Cover your torch?

[Louie HaHa]

I used to work with a guy that would cover his torch with a t-shirt when he wasn't working. I started doing the same thing about a year ago in the thought that it could deter little bugs from crawling into the ports or keeping moisture off my torch if it's humid or something. I work in a shed in my backyard that is backed up to some woods so I get some interesting bugs (big and small) that swing through (if they fly they die, just can't resist that flame)

I was wondering:

a) Does anyone else do this?

b) Is it pointless to be doing this?

c) Could it potentially harm my torch (mirage)?

I've worked around a lot of different artists over the years, only seen this one guy do it. Now I'm doing it.... torch is fine doesn't seem to have any adverse effects covering it.

[OrganicOdins]

I do it with my Mirage when leaving it outside, but I also put plastic over it to stop humidity. I actually stiched up a nice barrel condom and cover for it now

[ALIEN!]

be even better if you used a real condom. better yet if ya fill that fucker up w/ gas and oxy and light that sumbitch.

[smolder holder]

My torch is out in my shed so i cover mine. But i'm not super ocd about it.

[T-Rex]

yea just put a condom on it!

[Louie HaHa]

Soooo, for the condom idea---- you think ribbed will be better to allow proper air flow to the ports without humidity/moisture getting in.... maybe the twisted ribbed?

I'm definitely not ocd about it, I was just curious if anyone else did this and if it could eff anything up.

[aREa541]

I used to work with a guy that would cover his torch with a t-shirt when he wasn't working. I started doing the same thing about a year ago in the thought that it could deter little bugs from crawling into the ports or keeping moisture off my torch if it's humid or something. I work in a shed in my backyard that is backed up to some woods so I get some interesting bugs (big and small) that swing through (if they fly they die, just can't resist that flame)

I was wondering:

a) Does anyone else do this?

b) Is it pointless to be doing this?

c) Could it potentially harm my torch (mirage)?

I've worked around a lot of different artists over the years, only seen this one guy do it. Now I'm doing it.... torch is fine doesn't seem to have any adverse effects covering it.

a) no

b) yes

c) wtf? really?

[Firekist]

a couple times a year my mirage face gets crud on the face from the moisture change/temperature thing happening. i was actually thinking of making a cap to stop that.
no biggie most of the year, where i live.

--seth

[Louie HaHa]

a) no

b) yes

c) wtf? really?


I know, shit seems retarded. The reason I asked this question was because when I took the shirt off my torch it was damp cuz it's been raining a lot. Then I was thinking "why the hell am I doing this", thank you for confirming this moronic thought.

[aREa541]

Not that stupid, just having a laugh really. You obviously just care about your equipment, which can lead to coddling of said equipment. I know on more than one occasion I have done something overprotective to equipment I care about. For instance, I have a little fan behind my stereo system that I kick on when listening to music to keep the amp cool. I have also given up zippered pants to protect my unit from an accidental zip up. Once bitten, twice shy.

[OrganicOdins]

I blow oxy through my ports to cool the torch when I feel it is too hot as well. Hey, my torch is worth 3x what my car is worth so.... not getting another one any time soon

[faded]

there was a spider crawling around on my bench while i was working yesterday. Freaked me out. Not sure what to do about it.

[LowTideGlass]

My old basement studio was full of spiders.

One had made a lil nest inside some 32mil tube, so melted it almost closed, just to mess with it. That bitch was alive for weeks! Until I needed the tubing so then I just killed it...

[Louie HaHa]

Now that it's been raining, I live in OR, all the spiders are finding cover in the shed and in my mini shed for the oxy. On a few occasions I've seen these big bastards just dangling or hiding in a corner. I'm guessing they are pregnant or something cuz they are real fat. The inner hippy in me is like, "sorry buddy, I know you take care of those lesser bugs buuuuuutttttt....." WHAM! I don't need a bunch of you crawling around.

Last thing I need is one dropping on my head/neck while I'm putting something together. Eff that shizz.

[FredLight]

^ lol, seconded.

I unfolded a canopy for a craft fair and big one dangled down from it on Thursday. I ended up giving it to a customer for her garden. It was a black and orange Bold Jumper.
The pattern on the back looked like a jack o lantern.

