Hello from Austin

[m055]

Hello there. My name's Moss. I'd like to introduce myself and say that it's been a pleasure reading this forum so far. I'm really looking forward to learning from the wealth of information on this site and will be asking some questions here and there, but for the most part I just lurk and read.

A little about myself. I'm just getting started with glass, but have been working with fire in one form or another for a while, so glass seemed like a natural progression for me. I'm a licensed pyrotechnician and work with the local Burning Man community here in Austin. By day I'm a computer and network administrator.

We've just set up a workshop in the community warehouse where we work on large projects for festivals. Our studio was funded mostly through donations from friends in our community on a site called kickstarter.com. We just got our kiln set up and built a vent hood and work bench from scratch. I'd like to get everyone's opinion on our setup and see if you think we have adequate ventilation and everything.

I've attached some pics of our studio space so far. Right now we're running a single Nortel Major, but are looking to add a second GTT Lynx or Cheetah. The vent hood seems to be OK for the space we have. Smoking around the perimeter you can see the hood catching the fumes and sucking them out, is there a better test to see if we're getting adequate ventilation? We have a big attic vent fan pointing straight out the window, not sure of the specific CFM but it's one of the standard ones you get at Home Depot.

Thanks in advance,
Moss

[CDot]

i would blow glass there.. just have a fan behind you too and you should be good..

[m055]

There are some small gaps in our hood that I'm planning on taping up with either duct tape or foil tape, but is it OK that our hood is made out of wood? Most of the ones I've seen online are metal, so I was considering covering ours with a metal skin but it doesn't seem to get hot up there or anything. Is it necessary?

[CDot]

i wouldnt worry about it at all.. my last one was made of wood... its not hot up there...

[byron3]

Welcome Moss and what a great first bench setup, you should be fine with what you have. It is more than some have when they first start.

[loydb]

Welcome aboard! Always good to see the Austin crew increase..

loyd

[HOSS]

Hola! Looks like a pretty sweet setup to me. Fellow Austinite here, just about to open a new studio in Pflugerville on Monday. Come check us out sometime!

The only thing I can see that I'd change about your shop there is to put the propane tank outside while you're working, or at least move it away from the oxy. Oxy+propane+fire=KABLAM! Or if the tank leaks while you're away and fills the room with propane... very not good. But I really can't say much about it because mine shouldn't be inside either. :o: Oh and just FYI those attic fans are somewhere around 1500 CFM, the way you have it set up there it should be fine for one torch. Wish I knew a better test than the smoke thing but don't.

Anyway, welcome to your new addiction!

[Dallaslampworking]

Looks like a fun spot, and a big whats up form Dallas crew.

steve/Lodi

[kage]

i'm diggin the flames in your shop. nice touch.

[Pogo]

Lot's of talent in ATX.... Glad to see more Texans...

[m055]

Thanks for the kind words and advice from everyone. I'm really excited about learning right now, but will try to keep my n00b questions to a minimum. Anyone have local recommendations for supplies here in town? I'm going to head by Flameworks today to pick up some new specs and some boro. Good to see Texas represent.

[Pogo]

Anyone have local recommendations for supplies here in town? I'm going to head by Flameworks today to pick up some new specs and some boro.

Flameworks is the recommendation...
also try blue moon glassworks (www.austinbluemoon.com)

Good luck!

[HOSS]

Blue moon is great for tools and such, but its mainly a soft glass shop so AFAIK Flameworks is the only local hookup for boro.

[S2]

Looking good! As others have said, move the propane tank outside. I would also move the oxy away from the bench, chain it to the wall and get the hoses off of the floor. Happy torching.

[GlassFreak]

hey im from Austin too... not the one in texas tho.

that looks like a nice setup man, those fans work great, make sure you have air going into the room too tho, like from an open door or a window.

a really good test for ventelation is smoke bombs, light a few at about torch level and see how well it takes it out. but really any air movement is good, as long as you have new air coming in and old air leaving, the torch itself sucks oxygen out of the air.

[KillaDTexas]

Welcome!! from the Dallas Gang

\Chris/

[ModderXtr]

Im in austin as well, welcome to the forums

[GlassFreak]

ok if i was going to ask this would be the thread i guess, lots of people from austin. is there a company called guerilla glass there? i have a buddy here in my austin, that knows a blower down in that one. im not 100% but im perty sure thats the name of the company. he does killer ray guns, but i havnt really been told or shown much about him.

oh and my buddies name id eddie (eduardo), he has big ass horns tattood on his head... just in case one of you are who im lookin for.

[HOSS]

oh and my buddies name id eddie (eduardo), he has big ass horns tattood on his head... just in case one of you are who im lookin for.

Oh you're from THAT Austin. ;)

Yep I know exactly who you're talking about, Guerilla glass was my roomie for several years, we started out as glassblowing apprentices at the same place. And Ed was my tattoo apprentice, for a little while... I put the horns on him, back before he bailed to go be a daddy. Hi! :D