this might be a stupid question?

[sevendeuce]

Is Chinese glass from glasscraft any good? I have no experience with it and would like a little info on it. Please and thank you

[Chad S]

I get the chinese black tubing and it's always par in my book, however i would recommend staying away from chinese clear tubing, its def worth going with simax for your clear, imo.

[sevendeuce]

No go on clear then? That was my main concern. The black is okay tho? I can't ever work black. Always gets that sandblasted look.

[Chad S]

I prefer simax for my clear. Chinese black and blue tubing you would be fine. But if your worried about your pennies, ABR here n there has sales on simax & kimble clear. Their last sale was 40% off and the time before that was 35% off. Buy US clear when its on sale is your best bet imo.

[ALIEN!]

im with twist on this one. I use simax and schott boro artistic, love both. keep in mind simax often has more pieces per case and therefore case prices are much higher (higher by the pound too but not by terribly much.)


The chinese color tubing you find everywhere comes from the same factory in china. It is all equally chinese. All equally imported and all equally made by a guy that lives in a hut with 12 other people while working like a slave for 7 dollars a week and is all equally subsidized by the Government of China.

Oh, and FYI, search around and read up on the black and white tubing, they are finicky. Usable, but not great. I make my own from Jet Black for what it's worth.

[AlexSchmalex]

I use china just about every day for prodo. I have had the black shock pretty bad but it prolly could have been avoided with a more gradual warming. As much as I would love to use all American all the time, china has deffinately kept a little extra chedder in my pocket.

[Dan Kooper]

Ive had the chinese clear crack in the kiln alot. Ill make a larger piece and it will crack in strange places. Like far away from welds and in even unshaped sections. Like the shaft of a tube. So anything bigger than a prodo spoon i wont even waste my time.

[jusbag]

I would just give it a try and see if it works for your application. Some chinese is definitely better than others.

[Aussie]

rule of thumb for chinese black is lots of oxy, it'll stay nice and shiny then ;)
I love it!

[nodice]

I haven't gotten chinese clear from in a while, but from my experience in the past, I would say that it's better than buying color odds or seconds in the way that it's more consistent. You can also get lucky (like with seconds), and end up with glass that you love. For fuming, chinese clear was usually better to me than others, because it often had more variation in color. It often stressed and devited more than other clears though. Not sure about the newer stuff. I've been getting a good enough deal on simax lately that I don't want to deal with others. Not sure how much glass you usually buy, but I think glasscraft had some kind of 45% off deal on simax, if you buy 10 cases or more......

[KT-Old School Glass]

Just an FYI...

The only American clear boro is Kimax that is manufactured by Gerrisheimer.

Simax is by Kavalier Glass in the Czech Republic
Duran and Schott Boro Artistic is by Schott Glass Technologies in Germany.
Pyrex... I keep hearing conflicting stories of where this is now made. Some say Japan, some say China...

[daveabr]

We sell the Kimble, made at the Vineland, NJ plant. It really is the only American made clear. Been there, seen the workers, and it feels good to support them.

[sevendeuce]

Thanks for the info guys. Just getting back into my shop after a long 2 years. I almost sold my stuff even. Man that wouldve been bad

[d3rk]

Been using Kimble from ABR lately, and it's worked out great. Both color and clear. Would recommend it. It being made in NJ is a plus.

[Holden]

Just an FYI...

The only American clear boro is Kimax that is manufactured by Gerrisheimer.

Simax is by Kavalier Glass in the Czech Republic
Duran and Schott Boro Artistic is by Schott Glass Technologies in Germany.
Pyrex... I keep hearing conflicting stories of where this is now made. Some say Japan, some say China...

Pyrex is now made in mainland China. I used to blow pyrex out of a furnace for Corning Glass Works and I made tubing of all sizes. This was back in the 70s.
Jay Holden
holdenartglass@yahoo.com

[KT-Old School Glass]

Pyrex is now made in mainland China. I used to blow pyrex out of a furnace for Corning Glass Works and I made tubing of all sizes. This was back in the 70s.
Jay Holden
holdenartglass@yahoo.com

Thank you, Jay, for giving me a definite answer. I've been wanting to know for a LONG time where it was manufactured now.

[ALIEN!]

isn't some pyrex made in Japan too?

[Julian]

It says on the cases where it's made.

Back in the day, some of it used to say Japan. Ownership changed or something since then.

[nodice]

It kills me when people at certain glass distribution companies talk about buying american, especially when I know they'd probably sell something made by nazis if it turned a buck. Yup, I said it. Nazis:).

[Julian]

I'd sell something made by nodice if it turned a buck. Yep, I said it. nodice :heart:

[nodice]

(kiss) edited as always, oops. It's funny how people can be such snobs about where they get their things from, especially when they don't know who they're getting them from, or the quality of said product in comparison to others (or something like that). Me included.

[Greymatter Glass]

I always find it amazing how people buy things from other people with no regard for the specific opinions of random people.