Greetings

[Andje]

Hello all. I'm Andje, I live in Ottawa, Canada and I have yet to melt anything at all. That being said, I am very eager to get started. This forum is amazingly comprehensive, and I just wanted to point out that the work people are doing to chronical their experiences online here enables people like me to follow a random interest all the way into attempting it for themselves. Nothing is more empowering than information!

So. I have about 3000$. I want to work primarily with Boro, and more specifically Simax. I want to work spoons and bubblers on the 5-8 inch long scale. I am looking into bead making techniques as well, and could also see myself doing vases or abstract ornamentals; basically i have no sculpture ability and don't plan to go down that route. Having done a bunch of research, I am now settled on a plan that seems well thought out. It is now here for your approval, and i welcome comments and criticisms, as well as extremely glowing complements ;P.

Equipment;
GTT 4 stud Scorpion
2 EX-15 Scratch and Dent sale Oxy Cons
Either a Paragon Bluebird Kiln or
MAC-hb89e which is on Sale right now in the vendor section

I will then put a few hundred bucks into tools and a few more into glass. I have a shed that is going to be set up into a studio. As far as I can tell, with this setup i should be able to do what i want without upgrading until i change what I'm crafting. Then i could build my own solenoid pedal, get a homefil system to run bottled oxy on the outside ring of the Scorp, get a third concentrator and go to a Phantom, whatever.

What does everyone think? Any obvious flaws in that plan that my noob mind hasn't foreseen?

[smolder holder]

Ventillation, ventillation, and more ventillation. Don't underestimate how dangerous this craft can be to your health. Otherwise happy torching and welcome.

[Mecha]

What does everyone think? Any obvious flaws in that plan that my noob mind hasn't foreseen?

Try BEFORE you buy.

Take a class or find a lampworker that will let you have a little torch time.

Lot's of people that are extremely excited to get started quickly find out that this is not for them.

Not trying to dissuade you or anything, but you should at least get your feet wet before diving in.

Oh, and welcome to the board.

[Icarus]

I disagree with Mecha. Buy before you try. If you don't like it, there are plenty of us who will be happy to buy the stuff off of you at a substantial discount...

I kid. Mecha's spot on. You should be able to find someone relatively local to you to who will be willing to give you some lessons in exchange for cash or trade if you search around on this board a bit.

Welcome.

[Andje]

for sure the lessons is one strat.. don't want to sound like im ignoring that advice, since i'm sure a lot of people will suggest it. It's just that the gear will only depreciate 80% max over a few months if i decide i don't like it. I've ALWAYS been interested, like since i was 4, I've never had the opportunity. And finally, I know i am capable from learning from online sources since I am also heavily into DIY ebikes and learned everything i know from endless sphere.com, and i now have one of the top 25 diy ebikes in the world, and i'm not tying to exaggerate. So basically you find me at the stage where i have done at least 200 hours of reading and research. I am sure i want to invest, and i am sure i want to learn, and i am sure i don't want to get shitty equipment that will either depreciate or hold me back... so here we are.

Anyway, thank's for the concern and if i do hate it you'll be first on my lists for selling it at massive discounts :P.

Ventilation is high on my priority list. The shed itself is tiny, a mere 350 cubic feet. I've read the rule of thumb is full air exchange every minute and a half if you are simply torching into a room with no hood. In that scenario i would need a 200cfm~ fan. BUT. I plan on working through the Canadian winter. I will have a space heater in the shed to warm it to room temp before i start working, but I don't want to be exchanging the air every minute and a half with -25C air. So my plan is to use the cubicle-style approach, where u add side walls to the table area you are torching in and the put the intake at the back of said cubicle and the vent above it to encourage the fumes to never enter the room behind me and for the intake air to never come near the glass or cool down the space. If i match the intake properly with the exaughst cfm it should continuously empty the cubicle without allowing the warmer room air to get out too quickly. In this second scenario i would be able to get away with a much smaller exaughst fan.

What say you, yon-board?

[nodice]

Listen to mecha? If you're really lookin to get into glass, finding a good apprenticeship would be a much better route than locking yourself in a shed. Then you will know what you need to get without having to ask us.

[smolder holder]

Not only what these guys are saying but ten minutes of watching someone who knows what they are doing is worth five hours of wading through youtube vids.

[dmas0n]

In this second scenario i would be able to get away with a much smaller exaughst fan.

What say you, yon-board?

I'm new myself so far be it from me to give out lampworking advice, but I am familiar with basic shop safety. I understand what you're saying about switching the air every 1.5 mins but that assumes unrestricted air flow and you won't have that in a proper lampwork set up. Infact what you will have is a kind of dead spot right around your torch where air lingers, bad air. Even in a small shed 200 cfm fan seems underpowered to me. Please consider using a more powerful vent system, not less.