Something for nothing

[Aymie]

Attention all noobs!!! Stop asking for lessons, advice, how tos and everything else you lazy little bastards think you need to learn to blow glass.

First of all, there are two whole forum sections here devoted to that crap. And tons of talented artists have taken the time to post very useful information in both. Instead of starting ten thousand already been there threads, take a few days and read what us already there. If you are looking for something specific, use the search tool. It's all there for a reason.

Second, get the hell off the computer and get on the torch. Nothing but hard work, and lots of time is going to teach you this craft. I am so tired of people asking how to do something that's clearly beyond their grasp, when they can't even get a nice weld or a straight punty yet. So go weld scraps and come back when they are clean and straight. But don't come back and ask what next, come back and read through old threads and find it yourself. Glassblowing is a job that requires hard work. If you are already this lazy about it, just give it up now. You are only wasting our time and your money. If you spent half as much time going to events, meeting artists and watching real work being done, as you do asking for free lessons here, you would already be on your way to making it a real job.

Third, and maybe final, get a fucking sense of humor. Drink a beer or two. Chill out. We are a mouthy and sarcastic bunch, and often grotesquely inappropriate. You have to be able to take a joke. You have to be able to laugh along with us when we make fun of you. You have to be able to handle seeing another glassblowers penis. I for one am thankful we get occasional full frontal male nudity here. Just suck it up and don't be a homophobe. You will occasionally get boobies too.

If someone wants to move this to the welcome to the melting pot section and put a sticky on it, I am sure many of us would be thankful.

Those of us who give all the helpful info you get here, did not become great and talented via the forum. While it helps us all to grow, we made ourselves who we are and learned what we did by getting in the damn torch. Trial and error. Now after many of us have put in years of hard work, and lived and worked through the time when no one shared anything, you all come here wanting it dished up on a silver platter for you. That's just not how it works. Y'all are lucky this place even exists and that you can get anything for free. Most of us paid good money and put in months of hard work to learn what we did.

[smolder holder]

Well said. I've noticed a lot of recycling of the same crap on here lately and although some of it creates some good comedy it's very tired

I'd rep ya but I just did on another thread :)

Boobie pctures?

[Kato]

Aymie, you get a high five :)

[CitizenNot]

Blood,sweat and tears....and thousands and thousands of dollars to burn!

[FredLight]

Well said.

[Jeffs Pieces]

Great Advice! but I dont want to see some dudes junk, only female nudity pleeease.

[jello]

I think I'm in love

[Eric S]

Great Advice! but I dont want to see some dudes junk, only female nudity pleeease.

submit!

[brettodie]

must be hot......

[Bro-crispy]

Very well said Aymie. I took a haiatus from this board from around 2005 until 2009-'10, and this newb phenomenon was a surprise, and a bit odd.

I'd like to seize the moment and hit another relative rant. What's up with all of these progression threads? Maybe im being a hard ass, please call me out if I am, but I don't really get it. Posting your knobby uneven spoon and then having a bunch of people tell you fabulous it is will NOT make you a better craftsman or artist. Some years ago I was talking with a 4th generation Italian glassblower, a young guy, who had been to teach in the US a few times. He asked me - "I go to these workshops, and people make these awful glass pieces. Just horrendous stuff. Ok, no problem there, they've only been at it for 6 months, 1 yer, three years, whatever. But, then they show them to the class, and everyone congratulates them on how beautiful it is! Why do they do that in your country?" He absolutely could not understand it, and at the time I thought he was being harsh. But it's classic Old world vs. New world. In our society we have developed the "luxury" of skipping over the apprentice system that ruled for tens of thousands of years, probably since the beginning of making and doing, in all disciplines, not just glass. Because of the studio glass movement, and the privelage of money and time, we get to jump right in, without paying our dues, so to speak. I think this has pros and cons. Some of the pros are it makes things super accessible, and opens up new paths of creativity. And a major con, in my opinion, is that the craft begins to degrade.

Anyhow, I know us flameworkers get lonely in our cold shops, and I have definitely used this forum myself as a way to reach out. But I would much rather someone see my awesome innovation I created after 2 years of hard work than my knobby spoon I made after one month. Think about your motives- are you posting for self gratification, molten masturbation, or will that post enhance the community as a whole?

