hello melting potters

[Tbrat]

hello everyone new member as of 2 days ago....i've really been looking to get into glass blowing and all glass work. I will be doing a shit load of reading over the next couple weeks, but as a base i want to ask......what would be the cheapest way to get into glass blowing....i just want to go as cheap as i can, then if i find that i really love it and have a talent then i will upgrade my equipment. As i said i will be doing my far share of research but i wanted to ask some seasoned artists what the best start up kit would be. I will be taking a class once my local head shop gets some construction done on it. but ya so what do u guys think?

[FredLight]

Turn around and run from the direction you came from...

....that's my best advice.

[Kato]

I had tossed well over 7k into my glass career before I even lit up a torch. This is not a "cheap" hobby. Take a class, than decide. I decided, than took a class, I was lucky I ended up liking glass. Could have been a very very costly expriment.

8m's are cheap, good torches too.
china glass is cheap.
old refrigerator box= cheap bench

just ideas.
hope this helps in some way or another

welcome to the pot! better start lurkin now~

[FredLight]

Setting your sights on a headshop that's yet to open is a poorly thought-out strategy.

It'll be months before you'll make anything that can compete with the cheapest import spoons at an already existing headshop.

You SHOULD be hoping to make some turtles with clear, and give them to yo mama.

CRAWL, WALK, RUN. Pipes are not beginner projects.

[Icarus]

#1 Cheapest way: take a class.

#2 Most expensive way: disregard #1

[quix]

I started off by accidentally overheating my hot hit rod and seeing it bend using a propane soldering torch. I started abusing the 8" hot rods I got for 2$ a piece from the local head supply. After spending a couple days and a few camping style propane canisters I decided it was time to throw down some dough on a small setup. Got a kiln from a very nice fellow called Lear and he was nice enough to throw in some scrap glass. Melted more on my little propane torch and kept my eyes on craigslist. Found a fellow who was leaving the country and needed dough quick who sold me a redmax, glasses and a bunch of tools for cheap. From there ordered some oxygen concentrators and a gast vacuum pump. Recently I got rid of most of it. You are going to spend a lot of money and it will not stop. Everything I earn to this day goes right back into materials / tools but I have never taken a lesson either and I the way I look at it is that my education is being paid for and I am quite lucky to be in the position I am in. One day it will pay off and be a financial benefit to my family.

Read every day, spend more time reading and less time failing. Before you try anything new, use the search function here to see how others are doing it already.

There is a different path for everyone. Good luck on your journey, however it may be!

[Tbrat]

what the fucks your problem fred? were u fuckin born with all ur equipment? i didn't think so, everyone has to start somewhere, who the fuck are u to tell me i can't blow glass. The headshop is under construction because it is expanding you narcissistic ass hole. I actually know the owner pretty damn well so i think it is a well thought out plan...and no bro, i'll give them to your mother....oh that reminds me, she said you got some mail the other day she wants you to pick up so whenever u get a chance that would be great.

Thank you Kato for the response. thats what i was looking for. I understand its not cheap my friend....i was simply asking what the cheapest way to get into it is.....that may be 7k or 10k $ but there still is a cheapest way you can get into it. so thanks again for the response

and fred....i hope ur work shed/workplace burns down

[Mecha]

Whoa, calm down there little camper.

Wishing that kind of ill on a respected member of the community in your second post is poor form to say the least.

Some of us are more friendly with noobs than others. Some of us are more cranky. Stay on the forum for a bit and grow a thicker skin and you will see what I am talking about.

So yeah, take some lessons. You would be surprised at how many people throw in the towel when they realize exactly how hard it is. This is not to make any sort of comment on character, just pointing it out to illustrate that glass is not for everyone. Even those that are "really interested" lose interest.

[Kato]

Tbitch welcome to the forums, I doubt we will be seeing much of you around as this kind of attitude usually dosent stick. Take freds advice with a grain of salt. We are a very tight knit community around here, and usually when people come in looking for the "cheapest" way to do what we do for a living, you can raise a few eyebrows. So I suggest becoming a bit more humble, start lurking (because your noob questions have been asked and answered a thousand times) and once you have some real questions about glass, some that dont have to do with saving you money come to us :)



and fred....i hope ur work shed/workplace burns down
wait, nevermind, you can just fuck off.

[Tbrat]

that understandable mecha about it not being for some people....i just want the same opportunity as everyone else did when they started but when ppl like fred say what they do it pisses me off....if hes gunna be an asshole to me ill be an asshole to him. but yea i'm the asshole right

[Mecha]

Actually, you have MORE opportunity than many of us did (like Fred and Myself).

When we started, there was no online community sharing free information. Fuck, I remember folks lying to each other about how to do certain techs just to avoid competition. So yeah, we can be a little snarky at times when it seems like everyone and their brother wants to "jump into" what we have spent years and years trying to become proficient in.

And yes, you are the asshole here for your comments. If that is how you react to some pretty benign smart allecky comments that actually do hold some good advice, well, you won't last long here man.

So calm down, read up, and don't burn any bridges to this small community before you even become a part of it. There is a lot of good stuff here and a ton of great people too. But like Kato said, we are pretty tight, so try to play nice.

[glassdocnc]

Hi T. Welcome.

Spend lots of time reading before you buy anything. There's lots of information (as well as tons of funny shit) to be had here.

If you don't think it's beneath your aspirations, you could also consider a bead making class. They are (relatively) easier to find and you can at least find out if you like melting glass.

Then prepare to lay down some serious cash. You don't initially need to buy everything you will eventually want. But it's better to get started knowing you will have a sizable investment in the craft.

[Icarus]

and fred....i hope ur work shed/workplace burns down

Fuck.... you.

Seriously, if you can't take a bit of internet ribbing without wish upon someone that they lose their livelihood every time you get upset, then there is no place for you here.

Don't let the internet hit you on your ass on the way out.

[FredLight]

We have ways of finding out who belongs and who doesn't.

I guess we know now.

And wishing bad shit on others will just rain down on you. Hope you have a fire extinguisher.

[FredLight]

Seriously, I was offering some money saving advice. There have been times where I wish I would've just walked away.

I do apologize for mentioning your mama, since I couldn't have known whether she's alive, or dead like mine.

The rest stands.

[TobsterGlass]

Hot head- $20
Propane- Small disposable tanks usually 2 for $5.
You could spend $100 on a natty, $45 on a propane tank, and quite a bit of $$ on oxygen. Forgot to mention you'll need graphite marvers, bowl push, picks, tubing, rod, frit, hoses, regulators, glasses, a vent, and last but not least a kiln which wont cost any less than $400. I'm sure I left alot out though.
Keeping your costs low in the beginning sometimes won't work out in the long run. If you have a buddy who's invested in a headshop and you are invested in being his supplier then it sounds like you want to jump headfirst into glass. After 4 months i out grew my nat 6-b. Instead of going the cheap route just buy equipment you won't out grow in a year, Since you are going to be a headshop supplier. If you're coming into any community with an "Fu" attitude then you obviously know you're going to be alot better than everyone else since you won't need anyone elses help so just buy thee highest grade equipment and pull a few inlines. What fred said is true lol If you are looking into getting serious with glass prepare to spend quite alot of money or just don't start doing glass.