New Simax formula????

[dmas0n]

I'm pretty new and I hate to let this be my first question but here goes.

Has Simax changed their formula since last fall?

The reason I ask is that back in the fall I bought enough simax blow tubes to last me a while and the while just ended last week. I bought a new batch and they arrived on Monday. Until then I had never had a blow tube break in my hands, since then I've had my first, and my 30th. Kimble and Simax are the only 2 kinds of clear glass I've ordered and all of the simax I've gotten out of this last batch is breaking like crazy. I made a couple of W&R's and didn't get through a single piece without having at least 2 rod breaks the only time thats happened to me was in a class where the teacher provided chinese rod. I even had a punty break while I was wiping it off with my shirt!

If anyone knows what gives I would love to have an answer, I'm about to toss all of this shit and order something else to replace it.

[Ronin]

I use simex exclusively for my clear, and it seems the same as it was last year.

[hashmasta-kut]

I'm pretty new and I hate to let this be my first question but here goes.

Has Simax changed their formula since last fall?

The reason I ask is that back in the fall I bought enough simax blow tubes to last me a while and the while just ended last week. I bought a new batch and they arrived on Monday. Until then I had never had a blow tube break in my hands, since then I've had my first, and my 30th. Kimble and Simax are the only 2 kinds of clear glass I've ordered and all of the simax I've gotten out of this last batch is breaking like crazy. I made a couple of W&R's and didn't get through a single piece without having at least 2 rod breaks the only time thats happened to me was in a class where the teacher provided chinese rod. I even had a punty break while I was wiping it off with my shirt!

If anyone knows what gives I would love to have an answer, I'm about to toss all of this shit and order something else to replace it.

are you buying some simax blowtube? or just simax tubing? 10mm, or what? i just bought a new box of tenmm by 2.2, we shall see if its any different than the past..

[STROKER]

I just bought a case of 9.5 & 12 that i use as blowtubes and it same ole good quality simax.
maybe you got a case of shit but i assure you the formula is the same.
i use it exclusively for everything and all my glass is business as usual.

[dmas0n]

OK well I'll consider it a fluke and be glad it wasn't a whole case, I would be pretty upset to be honest.

The tubes in question are 9.5 btw.

[sasch74]

I'm 100% there is no new formula, but I can imagine that subpar badges (must be big badges!) are shipped overseas to get rid of them, just like NS sells all their mishaps to Germany hahaha

I had a serious puntybreak last week with some 8mm from 1,5years ago, does barely ever happen to me, do you think I had a bad rod in my case...?

[KT-Old School Glass]

Just curios as to where the case in question came from...

[daveabr]

Was it Simax, or Boro 33, or whatever?

[BrassMonkey]

lol i just switched my puntys and tubes (10mill) from china TO shcott and pulled a few rods out cut and polished. took one and tapped it on the wood part of my bench and it fell to pieces, LOL
gonna have to test tap all of them in this batch now so that doesnt happen while im working.

[dmas0n]

It came from MGA shipped via UPS - they pack it so well I am dubious on it being a shipping problem. I woudln't post about something like this except that it happened so many times subsequent to the first time. In one day working I cut and burned myself more and worse than I have this whole year. Not trusting your materials adds a whole new degree of difficulty to lamping.

[Bruce Dille]

Are the ends of your tubes polished or rough cut?
I got China clear and color tubes and the ends are cut (both 12 and 25mm)
any Pyrex or Simax have been polished.

[dmas0n]

They're polished and were in 5 ft lengths.

[FizZle]

inspect ur tube bofore you use them...there may be some small checks that arent apparent...u know here and there if it was banged around...this will lead to breaking...i dunno how breaking tube leads to burns...but id be interested to hear the story...

[Plum Tuckered]

I may be wrong so take this with a grain of salt. Have you tried to anneal your blow tubes and rods? It may help.

Yeah how did you burn yourself?

Good Luck

[dmas0n]

I was wiping off the end of a piece that was on a blow tube in my hand, the blow tube snapped and the piece fell away from my wiping rod, bounced and rolled off the table landing with the hot side on my stomach.

[Greenhorse Glass]

Another reason to stand and torch.

[KT-Old School Glass]

Was it Simax, or Boro 33, or whatever?

That was my first thought too. The reason I asked about the origins.

[hashmasta-kut]

Another reason to stand and torch.


depends what you are wearing. i bounced a recently flameworked 2 inch marble off my lap recently no problem.

[HomegrownGlassStudio]

As if it matters... I never have had a problem with Simax OR Boro 33 and I go through a TON..

[J Howard]

depends what you are wearing. i bounced a recently flameworked 2 inch marble off my lap recently no problem.

i swear by a wool work shirt. super breathable, almost fireproof and quite comfortable. i blew out a bubble from a point that was close to 10" in diameter the other day, and couldn't even feel the heat on my arm with the glass less than an inch away. i stopped by paul stankards the other day, and he had one on too! just another option, and they last a very long time (mines about 7-8 years old now)