue propane can for camp stoves, but yellow, and full of MAPP gas) The tanks dont last long, the torch doesnt get very hot, and eventually you'll want something new.

If you want to work with hard glass (borosilicate, Pyrex) you'll need a torch that uses both gas (propane or natural gas usually) and Oxygen. The advantage of this set up is you can also work softglass with the same torch just set to a lower flame. The options here start around $85 for a National 3a style torch and a tip (wouldn't use this one for softglass tho) then there's the $120-150 price range for a Nortel Minor burner, they're especially nice on softglass and will work small boro stuff. For $300-$400 or so you can get into a Nortel Midrange, redmax, or a GTT Lynx, both are great torches and will last you many years if you dont outgrow them too fast.

Anyways tho, like evryone is saying...SAFETY FIRST (after you know this is what you want to do)

Proper Safety will be at minimum a good pair of glasses for the type of glass you're using and a form of ventilation. To start, with a smal torch, a good boxfan in a window in front of you can suffice, but there';s better solutions for the long term.

If you're working with boro you'll need flashbacks, regulators,hoses, tanks, glasses for boro, ventilation... expect to spend around $300-500 up front minimum to set all that up. Dont let me scare you tho.... you wont die without the right hoses for a few months, and you can get by on cheap regulators and $45 glasses with flips ons for a while, but think about doing it right the first time. Quality equipment holds its value better also, incase you decide to get out.

-Doug