maxing a mirage marble size

[drewspuppet]

I got this really good customer who wants a 4"+ marble - 5" if possible. I'm pretty sure 5" is out of the question but can I get 4" or better? I will be receiving a new Mirage next week. He wants the marble of all marbles so I will have to do a lot of surface work. I'm not worried if it will take 8 hours. How big should I tell him I can shoot for?

[Glassroots]

I have gotten just shy of 4 inches on the mirage. make sure you got plenty of oxy cause you'll need it.

[Firekist]

heh.. what marble mold are you planning to use? 4inches is damn big.. hell, 3's bigger than ya think.. as far as working it goes.
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z---seth (new mirage for me too next week.. tuesday! woot)

[drewspuppet]

yeah. I can't really grasp 4 right now. I've done plenty of 3's on the phantom they almost seem small now. I have a 3" infinity mold and a 2.5" finishing mold. I kind of want to get a 4" infinity with the 2.5 finishing that should be good.

[Ben Burton Glass]

If you're making 3"s on a phantom, you should have no problem making 4's on a mirage... I like to stick to about 2.5" 3" inches with mine... Good luck!!

Aloha!

[NUBBLET]

I saw at least a four incher worked on a Mirage (boro not sure of colors if any but I know it had fume), at the Katrina vics collab . They did need a break though , put it in the kiln and it cracked when they brought it out and reintroduced it to the flame . I think the crack was mainly caused by shock as the kiln door was slightly proped open to allow handle space .

[Skye Perry]

I have made 3'' marble's vortex and galaxies on a mirage in just over 1 hour .I am going to be doing some 5'' marble's on a mirage .I am guessing that it will take 2 hard hours .You should be able to make a 4'' marble no problem in an hour and a half .It will probaly take 1500 pounds of O2 or a little more depending on the style .Have you thought about how long to anneal it . You should anneal it at 1075 for about 4 hours drop to 950 at 1 degree per minute ,then drop to 300 at 3 degrees per minute then drop to room temp at 5 dereese per minute . Good luck and post pics.

[themoch]

i used to work in a shop with a guy who would get 4-4.5inch (vortex) marbles off a phantom. it is really all in how you layer and work the glass. I mean it would take him a lot of time to make one of these but it is possible.

just make sure your arm can take it, oh, and remember that you need to take that sucker down reaaaaaally slow in the oven.

[Emmett's Glass]

Have lots of fluids on hand for larger marb.
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[misticglass]

use rollers or your wrists will be hurting!!

[Bryan]

Some of these claims are pretty amazing.. Im not callin anyone out, but i do want to know and see a fully worked 3" or 4" boro marble in an hour. Also do you guys use calipers to measure your marbles or guestimate?, bc when i got calipers i realized how small my marbles were when i thought they were big. Anywayz lets see some pics

[Skye Perry]

Bryan if you are ever in northern CO .I will be glad to do a 3'' marble in about an hour for you to show you it can be done . I tried to upload pics but they didn't work . The last 3'' marble i made was a galaxy that had 1/2 a 1/4 sheet of starship in it .and was backed with moss and clear .It took me just over 1 hour from start to finish No bullshit .

[Bryan]

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