[Din]

Years ago, when I lived on the east coast, my shop was partially open. I guess, somewhere on the bench a bunch of spiders hatched, and got on me. They all did that first jump parachute thing, and thousands of baby spiders launched from my arms and shoulders while I was torching. I thought it was pretty cool, considering I had spent a lot of time around then thinking of how spider like an activity lampworking is.

[OrganicOdins]

How about moths, They love the bright torch flame. Instagib

[faded]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcR9af_akCw

[Louie HaHa]

"unacceptable, unacceptable".... hahahahaha funny shit, love the Onion

Din--- for real? you had thousands of tiny spiders crawling on you while blowing glass and your reaction was "cool"? A different reaction than I would have had. I'm guessing many fuuuck u, fuuuck u buddy, while busting some spazz move and probably burning something (clothes, hand, face, something) would have been my approach to the situation. Kudos to jew mang.... jew got brass bells mang.

[hashmasta-kut]

Years ago, when I lived on the east coast, my shop was partially open. I guess, somewhere on the bench a bunch of spiders hatched, and got on me. They all did that first jump parachute thing, and thousands of baby spiders launched from my arms and shoulders while I was torching. I thought it was pretty cool, considering I had spent a lot of time around then thinking of how spider like an activity lampworking is.


i had them try to get me, but it was just off to the side and forward a bit, so the fan and a few waving motions took care of most of them :)

[2wheeler]

Out here the stuff that crawls around my shop seems to change monthly .. Start off the year with mice , next up the spring ticks , june bugs , moths , mosquitos , wasps/bees and recently spiders. ( big ones ) This spider talk got me thinkin about trying out putting some hedge balls in my shop.. Anyone ever try that? I wasn't sure if it I was thinking of the right thing but this is what wikipedia says for hedge ball uses...

"The fruit was once used to repel spiders by placing one under the bed. Various studies have found elemol, an extract of Osage orange, to repel several species of mosquitos, cockroaches, crickets, and ticks.[13] One study found elemol to be as effective a mosquito repellant as DEET.[14] A patent was awarded in 2012 for an insect repelling device using Osage orange.[15]" (wikipedia.org)

[smolder holder]

As long as they arent black widows or aggresive house spiders i dont usually mind spiders in the shop or the house, i had one make a nest inside some 16mm tubing once and i just put it into the kiln.....not a happy end to that spider and her eggs.

And my cover is just to keep dust off, it's fabric so shouldnt trap moisture. I like it cuz it keeps dust off my glasses too which hang off my torch when i'm not using it.

[menty666]

As long as they aren't in the way I mostly ignore the spiders in my shop. But when they start webbing stuff I need I clear that, and if I see one on the bench it meets with the hot punty of death.

[Greymatter Glass]

Bugs? In my ports?

this thread makes me think of this:

43189

[smutboy420]

I don't know if it helps or not but I always park my torches with the face pointed downwards so dust and funk don't settle in the ports when not in use.

Actually it must work cause My spare phantom which has been sitting on my computer desk for about 3-4 years. Is covered in dust right now. All except for the face. Because its pointing down as far as it will go.

[Amorphous]

I think it might actually be a bad idea to trap humidity on your torch with any kind of non-breathable cover (i.e. condom).

I can sympathize with the problem of creepy, crawly, flying bugs. In my backyard we have carpenter bees the size of small airships, they were scaring the shit outta me at night when the light attracted them to the torch table, so I got one of these cheesy "as seen on TV" screen things for my door (which I have to keep open for make-up air to the vent hood), it works like a charm.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12401112&utm_source=googleproduct&utm_campaign=5176379&utm_medium=cse&mr:referralID=0693e867-2479-11e2-8751-001b2166c2c0

[Louie HaHa]

I'm usually pretty cool with the spiders, I let them do their thing and kill bugs.... but when them shits start to get big and fat and wanna have babies up in the shop, no bueno.

Good call on pointing the torch down when finished, although I work almost everyday so no dust settles on my torch.

I was thinking about getting a little mesh cover for the outside of my fan/vent. Could I cut out a section of that mesh you got Amorphous and reattach the magnets do you think? Can't really tell from the pic on their site.

"Centipedes? In MY vagina??"----- ahahahahahhaahh, nice