Favorite tubing?

[ALIEN!]

After doing some math and discovering that Simax ISN'T ridiculously expensive after all, I am rethinking my next clear purchase. I know this has been a topic before, but the dog ain't quite dead yet. Any reason its the bomb? Any reason you hate it? I know for sure I'll never buy Pyrex again. Schott's pretty awesome, but silver is easily over-struck with it. Been a few years since I had Kimble or Simax tube.

Also, if anyone has tried this new Kimble Artistic, I'd love to hear a review.

Some of the things Im looking for in clear is a clear that treats colors well and is good for honeycombs. Been in honeycomb mode lately, and Schott is great, but not quite getting the results I want. It seems the silver strikes TOO easily, like if I do a honeycomb on a marble, it over strikes too easily and Im left with creamyness instead of blue, purple hues. Kinda opposite of Pyrex, where it takes forever and a day for it to strike.

[LTD]

Are you a price club member at Winship-Glasscraft? If not you should be!! $100 gets you fat discounts for a year.

[Mecha]

No Schott Duran on the list?

Definitely my favorite by far, although for most stuff I use simax. SBA had line problems that were supposed to be resolved. If they were, then I would switch back to that for any non scientific work for sure.

[p.j.]

i like sba. i have a case of simax from 3 years ago, and it is a little shocky in comparison to sba's workability. (i've been using sba exclusively for that time). it just comes down to what you like and what you wanna pay for. i always buy bulk from ust and have always liked the $$$$

[ALIEN!]

Didn't realize the regular Schott was still around. I never did get a tube of the BA with the lines. I did get a bunch of Chinex with line bubbles, mad ridges along the seam, that junk is definitely to be avoided. Not so much that its cracky/shockey, but the craps not very round (larger sizes) no good for goblets, and is crap for fuming. 25mm wont even snap straight, ya gotta scribe it and shock it w/ hot rod and even then the break isn't always straight.

Is there a way to add to my poll?

[ALIEN!]

D'OH, double post

[jr23]

Depends on what I am making I use a bit of everything I like the new kimble but it comes in 4 foot lengths.

If it was 5 foot tubes it would be really nice.

for 2 a pound or what ever the sale price is its nice.

[LTD]

4 footers? Why? Seems silly.

[Albino Sasquatch]

i use the china and the larger stuff has problems with bublles and unevenness anything over 38 is kinda wierd but i dont seem to have a problem with it fuming and i flame cut my pieces off the tube as i weld a handle to it so no score and snap i can always picture myslf sliping and cutting an artery or somthing anything over 19 gets cut in the flame most of the time. i use schott to i got a bunch of the 32x5 and it has the line in it. not so good for goblets but still good for pipes and tube pulls and what not

[Dom]

Simax if you want to get actual colors out of your striking colors. Ill use SBA for solid color work .

[ALIEN!]

I cut all my tubes in half, then flame cut from there, I've got a narrow bench.

[Jeffs Pieces]

I really like simax 32 mm extra heavy wall thats my standard. I also pull a million points the blow tube doesnt seem to break. I tend to pull rather than gather the glass.

[Riley]

i use schott on everything, including ground joints, bistabil and uber.

ust glass gives awesome discounts and its a pleasure doing business with them.

with that said, i seem to remember ppl having preferences as far as how well certain clears hold fuming and allow crystal growth, and i'm always down for that info.

[sacredhaze]

Well, this is a bit biased.

I have only used Simax tubing and rod. The first Simax tube I used had a small crack from shipping. The end of that one shattered in the flame.

Every other tube was smooth, straight, crack free, line free, bubble free and polished on the end. Not to mention ABR gave a 30% discount on the cases.

The only thing I am still learning though is silver fuming. I seem to have trouble with it disappearing on me. But I am a noob with silver. If you check out my thread though I just opened the kiln today and found some very classy blue with purple and cream on my i/o fumed bats. Sexy.

I think I am with Simax for life. Reasonable prices and good quality control I think.

[Master Yoda]

SBA has had some batch issues with lines and what not, but good batches are good, I never had trouble striking or getting fumes how I wanted them with it, but I have a feeling that it all comes down to personal working habits.

[berning]

SBA here too. i get it from UST , awesome price.

[daveabr]

If it was 5 foot tubes it would be really nice


We will be getting it all in 5 foot now. We have 44 and 50 heavy wall, Kimble 5 footers already.


They are working with us, which is appreciated

[LTD]

We will be getting it all in 5 foot now. We have 44 and 50 heavy wall, Kimble 5 footers already.


