Glass Pipe Question

[willstopher]

Hey, so I'm just starting out with lampwork and I'm looking to make a glass spoon pipe. My question is, can I make a pipe out of a straight tube of borosilicate glass, or does it need to have a blow pipe end?

[ALIEN!]

yes, you can use just larger tubing, search for pulling "points"

[menty666]

What Alien said. You can find some videos on youtube too.

[STROKER]

dont listen to these fools .of course you have to buy your glass with premade blowtube ends to be able to make a glasspipe. duhh.

call any distributor and they will set you up.

[willstopher]

Thanks. Are there any good borosilicate glass tubes with blow pipe ends sold on amazon? I'm not really sure what to search for, and I seeing test tubes but nothing specifically for glass art.

[gambitglass]

I was thinking to start a company that sells such products but at this time I dont believe a large one truly exists. You may be able to commission someone to perform prep work for you but if you cant pull a straight point you probably cant make a good pipe.

Learn to do your prepwork yourself and you will be thankful for becoming a better artist. pulling straight points or attaching a centered blowtube to your blank or tubing is essential for making to producing a quality product.

[kage]

make a handle with smaller tubing dude. and buy a book on amazon... like: this_one (http://www.amazon.com/Glassblowing-Introduction-Solid-Blown-Sculpturing/dp/096244040X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343768860&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+blowing+book+homer+hoyt_one)

[apixdesign]

Thanks. Are there any good borosilicate glass tubes with blow pipe ends sold on amazon? I'm not really sure what to search for, and I seeing test tubes but nothing specifically for glass art.

??? do you have a torch for this?

[d3rk]

make a handle with smaller tubing dude. and buy a book on amazon... like: this_one (http://www.amazon.com/Glassblowing-Introduction-Solid-Blown-Sculpturing/dp/096244040X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343768860&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+blowing+book+homer+hoyt_one)

Second

[willstopher]

Awesome, last question, what is a good thickness of glass tubing to make a pipe?

[d3rk]

Try 12mm and go up from there. 12mm will be a plus for you because you don't need to pull points to make a pipe with it.

[willstopher]

Thank you sir d3rk

[LarryC]

Sammitch? AlienScience?

[atomgirl]

Thanks. Are there any good borosilicate glass tubes with blow pipe ends sold on amazon? I'm not really sure what to search for, and I seeing test tubes but nothing specifically for glass art.

lol stroker was just kidding

/s mode off!

i can work straight off a tube. Or pull points like Allen said (stretching parts of a big tube into handles).

It's hard to work off a straight tube smaller than 25 mm. For me. Also I think u have better control with points or a small blowtube (same finger effort=more rpm, the smaller ur punty or tube).

Gotta say tho u shouldn't need to come to a forum to ask simple questions like that (tho I dont mind, I wont make fun of u)

Don't worry about ur blowtubes, buy Contemporary Lampworking. Then send me $$$ and I'll whisper secrets into ur ear. Paypal accepted

[Kato]

Use 12x2.2 mil for you handles and 24.4x4 to make pipes. You will have trouble making anything pipe wise wih 12mm besides a chillum.

[kc-216]

ill sell you 3 inch pieces of 44 heavy with 9.5 handles on em, only 10 bucks a pop, plus shipping :D

[atomgirl]

Ill sell u 3.2 inch pcs of 45 110% heavy with 9.6 handles on THEM, only NINE DOLLARS

SHIPPING IS FREE

[atomgirl]

KC 217 MUST FAIL

so that others may succeed.

[HumanLathe]

Theses are simple design and teach you how to make a " maria " on 12x2.2 tubing.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5seeeetiuqzfhgs/spoon.jpg

Great for new guys since they are cheap to make and easy to learn. I think 12.2 is great for newbies as its cheap and pipes like the one I linked you barely have to blow making them. With them its more about learning to gather properly and keep the glass straight. The smaller tube is much easier to start to learn wrap and rakes on as well and will save you money but you will miss out on in my opinion one of the most vital beginning lessons and that is pulling points..Which generally you start with 24x4 tube broke in thirds so you can pull two points in the middle of each third stick of 24x4. Some pull points off the end of a closed tube, I think this is a good thing to learn but in prodo mode is a waste of time and for noobs much harder to do. Anyways get a book and watch some you tube. Then come back and ask more questions once you have the basic know how.

[atomgirl]

I took a class where ppl with 10 yrs behind the torch were pulling points for the 1st time
it was funny to see how hard it was for them

[Matt P]

Watch lots of youtube videos, read lots on this forum, and read contemporary lampworking 1 & 2, then you'll be ready to ask questions that people will be more helpful with.

Wait...this is the internet, I'm supposed to be an asshole.
HEY FUCK YOU MAN! GO AS YOUR QUESTIONS SOMEWHERE ELSE!

But seriously, I had a lot of questions, and more or less learned a lot on my own, so I get what you're dealing with, especially with all the terminology.

People commonly use 9.5mm and 12 mm tubing as handles on pieces, on larger tubing you can pull points, essentially pulling handles from the large tube you work on. Some people also claim to just work straight off the 25mm tube, which...has been commented on this site plenty lately. 25x4mm (aka 25 heavywall) is pretty standard for making simple spoons. Its a good size to learn on too.

And again, buy those books. You'll learn a lot, and be glad you did. Everything is in there.