Getting back into glass..

[HaulAss]

I sold my old torch, a 40mm herbie, in 07. I was hurtin' for cash and just not thinking straight.. I've got some friends who have a shop and *might* be down to let me work there if I can come up with a few months rent up front..

The thing is the only jobs I can get quick and easily are only $8/hr and its taking forever to get a few months rent saved up and probobly $1200 or so for a torch, most likely a phantom this time round.

I was browsing a supplier site and checking out the just propane torches, hot head lol, and, more realisticly the smallest, cheapest oxy and propane torches. Like the nortels and Red Max, possibly a bobcat or Lynx..

i'm thinking maybe I could get one of the smaller torches, a simple, basic set of hand tools, regs and such, and some clear and striking colors and start out making pendants and beads and some compleated jewelery and work my way back up to having a full size torch and all the pipe making stuff..

I'm not sure exactly what my question is.. I'm intersted in hearing from anyone who has done what I've just described, working their way from a small torch and simple setup to a.. well full sized torch and full setup. Also anyone whos done the oppisite and gone from pipemaking to pendants/beads/jewelry and had success working in the jewelery feild instead of pipemaking..

Thanks for any help or direction.

peace

[skip]

You started with a national how many years ago? You know the ropes. Do exactly what you just said. work your ass off and upgrade as money allows on used equipment. You know those $800 used pm2d's are the way to go after the national.

But most importantly You got to get your shit straight if you don't want to end up selling all your gear again. I hope your doing better now these days.

[mer]

i don't mean to be harsh but before you commit your life to glass again you should be certain that you want it bad enough to face the same kind of situation you did last time and not give up. there are always going to be obstacles and frustrations and the temptation to sell all of your stuff. if you aren't doing it because of a personal need you have inside yourself then getting out might have been a good idea. the market isn't any easier now than it used to be. just food for thought. whatever you choose you know you'll find support here.

best of luck.

[lucky]

if you decide to go small then upgrade, stick with gtt, because of their great resale value, not to mention the phantom will be maximized with your knowledge of the triple surface mix setup. that's what I did, but i'm still very much a newbie at ten months now. it took a lot of money and most of all belief in myself to succeed. good luck!!

[amezcuaglass]

Lynx will get you the biggest bang for small bucks. I made a complete living off that litle torch for several years. Still do, it's a keeper. Nothing against Redmax, but honestly for fast boro production I would hate to be stuck with one if I coulda bought a Lynx. The only tools I had were claws, a push, and some needle nose pliers.

[bc]

I say get a waiting tables job, you'll make around 15 bucks an hour all done an said( slow hours an 'in the weeds' hours) an you could save from there.

Or get a 8 dollar job an make wrap an wrake s with a national for a month or so.

Mermonkey makes some god points about the market an you should look at what made you quit lasttime.

good luck

[HaulAss]

Bippity Bumpity Boop

[kbinkster]

Get a HotHead and make some soft glass beads. Save up your money and buy a Lynx.

[kbinkster]

You know what... on second thought, skip the HotHead and go right to the Lynx. You already know how to work glass, so just get right into it and bang out some pendants, marbles, beads, and whatever else you want.

[Conchis]

you can work on a lynx and do some really fine work for a long time without needing to upgrade...that would be my choice.