[ornametalsmith]

Don't candy coat it, Amy. Tell'em what ya REALLY think :o::flamethro



i NEED more cowbell......ehrrrrrrrrrrr TITTIES......I meant TITTIES!!!! :yay:yay2

[Kato]

Bro- remember how happy an proud you were when you made your first spoon? I know I wanted to tell the world. And personally, I like seeing peoples progression. I see lots of people give good advice in their progression threads. and have gotten lots of good advice my self from my own progression thread. I dunno. Im all for them :)

[LTD]

So much well worded wisdom in this forum and this thread. I love how free info has become, I do get annoyed seeing people doing vac stacks and tetrised up sections with crappy welds and sloppy terminations from people who would not have the first clue how to do a wrap and rake. There used to be an order that you learned things in. You know? Build up the basics and you have a good base. Starting to rant and ramble... Thanks Aymie


P.S.
Did someone say boobies?

[CitizenNot]

I couldn't imagine posting pics of the crap I made when I first started...yeah It felt good to make a crappy spoon but no need to show anyone. Shit come to think about it I've never posted any of my work, I'm too critical of myself, that and I lived in the worst county to be making what I make....lol


MORE BOOBS LESS NOOBS!

[Bruce Dille]

^^^^Im the same.
You wont find a Progresson thread with my name on it anytime soon.
I still have my first spoon,now if someone starts a first spoon page ill show it.....

[smolder holder]

^^ I hear ya. It was years before I had the balls to post anything on gp.org and even then I was very nervous about sharing my work with anyone. Most of the work I did for the first year or two is at the bottom of a river just cuz it wasn't up to snuff.

That being said I do like most of the progression threads. Do I need to see your first 20 spoons that look like colored poo? No. But I love seeing peoples work and how excited they get when they finally master a tech they have wanted to do for a long time.

[Bruce Dille]

^^^^And a thread dedicated to a single sculpture or pipe is a really good way to show your progress with out seeing the poo.......

[Greymatter Glass]

Aymie, you brought a tear of joy to my eye.



grotesquely inappropriate.


Oh, I was gonna post something else, but this sums it up:


http://www.greymatter.org/pandas/burn.jpg

[Greymatter Glass]

ok, read the thread....

As for back patting and 'ata boys, I agree it's BS, and for the most part it hurts rather than helps people, but who cares, right? All that matters in American culture/society is that everyone feels good about themselves all the damn time, and no one ever hurts anyones feelings. If anyone does something to make someone else feel bad they're instantly the villain, it's especially bad if they offend a stranger.

We need to get over that, and accept that sometimes honesty is the best policy. Instead of "if you can't say something nice..." it should be "if you can't say something HONEST don't say anything at all." In an honest critique the goal is to be blunt and honest, NOT to offend, discourage, or hurt - but if that's the result, then it's the artists problem, and they need to find a way to either not get hurt, or make something better and try again. The other side is that people shouldn't be brutally honest just to be mean. If you have no vested interest in something don't engage.

FWIW, I stopped posting pics here a long time ago because I wasn't sure if people were being honest or not, and I didn't think my work was to the par people said it was. Now I mostly get feedback from collectors, other vendors at shows, buyers, and other people who I've determined matter and will be honest.


rant rant rant.


Sort of related:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5um8QWWRvo
http://www.youtube.com/user/theRSAorg#p/u/6/u6XAPnuFjJc

[JBob]

I couldn't imagine posting pics of the crap I made when I first started...yeah It felt good to make a crappy spoon but no need to show anyone. Shit come to think about it I've never posted any of my work, I'm too critical of myself, that and I lived in the worst county to be making what I make....lol


MORE BOOBS LESS NOOBS!

same on all accounts. :twitch:

[sertaiz]

somehow the boobies animation only feels good when a female member posts it

[drew1492]

I totally agree I am sort of a green horn myself and I tell you sometimes I spend hours trying to find something I want to learn just because of all of the BS noob threads. I have asked questions myslef but I try to limit myself because all the info is here.

I cant tell you how many peope ask me for homefill whip parts lists and I posted pretty much all you need to make one in a thread. It does get bothersome at some point.

[hashmasta-kut]

FWIW, I stopped posting pics here a long time ago because I wasn't sure if people were being honest or not, and I didn't think my work was to the par people said it was. Now I mostly get feedback from collectors, other vendors at shows, buyers, and other people who I've determined matter and will be honest.





i dont agree with this, from what i see, the buyers and collectors are like wow thats cool! no matter what you show them pretty much. thats why i dont post pics on other websites. i find the most critcism you can get for your work is from fellow glassblowers. i post crap up, and get harsh comments, and learn. there is no way i would get all the harsh constructive comments on a collectors site, it would be considered rude.

