Old newbie

[314rex]

I've been a lampworker for about 40 years. I started out back in the day making glass pipes while I was going to college. These pipes were much simpler and not at all like they are today. I went on to make animals and did that for many years. The market for glass animals died out about 12 years ago. Many guys who did this were forced out of business if they didn't change to something else. In my case I switched over to making beads and jewelry and had a good run with that. But now I'm noticing now that even this market is starting to tank. So it seems fate is leading me back to making pipes, which by all accounts is thriving. The problem is I don't know much of anything about it anymore. I think I can pick it up again with a little work, and I've arranged with someone local to take lessons, but what I'm wondering is what kind of pipes should I concentrate on making? Are there any colors that sell better than others? What's the best way to sell, and how do you set your prices? Basic advice like this would be most appreciated.

[brettodie]

welcome to the melting pot. :) start with a few basic shapes,spoons,sherlocs and hammers maybe. use your sculpting skills on tubing. read up here on the forum. go to glasspipes.org. as far as prices go it depends on your market, quality of work ect. there's several facebook groups for wholesaling to stores,they can give you ideas on general pricing ect. good luck lady glass is tuff to kick enjoy your newest form. :)

[ROGUE]

I was told the rule on pipes is as follows.

If you can't make it good,
make it big.

If you can't make it big,
make it blue.

Sounds like a pretty good place to start lol

[Jiggy Boro]

I was told the rule on pipes is as follows.

If you can't make it good,
make it big.

If you can't make it big,
make it blue.

Sounds like a pretty good place to start lol


:rofl:

[BORO]

If you can make shapes you never see , or sculpt animals for pipes , or on pipes . What ever you can do well , and you don't see much or any of in the pipe market . You will sell better. I bet you know some tricks no one has seen in the last 15 years or so of the pipe boom. filtration ? scientific stuff no one uses ? lace filtration ? I feel like the more , smaller bubbles you can get from a water piece , the better . If it is for oil , less air space inside . if It is not for oil , more air space .( again, if it holds water )

If you know the name of the piece "hammer" "oil rig" "spoon" whatever, you can find it on-line , for sale , with prices ,for reference. Most glass pipes retail for 100% mark up , you got 10$ they sell it at the store for 20$. So cut the retail price in half for a close estimate .

Most shops look at over all appeal first ,is it a nice piece? Then how symmetrical ? Is the hole in the bowl correct size ? Thick is better ( to a shop buyer) Is the carb the right size ? The thing is , most store owners know almost nothing , some know , but most do not . How you present your self to a store is almost as important as the glass it's self . If the owner is your "home boy" then of course he will buy more from you.

If you need direction for color application , check out the glass craft webinars , worth every penny if you have skills to use the info

If you need this to make you money , time is money , the faster you can make "x" the more money per hour . It is a dance , nicer , longer production , you must command a higher price . If you can make it fast and still get the premium price , more money for you . Or make it quick n dirty , produce more , but ask less . ( I'm sure you know all this already)

fancy pipes are nice. Just remember , people need to use them , handle them , pocket them if they are small.
Some one needs to look at it and be like "sweet , I want that!"/"I have never seen that!" and not think next, "dam I will break that fast". fancy does not mean weak . I bridge everything , no acute angles a.k.a "butt cracks" , smooth to the touch where the two sections are joined together. ( you may know this too , but worth the time to type )

[BORO]

Green , SUCKS! don't let it soak too long or get too hot in the kiln , coe issues.

rouge- Now I know why there are so many small blue pipes in florida. ( I kid of course )

[LarryC]

Why not draw from what you know? Start making the pipes that you left off with all those years ago.

[istandalone24/7]

yea why the hell is it that cobalt always sells? something about that blue...

[Plum Tuckered]

It seems to me that there has been a huge surge in the pendant and marble world and you could prolly do well with those still. Pipes are the easiest thing to sell though for sure.

[J Howard]

funny thing about that blue quote -

i do a bunch of art shows, and sometimes we play craft show bingo among the artists. i made up a bunch of bingo boards with funny observations in the squares.... like someone trips on your booth flooring, woman in electric wheel chair, some body says "did you make this".... stupid repetitive to the point of cliché things we all see at every show

every bingo board is different, but... the center square is always:

"Do you have this in blue?!"

the rule is you HAVE to shout out bingo. the more high end and stuffy the show, the funnier it is to keep hearing Bingo

[nodice]

Yes, blue dolphin pipe/pendant. People love sea creatures, and blue. Don't forget the importance of how much time you put into selling your stuff, and who you sell it to. Makes all the difference I'm the world..... A few days ago, I saw a $100 pendant sell for over $1500. Interesting stuff. I don't remember any blue in it though. Must have been wicked good. Haha.

Someone I work with has put a lot of time and effort into advertising glass pendants in the last few years. I kind of attribute the surge to him, and it's funny to see all the famous artists jumping on board. It's like they finally realize how much money they can make off pendants with half the effort of pipes. Why? People want anything they make, and will fight over it in an auction. Blows my mind.

[314rex]

Thanks for all your comments. I started doing pendants in '03 and have had a very good run with them. But from what I see, the run is over. I'm selling more bead bracelets now, the more colorful the better. Even before became a lampworker cobalt blue was my favorite glass. I find even putting touches of cobalt into a clear piece helps sell it. In a way I hate to go back to making animals even in pipe form. I just got burned out on doing them for so many years. That said, I do make hundreds of different animals. Translating those designs into pipes and learning to work them as tube rather than rod will be the challenge.

[Aaron Ellis]

The animals that you used to make just attached to pipes would be cool. I'm thinking of ceurio cabinet (don't know how to spell it) type animals.

[A.I.]

^^^this, just do your thing

[Aaron Ellis]

I'd love to see pics of your previous work I'm sure I'm not the only one. If you have some and you don't mind.

[Aymie]

The run for pendants is happening again. Pendants are huge right now. I am selling most of my glass via facebook and instagram. I suggest you set yourself up with both, even if it's a pain to learn. They both give access to retail sales with a huge customer base.

[PyroChixRock]

Instagram requires posting from a smartphone, something to keep in mind.

Attach your solid sculptures onto pipes. My suggestion would be to focus on finding a bubbler shape that lends itself to attachments and is easy for you to duplicate. Make it multiple times and attach different sculptures to each one. Release pics of a group of them to jump into the market more easily.

I'm looking forward to seeing pics of any of your work. :)

[byron3]

I do not remember which one it is, will have to dig them out and look, but one of the popular videos goes through all the classic "piper creatures". The most common are the Octopus by far, frogs, lizards, spiders, dragons, and dragon fly's. Slides were the most common target, simple spoons also can get a "price bump" with the addition of these same creatures. With the advent of the concentrate market and dabber dishes, I also see simple art shapes such as cherries ..........................

Bubblers lend themselves easily to these shapes, big pus on the front with nice white dotted tentacles is always bound to be a money maker.
The Chinese make a ton of money off these designs, by all means bite on them for a while!!

Please post some pics, I will go back and find out what video that is for you.
Have a great day
B3

[nodice]

What she said.

[Aymie]

I forget Instagram requires a smart phone. That annoyed the crap out of me.