Good First tube size?

[bostonbull04]

Hey guys I just got set up and was wanting some advice on what size tubing I should start with. I have a nortel midrange plus

[STROKER]

i like 50 mil and bigger.

anything else is for pussys

p.s. make sure its extra heavy wall too

[Deez]

^ really.
this guy is just starting!

pick up some 25x4.

great starter size

[Lyle Lanley]

i think GWS was a little sarcastic... I agre with OVglass 24.5 x 4 is probably the smallest your want to go for pipe making atleast

[Shatner]

25 heavy wall is good starter tube. You can make small spoons and chillums.

I started a bit ambitiously and dove right in to 38 heavy. That's an ok size to start with too, imo.

[FredLight]

Start with rod.

10 or 12mm.

Make a ball, squash it, add legs, etc.

Crawl, walk, run.

[LunacyMountain]

yeah start with rod 10-16mm and make balls and pendants and random stuff...then get some 25x4 heavy wall or extra heavy wall then slowly move up to 28 then 32 then 36 and so on...I know some people who only work with 25-32mm and some people only work with big tubes...it depends on "how" and "what" you are making though

[bostonbull04]

I've been working with soft glass making beads and pendants. I want to start with some clear to make spoons, chillums, and marbles. Start way simple and fundamental, plus color is way more expensive.

[KT-Old School Glass]

3/4" (19mm) Ex HW and 1" (25.4mm/26mm) Ex HW are good sizes to start with.

[brettodie]

what he said ^^^^^

[full_kiln]

31

[Boozeclues]

get some 9.5 or 12mm too and learn how to attach a blowtube and do constriction bats (you should be able to make sell-able bats pretty damn quick).

[Shatner]

get some 9.5 or 12mm too and learn how to attach a blowtube and do constriction bats (you should be able to make sell-able bats pretty damn quick).

And a scorer to snap it quickly.

[RedToroBoro]

I did a search and could not find a tut vid for constrictions. That would be a good one to have if anybody knows of one.

Thanks

[Tzonis]

I would say that 1" ex heavy is fine and all but really the 50mm heavy is the way to go. You will end up using lots of it anyway so why not just start there?

-Tz

[GlassConnoisseur]

I started out on 22mil heavy wall on my natty 3A, i'd say 22x3 and 25x4 are good beginner sizes.

[StrawHat Art Glass]

My first order was 6mm rods for working and beading, 12.5mm med wall for beading, blowtubes and small hollow pieces, and 1in med wall for the bigger stuff. My friend gave me some 1in ex heavy wall. I like that stuff more, more forgiving on my lack of balance in hot glass. I can make a few thin spots and they arnt too thin. Its a little heavier weight wise so a 2in section on a blowtuebe seems to spin with a little more force, little more umph.

I agree, 50mm and smaller is for pussies. But i like the 1in tubes. (Insert dirty comment to hearts content)

recent got advised to use 9.5 heavy wall for blowtubes because smaller inner diameter makes for more blow pressure and control. Havnt tried it yet.


Oh, and I run a nat3A with whisper tip.

hope that helps, any feedback on other blowtube sizing suggestions would be nice.

I like the 6 and 8 mil rods for working and beading, if i had the money i would have 4-5 mil for working and small stuff and 10-12mil for beading, marbles, and pendants.