[skip]

I think I spent 3-5days reading this site when it was the old blackboard 12 years ago and I wasn't a noob when I found it. I was stoked on all the info. It now has everything you could need in forms of videos, tutorials, product evaluation. There is enough info to spend months reading without having to ask a question.

[mer]

what kind of torch should i get? also, could somebody tell me if this pipe is good enough to be considered "art"? thank you.

[Albino Sasquatch]

what kind of torch should i get? also, could somebody tell me if this pipe is good enough to be considered "art"? thank you. same question just one more thing how do you do a honeycomb?...lol

[Eric S]

hey all i'm new here i just want to make a few simple items nothing too big or crazy you know, just some pendants, small marbles, GonG slides and some inlines. do you think a lynx is going to work for me? i only have about $500 of my parents money so that has to cover everything. i think i'll take to it pretty easy, i saw some guys at silver dollar city blowing glass and it didnt look that hard so what do you think, 4-6 months before i can make some nice headies?


also is there a photo tut on how to set up my torch and regs? TYVM

[Bo Diddles]

What are some good colours to use?
Why does my fuming look crappy?
Anybody know anything about ventilation?

[nodice]

My favorite threads start with, "I've searched......" so it seems like they know what they're doing, but it's like the search function doesn't work normally when they're using it. I wonder if they type any words in, or just keep clicking on the search button. For anyone who likes to start threads with those words, just leave them out. You're better off having people think you never did a search.

[Bo Diddles]

My new torch finally arrived!

[Bo Diddles]

Can I blow glass in an apartment?

[Slimy-E]

more boobs less noobs is pretty catchy!

[Icarus]

I've done my research and I think I'm going to need a three pot crucible, a GTT cobra and some regs and hoses. Can anyone else think of anything else I need? Of course I'll need a marble mold, but I think I'm going to hold off on that, so I can start making some money back.

[somberbear]

I've done my research and I think I'm going to need a three pot crucible, a GTT cobra and some regs and hoses. Can anyone else think of anything else I need? Of course I'll need a marble mold, but I think I'm going to hold off on that, so I can start making some money back.

well i saved a lot of money not taking classes , or getting contemp lampworking. i am going for the same set up , but i wont have a kiln for a while... that should save me some money.

[JBob]

well i saved a lot of money not taking classes , or getting contemp lampworking. i am going for the same set up , but i wont have a kiln for a while... that should save me some money.

Is this too much $$$ to spend on o2?!

[Bo Diddles]

^ good one

[FizZle]

how do you make a basketweeve?...with a bitch window in the middle of the weave?

tutorial anyone?

[FizZle]

also...nooobs with booobs are all goood...as long as the post pics of boobs for the tutorial... :)

[Aymie]

what kind of torch should i get? also, could somebody tell me if this pipe is good enough to be considered "art"? thank you.

I sooooo wanna make out with you right now.

[Greymatter Glass]

what kind of torch should i get? also, could somebody tell me if this pipe is good enough to be considered "art"? thank you.

GTT Cobra, anything less is trash.

And yeah, that piece is a sickie, for sure! Pretty much I was turning out sick $2000 headies like that a week after I started too.

[Greymatter Glass]

How much do you pay for oxygen?

What kind of tube should I use?

What's the BEST size of tube?

How much rod should I buy?


so i saw this guy make this pipe like this:

http://www.glasspipes.org/Images/FullSize/000263000/Img263680_DSC_0525.jpg

(sorry I dont know how to post pictures)

Can anyone tell me how to make it exactly like that? But maybe with more green and a skull on it?

[somberbear]

i spent all my money on my torch i cant aford O2 :twitch: back to the crock pot anealing... i saw a bottle pulling kiln by sinbad hes friggin awesome! im going to break apart my toaster think it will work if i fill it with vermiculite... would i have a problem with my headies?

Sorry guys no short cuts... you gotta pay the cost to be the boss... thats time and money period. and if you never worked in a shop before... grow a tougher skin.

[Ubatuba]

I made a pile poor quality Salt rip offs. How much should i sell them for?

[Greymatter Glass]

About tree-fiddy

[Ubatuba]

Dont think so you damn Lochness monster!

[pipeshawk]

:crying::sigh::violin: :tongue2:

[menty666]

In the noob defense, though.... The lingo to successfully search for is one of the toughest bits to pick up on around here. I've been skulking about on here for years and I still run into terms I don't recognize and wouldn't know to search for.

