noob questioin...

[VED]

so i have been trying to up my game and do some multisection peices. my question is can some one explain how to get a nice brace (like on a shirlock between the can and stem for support only) do i just take a peice of small rod and try to fill in the area or .......?

peace

[HOSS]

I'm not really sure if you mean a temporary brace while you weld the pieces, or a permanent bridge in a tight spot like sherlocks sometimes have. If its the second one, I like to put a well melted in nub on each part in matching spots, before the sections are welded together, then after joining either just melt the blobs together if they are large enough to touch, or fill in a little if not. If you're quick you can make the connection between doing the initial weld, and cleaning up the seam.

[NUBBLET]

I take both pieces get the lips hot but not not liquid and firmly tack together , pop the punty off (I punty the can from bottom and have hot in kiln ready ,Blowtube off mouthpiece) then I tack a rod from piece to piece ( I have lately been pre making little angle rods and holding the bend while heat both ends at once then tacking this gives a good open area to work and uses less rod than tacking further down the stem and some even tack to the clear tube) sometimes it is tricky to just tack the second end if your rod not not short , now I go around and melt the hell out of the weld , let it cool before you pop the brace off and then polish the scars you can tack in a "hidden" spot or place nubs over the are or even tack between two nubs if you worry or get a little flat spot from the tack , most of the time you cant even tell they were there after a polish and the piece cools , so the latter mentions are usually not needed ( I still try to tack in a hidden spot though)

[VED]

thanks for the advice. sorry i wasnt totaly clear i am looking to but a final brace on that will be part of the final product that is there for support like i mentioned between a can and stem on a long shirlock. this is kinda what im after..the supports that are between the can and decorative peices.

http://www.glasspipes.org/Image.asp?ImgFile=Img165911_matts_glass_pixs_042.j pg

[Galaxie Glass]

Nemisis got it right on the money : Pre melt nubs on for future attachments after the final touch ups from attaching the can to stem. Then attach youre "brace"...it will look cleanerin the end product.