Looking for a mentor

[flameboy]

Looking for a mentor, This forum has to much contradicting advice that I find confusing. I know there is more than one way to the finish line but when you are starting from zero you need to learn the RIGHT basic skills. Just like when you learn anything a good skill foundation allows you to progress faster and do better quality. Looking for a skilled person who can answer basic question that may seem amazingly stupid and put me back on the right track. I want to be able to do this all through private email and not on public threads. This is how I learned Silversmithing and lapidary work. I have my work in galleries and understand looks, quality and design but have no glass skills. This is what is in it for me.... what is in it for you?

I am will to pay or barter: free glass or bottles of Jack or some tools whatever. Your time is of value and I understand this. I want to be able to ask all the questions I want (within reason 1 or 2 a day) and get resonable correct answers or good tips on how to move forward. If you have an intrest please PM me. Thanks


Jim

[berning]

where are you?

[MPGB]

What do you mean that some advice is contradicting?

Have you tried searching through the forums search function to find your answer? Everyone here is more than helpful but you need to first search for your answer and if you don't find then ask the right question.

Let us know what you already know and how much research you have done (books, magazines, video calling supply companies). If you don't already have to pick up contemporary lampworking volume 1 & 2. Also get some copies of the flow mag.

It is hard self teaching (I know because I am) and all it takes is time behind the torch and practicing what you have read.

[raven sun]

when youre first starting, you wont know which questions to ask and without watching you work nobody could give helpful tips... so i recommend taking some classes from a good blower if you dont want to spend a lot of time teaching yourself...

[petto]

PM'd

[flameboy]

To answer some questions Binghamton NY Yes I use the search I am on here and Youtube a couple hours a night lloking for answers. Contradicting look at diamond shears from cheap ones are great to Jim Mores are way better to the $200.00 are well worth the money to have them don't use them to most people don't know how to use them. From that info where do you go. Read an old thread about fuming one says reducing flame next one no it a neut flame then it no you need an oxy flame. Ones says plat is great next it sucks. Same with a lot of things one post this dvd is great the next one says it sucks. I don't have a good enough filter to weed out the good from the bad. As for someone watching me to see what I am doing good point I just need some answer to some questions. Ex. 2 weeks ago I posted a question about pushing in a bowl on a sherlock because I was getting a crease then a crack in the glass. Great reply told me to chill out for second then cool the hole with the push rod and then push worked great. Then Doug told me to pull a 100 points then blow a 100 spoons that was great advice, I now can pull points great and blow a decent bowl. Saved me a lot of time and frustration from doing 3 or 4 at a time. As for classes I am planning to in 2 months when Corning glass starts the next round but I don't think doing pipes will be on the list at Corning. I will get some help but 10 to 15 people in a class for 3 hours a week will limit the value. I just want to able to ask question when I want to and give sommeone something in return so I don't feel like an abuser of someone good will. The members on here are the best and always willimg to help I know that but I want one constant flow of information to help until I get some knoweldge and skill.

[Mr. Wonka]

Flameboy- you really have to get your “feet wet” first, and then ask questions. In some cases, there is no right or wrong way of doing things… there are many ways to skin a cat.

As a for instance, If I were to teach you blown glass, I would put you on a blow hose, while other glass blowers might tell you that it is the wrong way to learn. I would show you how to pull points, whereas others would teach you to use a blow tube… some would use 9.5mm, and others use 12mm.

There are also a lot of different torches out there, and if you ask, "which one is the best", you'll get different answers from so many people... even though there are many different models produced by each company.

Try to absorb as much information from the diverse group of people here and find out what works best for you… then ask some questions to hone your skills. Yes, you will get a variety of answers, but that will provide you with alternative methods of achieving the same goal.

What works well for one person won’t necessarily work as good for another, depending on your style.

I hope that helps : )

Tom Doner

P.S. - As someone else suggested, Contemporary Lampworking (Volume 1, 2, and 3) are by far the best books out there.

[p.j.]

^^^^^that is the best advice in this thread......by the way i use 12mm and no blowhose

[Greymatter Glass]

Similar problems:

Asking a NASCAR forum who's the best driver.

Asking a golf forum "how's the best way to hold my putter?"

...see what I'm saying?

If you have specific questions about a specific technique then feel free to ask, but EXPECT multiple, often contradictory, answers. The search function is great, but don't think you're not allowed to re-phrase a questions or ask about something new to you. Just don't claim you invented some new technique just because you haven't seen it done already :P

the worst that's gonna happen (usually) is some ass-hat will tell you to use the search engine.

Since you're just getting started I don't think any amount of on-line or in-person instruction can substitute for practice. A large part of what we all do as artists is done by feel, intuition, instinct, and improvisation. The most basic lessons are to just learn how glass moves, and as cheesy as it sounds, have a discussion with your medium. In other words, MELT GLASS. Lots of it.


So much of what we do in glass is about aesthetics that where, to address the platinum fuming thing, one person may love the way it looks, and another will not. One person may have success because they use a hydrogen torch, and another used a nortel torch with propane, which would vary the results.

Being as specific as possible always helps.

As for the diamond shear thing... consider that whole mess an exception to the general flow of threads here. If you're interested in a tool it helps to not only ask "which is best" but also include a budget if there's a large gap between sizes/brands/styles of tools, and explain what your plan/application is.



Oh, and I use 8, 9.5, 12, 12.7, 16, and 19mm tube for handles, I also pull points. I use 3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12, and 16mm rod for punties... I use a blowtube when I need it, and not when I don't. Anyone who limits their toolset limits their creativity.

:P


-Doug


p.s. If you really want a single private answer, anyone of us with the "Ninja" badge, or generally speaking anyone with more than a few thousands posts here is usually willing to help out and respond to PM's about something. If it's a good question that hasn't been asked in a while we might say post it out front... if you just need clarification or single-point advise, that's cool too....