"That wire grabby thing" is more obvious than "claw grabber" or "ball grabber", or "sinbad's sex toy".

[Greymatter Glass]

Menty, that's why people should invest in a good book when they get started. Relying on the Internet for all your advice and information is a pitfall far too many people make (in everything, not just glass).

Contemporary Lampworking is an essential text and there aren't many serious lampworkers I know who don't own at least one copy. That or Homer Hoyt's Glassblowing book. They're both considered Bibles.

Anyone who's going to spend $1000+ on tools, torches, kilns, materials, etc and can't put out a few more bucks to learn about what they're doing is setting themselves up for failure.

[somberbear]

even milons book has a ton of information in a short volume. of things that people comonly ask. honestly guys... the internet can only do so much for you ... invest your 60 bucks , and about a week of your life to reading this stuff.

if im really down and out i can go rent space to work. but if i dont have the basic skills to work. thats useless.

kinda like camping. i never go out camping with a brand new tent i have never put up before. trying to figure it out and making sure it works while a microburst opens up over you is not the time.

all the fancy gear is useless with out the knowledge and skill and dedication.

also i would like to point out even as a hobby this isnt an easy one. lots of people want to do it. but cant. it takes resorces and working. problem solving. and determination. true passion. Its hard for me to say hey ill train you for 6 months. slow down what im doing. make sure you can work. just for you to go to another job when things get hard? i have seen it way too much. people burn out of this perfession all the time. i have. but its my love of the material that keeps drawing me back.

Right now your a n00b and it sucks. we offer a lotta help but it comes down to one thing. showing All of us that you are worth investing out time and energy into.

[Greymatter Glass]

Right now your a n00b and it sucks. we offer a lotta help but it comes down to one thing. showing All of us that you are worth investing out time and energy into.

VERY well said Rob! There are over 11,000 members on this forum, and only several dozen, maybe a few hundred at most, who are active. You can bet that a not-so-small number of those 10k have each asked the same 4 or 5 questions only to go away and never come back to even read the responses.

Don't waste our time and we wont waste yours.... waste our time and deal with whatever comes.

[HOSS]

It sure seems like when I joined, the ratio of people with questions to those with answers was much better... these days the noobs are much stronger in numbers, to the point that its just too much for anyone to keep up with.

I really used to enjoy helping people get going, and watching their progress... there weren't a whole lot of them at any given time so it wasn't a big deal. Someone asks a standard question, you point them to the standard answer. Now the job just seems too huge to handle. And even when you try, good answers are usually ignored in favor something that SEEMS quicker/easier/cheaper. :bangHead:

[p.j.]

this has been my favorite thread in a while.

i wonder if anyone who should be reading this thread is?

[Pogo]

I agree with the earlier statements about how n00bs kiss each others ass and say something that looks horrible is baller. I could see how from their perspective (sans skills) that whatever they posted about is "ku", but it is probably counter-productive for the ability of the worker.

what really bothers me is how n00bs are giving each other bad advice, or commenting on torches they've never seen lit, much less have experience on. It's the blind leading the blind. (at very least the visually impaired leading the blind.)
It's like when someone posts a tutorial (that is not obviously a joke to experienced workers) full of bad tech and janky work quality. You're not really helpin' the scene, you are weakening the supply of information and flooding the community with the bad ideas that they too can make janky work to sell to shops (flooding the market with cheap janky crap\stealing from those who took the time and gave the effort to produce nice glass).

Remember kids that post-count, join date, rep power, etc. are all arbitrary numbers to the time someone has spent on a computer; not their Stats for their glassworking ability... Unless you are out in the REAL WORLD scene enough to get a feel for what's what, how will you know who's advice is gospel? Remember that you guys are trying to make money doing this. Making money takes work; sad but true. If everyone could make money easily with a paragraph of instruction we'd all be fat and happy.

If your spoons aren't straight, thick, and clean like a glassblower's cock, don't waste your time giving poor advice. It's win win.

[Greenhorse Glass]

I'm reading. Doesn't sound too friendly to post though...

[naughty pirate wench]

"straight, thick, and clean like a glassblower's cock"

Pogo-Darlin', tried to rep you for this but I gots to spread the love. Might someone else rep Pogo for me?

[B-Rye-oNeR]

what's a puddy? or a puntie? or is it ponty? .....lemee getta section of that wigg-wagg stick.

