Michael's Work

[michaeL25]

I'm a little late with this as I haven't really shown anything since I started in May of 08. I make glass as a hobby and only get to spend about 10-15 hours a week behind the torch. Learned the basics on a CC, but my first torch was a lynx, then a cheetah and now a phantom. Mostly NS colors with some TAG and the occasional Momka and GA. My passion, at this time, is with solid worked objects, mostly pendants. I do work hollow and sculpture on occasion, but am quite far behind in comparison to my progress with solid pendants and mibs.

Here are a few that I made yesterday. I'll be updating as I find more pictures and make new creations. Some of these were made by applying some color to the end of a rod, then using a Vin pin to create air bubbles. I haven't seen results like this before and I'd be interested to know if anyone else has.

[PowersArtGlass]

Those are nice! I like the ones in the second and third pictures.

[Lurch]

Dude the vin pin tech you were telling me about looks SIIICCCCKKKK!

I hope you sent some of those with the others.

Nice work Micheal, really nice work

[KahunaGlassArt]

those pendants are intense!!
i dont get the whole VinPin thing though

[Lurch]

those pendants are intense!!
i dont get the whole VinPin thing though

When you get a small gather of glass hot, then press it into a vin pin (a bed of nails basically). The vin pin leaves indentations in the glass. When you cover the indentations with color or clear glass it traps air in the indentation. This leaves perfect air bubbles in the pattern of the vinpin (because of the indents that are now covered)

hope that helps

[KahunaGlassArt]

oooo ok cool. ive actually been using a old cheese grader to get this type of effect. just get the gather hot and press down.
thanks lurch

[michaeL25]

Thanks! Lurch, the piece in the bottom picture (the pic makes it look bigger than it is though, it's only about an inch or so) will be in your shipment with a few others. I should be able to ship Wed or Thur of this week. I tried a few new techs on the space mib last night.. they are starting to look real nice now!

There are oh so many ways to use the vin pin, but for this process simpley get some color (or fume) on the end of a clear rod (it's easier to use a fattie, 3/4 to 1 inch, if you are using 3 rows of pins like the ones i have pictured) and then focus heat on the end where the color is. drop it right onto the vin pin when it's almost white hot. the pins will push the color up through the clear rod (almost like you imploded it. you don't have to cover the holes you just created with glass to trap the air (but you could if you wanted monster air bubbles), those holes are so big that just by heating they will close up and trap air. I really like using an AP color with a black background, but there are lots of possibilities. You do want to use a color that isn't too stiff though. I tried using a loki/steel wool mix in the one in the upper left and it came out a little crazy (even for my tastes) with lots of unwanted air bubbles. Pics 2 and 4 are Loki with black background and Pic 3 is NS Silver Creak (totally random, never used it before)

You want to use a fat rod when using the Vin like this because a thinner rod with a maria will just screw up the maria when the pins press against it. with a fat rod you don't make a maria, you just get it hot and press.

I'm way behind with everything, but i'm trying to write up tuts with pics for most of the things I make. I'll try to at least add some pics of this process in the near future.

Edit: Here is a pic tut

[KahunaGlassArt]

yeah please do!!

[budman8778]

sick man, really like those implosions!

[michaeL25]

some new, some old. the roller with raked back is all TAG color; sable for the implosion, backed with blackjack, then raked with pnumbra and stardust. I took monday and tuesday off from my day job, so i should have some more warez up next week.

[garrick]

really nice stuff.

[ALIEN!]

nice clean work there!

[Dom]

Sweet man, I really like the honeycomb marble.

[shark bait]

Nice work there mate.

I look forward to the tut.

[sertaiz]

whats that crazy looking one at the bottom of the last page on the right?
thanks for the flower help, btw, helped me step up the grade and prices--=)

[michaeL25]

whats that crazy looking one at the bottom of the last page on the right?
thanks for the flower help, btw, helped me step up the grade and prices--=)

Nice! glad i could help.

That one happens to be the one i just added a picture tut for further up in this thread. purple sable then backed with stag white (which i don't like btw, but i figured i'd used all tag color on this one).

[Johan]

nice work man...rockin the vin pin nicely.

[KahunaGlassArt]

those are really nice pieces of art.
please do post some tut's!!

[michaeL25]

thanks. i get into phases. i'm doing allot of color faux honeycombs right now. i have some stuff at the shop that came out real nice. that honeycomb mib was the first i made into a marble though. My outer phantom ring k tank ran out when i was making it and i had to finish it using just the lynx; it reminded me how hot just the lynx is. i'm happy it came out ok

[michaeL25]

those are really nice pieces of art.
please do post some tut's!!

i put the first set of pictures for the vin pin tec further up in this thread so that it was next to the quick instructions i wrote. any questions let me know, but i think you should just try out different stuff to see what happens. exploring is the fun part.

[sertaiz]

nice tut, ive been having fun with a pin frog, those movable peices look real nice.
i gotta try imploding them in more ways /better colors now

[KahunaGlassArt]

yeah i have to make/buy one of those first. but in the mean time ill use my tungstun or something!

honeycomb tut. would me awesome

[jr23]

nice work! michael25 you have a nice variety of stuff. I worked solid for a month or two before I ever made a hollow piece. Its a good way to learn you pick up all you termination skills and so much. When you get around to working hollow it will all soak in really fast. Then you will start remembering tips from threads you read months ago!

[Pyroglasstic]

Mike,those are extra nice.You did good!

[Swampy]

Looking good there Michael.

[Mecha]

Nice comb! Things are looking clean!

[michaeL25]

enjoy

[Swampy]

bloody good, really like the mibs.

[cc_bob]

Nice fume!!!

[ALIEN!]

Beauties!

[VED]

beautiful work

[Dom]

Damn dude that little comb on the side of the hitter is balling out of control.

[Johan]

awesome work man!!!

[jes]

real nice

[CripSkillz]

Cant believe i missed this b4 dude, your fuming is off the hook and your pieces are lookin frikin dope.....

[G13 Glass]

That second picture is amazing, great work

[The Lorax]

nice work!

the marbles in pic 2 are especially nice!! i've only seen mibs like that by mike gong and me who do that design/style and it is cool to see another's take on it.

[themoch]

seriously good fume work... you've been repped.

[amanofmusic]

great work . keep it up and keep on postin.. I too look forward towards the tuts.

[Lurch]

Wow Micheal really impressive :)

[naughty pirate wench]

Wow - you've got some really gorgeous pieces here! Amazing colors and clean work - thanks for sharing!

[nafglass]

Yea! All the fume looks great and the marbles are tight!

[MUPH]

Fume-tastic

[michaeL25]

Haven't had much time on the torch lately. I don't often make pipes but I really like the effects i'm getting with fuming cobalt.

[Dom]

Nice work as usual man.

[faded]

your votex are amazing.

[CripSkillz]

love thast last mib,, and 3 up pendant, super sick../

[ALIEN!]

nice looking stuff. Outstanding fume work!

[themoch]

tried to rep you.

but it looks like i rep'ed you the last time you posted some work :tongue:

[The Lorax]

sweet

[p.j.]

wicked pissah