They are working with us, which is appreciated

Sweet

[tweek]

pyrex heavy wall

[LTD]

I have been using simax for my prodo for years. There was only schott in stock when I grabbed tube today, I will see if I notice any difference....

[LTD]

I pulled a bunch of points on the Schott I picked up. Seems to melt faster.... No pieces finished yet, will report back tonight.

[hashmasta-kut]

all i use i think has been schott. pretty consistant, no complaints really. fumes nice.

[LTD]

I am amazed at how much faster the schott melts than the simax!! I love it. Not going back. I will try the new kimble, but damn I am kicking my self in the ass for not using schott sooner. Used a few cases years ago and did not notice the difference.

[CripSkillz]

you sure thats just not your new torch man,,, did you put a stop watch on it,, Id like to see a metered comparison on that..

[p.j.]

you sure thats just not your new torch man,,, did you put a stop watch on it,, Id like to see a metered comparison on that..

i feel they are way different too. it seems you cant work schott a lot longer too without having to heat it up again. i just had a case of simax that i had sitting around that i broke in to(after using only schott for 2 years) and it seems stiffer and doesn't work as easy...it was weird.

[Dom]

Yea simax is stiffer and does not work as easy, you have to heat it alot more to get the same soupy consistency.

But for striking color and fume there is no substitute.

[LTD]

That comparison was made working on the phantom that I had as a loaner, same phantom I used to own and did a crap load of prodo on. Definitely melts faster. I am not sure if I agree that simax fumes easier... Did some fume comb implosions and they worked great, grew fast. Stayed very white though.... All in all I am liking the schott.

[hashmasta-kut]

he never said it fumes easier exactly. i think some people think it does prettier fume.

[glassman_5432]

As far as honeycombs go, you can get great colors Blues, Purples, Reds and non milky blue whites out of all brands of glass, even china glass makes a great honeycombs :)

[smolder holder]

^^1st post glassman!! Welcome. I use both simax and SBA but haven't done a side by side as mine are different sizes.

[glassman_5432]

Thanks for the welcoming post!! I basically use simax and SBA and my worker bess use china glass for cheap prodo pipes, but only 25X4 any bigger sizes they use better glass. I also use simax for our rake or punties, china is to brittle. I have some pics of some honeycombs I do just follow my link!!

[nate dubbs]

I'm in China and I can't find anyone here who will sell me less than a ton. I got a price quote for mixed sizes 1000kg. :9,300 Yuan or $1,500 . I think their glass is garbage and sampled some in the US. Schott is my favorite , but too bad I can't get it here.

[OracleGlassArts]

simax is total garbage. shit does the same things china does except its way better than china at not boiling....not worth the extra dough by any means....i <3 china glass because i could smash a hole tube and not feel like i wasted my money on "high quality glass"

[Julian]

So right! China tubing is better in Simax in almost every way, other than quality of formula, roundness, straightness, wall consistency, and likelihood of thermal shock. Of course, those are all the factors one might look for when doing quality work... but who cares about that?

[mark206nj]

^^^Now that's funny, right there. Seriously, good points, Julian (all be it very veiled).

[gn0me]

Don't forget about the scientific tolerances, likelihood of shattering with repeated thermal stress by the end user, the way it behaves around striking colors, the little extrusion ridges running the length of the tube, and all the scuzz on the glass you can't see till you work it. My favorite part is the likelihood that the mere act of putting the tube in the flame will drop 10 inches of tube broken onto the bench for no reason at all.

[STROKER]

simax is total garbage. shit does the same things china does except its way better than china at not boiling....not worth the extra dough by any means....i <3 china glass because i could smash a hole tube and not feel like i wasted my money on "high quality glass"


why exactly are you smashing "hole" tubes for anyways?

if the quality of your work calls for substandard materials then by all means china clear baby....

if you enjoy the sounds of breaking glass and the good times associated with the random acts thereof, then hell yes china is a much better choice than simax.

however, if you want a chance to get it done and still have it in one piece for the end user: i suggest simax, pyrex, or schott.

i use simax for everything and have had very , very little substandard material from their company in the 5 years i have used it.

[Dirty]

Well in my opinion, all of this comes down to the type of work you do. I use simax for all proto and even high end proto. but when it comes to certain aspects of my work i change the brand/quality. Pyrex has great clarity and good pop with fuming so i tend to use it in marbles. Simax is also good with fume. high end schott/duran and sba are fantastic for head pieces and other more complicated work, but I have used simax in this capacity as well with no problems. Using china glass is just asking for problems. I love the white rod for vacs and thats about it. I have used some of the transparent colored tubing but it is a little problematic if not handled carefully. At the end of the day everything works, it's really up to how the individual handles it and your own ability to learn from mistakes.