[dmas0n]

i wonder if anyone who should be reading this thread is?

If it makes you feel any better, I am.

[cc_bob]

We need a quiz for all new members to pass before they can post with their account. Say 50 or 100 multiple choice questions that can be found easily with the search function. This would familiarize them with the search function, terminology, prevent a lot of repetitive posts, and weed out anyone too lazy to look for the answers.


Questions could cover topics like safety, tool choices, and topics.

Which torch would be good for a noob working boro?
A: Hot Head
B: Gtt Cobra
C: Gtt Lynx
D: Red Max
E: Bunsen burner
F: National 3a
G: All of the above
H: Lynx, Red Max, or National 3a

Which artist should be respected (if the get this wrong they should be banned:D)
A: RAM
B: Sinbad
C: Nomad

Which glasses are needed for boro
A: Didinyums
B: Shade 3 or better
C: Dark sunglasses

[STROKER]

^^^
my answers are:

B
B- was gonna also say C but nomad still comes second to sinbad
C

cant i come and play with you guys now?

[kage]

I made a pile poor quality Salt rip offs. How much should i sell them for?

at least half price

how much do you think i can get for my case of shroomie pipes?

[metalbone]

Blood,sweat and tears....and thousands and thousands of dollars to burn!

hey guys (and gals), I really want to blow glass, but am short of funds because my kids are in the hospital and the bills are due. Plus my car got towed away and my tuition was just increased. I think I can make money to pay the bills by blowing glass, but I don't have any gear. Can any of you good people donate any unused or old equipment and tools that you are no longer using? I can pay you...

[Jorbinky]

So err graymatter, not to be rude but uhhh is your profile picture a manifestation of that full frontal nudity concept?
I've been looking at it for some time and still dont have a clue as to what it is

[Torch-Bug]

oink oink !

[Ronin]

I figured it was an excited tree

[BoroZillacate]

I wonder how many times THAT has been asked. Cute lil pigs

[Boozeclues]

Tits or GTFO!

[Aymie]

Show me your cock first you big shit talker. Working girls get paid up front mister.

[smolder holder]

Show me your cock first you big shit talker. Working girls get paid up front mister.

LMFAO!! Ohhh booze better hope you don't get whiskey dick :D

[menty666]

Welllll, this thread took a turn for the "dear God, no!"

[Action Glass]

ahahahaha

[Ronin]

if that guy got too excited he would pass out from blood loss

[smolder holder]

Guy standing next to another guy at a urinal "man, that water's cold" the other guy says "yeah it's deep too!!"

[Kevin Bumble]

um it goes pissing off a bridge^^^^^^ but ya hacked it pretty close

[smolder holder]

Ha that's the version I heard......doh!

[ALIEN!]

It's all Dire Straights' fault!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsnA0ix9hZU

[Aymie]

Seriously...sticky...welcome letter to all new members...fucking something!!!

If I read one more "I just got my torch and gave bonuses what to do/help me/I almost blew up my neighborhood thread I am going to shoot someone.

[smolder holder]

"Hey farva what's that resturaunt you like going to?


Hopefully I didn't butcher this one too much......

[yinzer]

whoa...how did I miss your head exploding like this?I don't have any ventilation, should I just blow glass naked? Oh and when I put the silver in the fire, it smokes. I can get high off that right? I was thinking of hotboxing my studio tonite. Last time I water annealed it didn't work right, what temp water does everyone use? Can I encase these bits of brain I have left from when aymies head exploded? I heard texas brain was part quartz.

[yinzer]

after you're done answering my questions, I am in a financial rut and was wondering if any of you could donate any of the following things : a plumber or someone to fix my damn drain, a lawnmower, monkeys that only throw poop on command, a babysitter, an audi a7, and a pony. If you have any extra of these items or maybe some you could part with, I'd greatly appreciate it

[Bruce Dille]

should I just blow glass naked?

Never naked,But with boxers and flip flops,yes,Its been real hot in the studio.

[menty666]

Last time I water annealed it didn't work right, what temp water does everyone use?

LOL :)


Never naked,But with boxers and flip flops,yes,Its been real hot in the studio.

Would just a leather apron be appropriate?




Don't forget..".have you heard about this HHO stuff? People are running their torches off of water! It seems like the free wave of the future, suck it gas companies!"

[Aymie]

Na in the morning...it's better than coffee. Gets my day started just right.

[Greymatter Glass]

I need to pee pee, can someone come help me?