voltarc neon tube?

[medicatedMELTDOWN]

I just was given this assorted case of neon tubing and there are three different colorss of tubes where the coloring is on the inside......yellow, blue, and red

Ive never used neon tubing and Im not sure what the colors on the inside do........I think it helps it glow more brightly...or something i wasnt really given a good explaination.


anyone out there know more about Voltarc? or just anyone with some ideas about what to do with this tube?


..........the date on the case is 1987

[borealisglass]

what coe?

[medicatedMELTDOWN]

i dont have a clue.....it's lead glass though

I also found 1 piece of a crazy purple tube.........at first i thought it was a dark cobalt but when looking through a halogen light it is a nice deep purp...


gonna go test this stuff right now haha i already know im just going to make a mess since it will be so different than boro

[KickinAss]

The two gases used for neon,argon and neon glow one color. Each mix with the colored glass lets you have a lot of different colors.Just like when you mix yellow and blue paint to get green. Hope that helps, Joe P.S. I think its around 90coe

[boxfan willy]

I definitely see a phosphorous coating inside the neon and it seems the color could be a coating as well. The phosphorous coating is used in combination with mercury introduced before pulling a vacuum. The mercury vaporizes when high voltage is intoduced and reacts with the phosphorous to glow much brighter than neon or argon by themselves. I have 90 coe tubing from tecnolux, no coating, pure color. Great for soft glass ornaments, perfumers and such. Up to 25mm.

boxfan

[Brian Newman]

Neon glass is coloured with a powder coating on the inside, and this can be wiped clean for connecting to electrodes, as the powder coating will burn if worked too hot. Phosphorous is dangerous for health reasons, clear neon tube is cheap enough, and the colour coated tube is expensive enough, that I don't suggest cleaning it out for "free" raw material, rather put it in the corner for someday.

[mindblowingglass]

Use a air gas torch (if possable) the gas-oxy will burn the coating out.
(if its coated)

[rumplephorskin]

what would happen if you ran compressed air and propane thru a gtt??? would you be able to find some tasty flames for working soft glass????

[SHOOBS]

what would happen if you ran compressed air and propane thru a gtt??? would you be able to find some tasty flames for working soft glass????

I have been wondering the same thing . Anyone have a clue about this?
I have a mean air compressor i will try it out when i get a chance.
-Shoobs :bouncy:

[homer]

I think jason howard has a manifold design for adding air into the GTT mix...his handle is Cravyn Moorehead on this site. Havent seen any of his informative posts lately....

Homer

[rumplephorskin]

My own question has gotten me thinking (for once) and i bet you could use a y splitter to premix oxygen and compressed air. Something tells me that just air wouldnt be very fun to work with.

[Islandglass Man]

Call Joe at Tecnolux 718-369-3900 part of their business is neon supplies

Bear

[threeputter]

Hi Medicated, from the pictures you have phosphorous coated tubes. Voltarc makes lead based glass and non-lead. By the date it probably is lead based.

Very soft compared to boro.

I highly recommed you use air/propane or natural gas. Little air pressure is needed. I believe around 5psi.

You can easily make a torch for bending. Buy the tips from a sign supplier. I use a cannon fire. The 2 tips face each other about 6 inches a part and at least 12 inches above your base. Use copper tubing or black pipe to connect the tips to the base and clear silicone tubing for the line feeds from your valves to your piping and from the gas and air supply.

A bbq regulator will work for the propane tank, run the hose to your valve. if you don't have a blower, get a shop-vac blower (it will work fine for quite some time, keep your receit if it goes out you can return it for a new one, I have) Buy a venturi mixer for the valves or you can make a simple one, with gas valves from home depot. Make sure your gas outlet is connected above the air outlet in line and mount it on your stand (base). From there you have one line of mixed gas/air. Make a glass T or use black pipe, connect the line from your valves to bottom intake of the T with the clear tube and connect the 2 outlets to your fires. Use the same length of tubing for the connections.

The cannon fire is used to make 90's and double-back bends. You can also weld in this torch.

A hand torch works for welding tight spots. A 16 inch ribbon burner is needed for making curves

Make your piece, call your local neon shop (talk with the bender if possible) and ask if they will pump your piece for a small fee. Make sure your welds are good, no leaks and you will have a happy pumper. the smallest leak will make your piece non-pumpable.

I hope that helps, good luck.

Oh, a surge tank for the air will help if you have fluxuation in air pressure. I made mine from an old (clean) 55 gallon drum. Add a bleed valve to release some pressure.