Help Identify Glass Tubing?

[Borobot]

A buddy's grandparents were friends with a local furnace worker who had passed away a while back. They gave me some tubing that was left in his shop, but I am not sure what kind of glass it is. I only have experience working with boro. This glass is very light, almost feels like plastic, clear, and ranges from 4mm-25mm tubing. Any thoughts based on my description? I am certain that it wont work with my boro colors, so I just want to know what it is so I can sell it and buy some boro.

Thanks,
Borobot

[yoloswag420]

weld boro to it

edit: you already know it's not boro, oops, probably 96

[Borobot]

why do you say that? I really just want to get rid of it, and get some color rods or maybe some gong tools with the profit. I want to know what it is first though, so I can figure out what I have.

[Julian]

It could be soft glass, like neon tubing… Or maybe some standard wall Boro. Not really possible to tell without heating it up. Well, you could use a liquid and test the index of refraction but it's probably easier to just heat some up.

You can do something called a chip test to test compatibility. Sandwich two pieces of glass, one of known CoE, and heat without twisting. Then pull it out into a long stringer. If it contracts more on one side than on the other, it will curl and that direction as it cools. That inside of the bend has a higher coefficient. If it stays straight, they're the same COE. In all likelihood, though you would be able to tell if it's boro just by working some. If it's not 33, it is probably 90 through 97.

[Borobot]

Ok cool, I will heat a piece up next time it is above freezing. I am pretty sure it is not boro just by touching it though. What about quartz?

[Borobot]

It feels like Plexiglass almost lol.

[CheeseNip]

I've always thought that quartz felt almost like plexiglass or acrylic myself, but I have no experience with quartz tube, and very limited experience with any soft glass tube, so take that entirely with a grain of salt. Highly doubt that's a proper scientific was of identifying quartz though, but what do I know? Lol. Also not sure what he would use quartz for if he was a furnace worker. Do they at times use a quartz tube as a blow tube if they cannot use steel in their application for some reason (contamination etc.)? That could possibly explain it.. I dunno, just letting my mind wander a bit.

[yoloswag420]

if its quartz, glass wont scratch it but will scratch glass

[Mike Souza]

My best guess is that it's Flint Glass. The thin wall and those size ranges indicate the guys was probably using it to make hydrometers which were quite popular for home brewers to measure alcohol content. http://www.stevenson-reeves.co.uk/hydrometers/HBWB.htm You needed a thin wall to reduce the weight and glass density. One way to tell some differences in glass is to look at the end of the tubing and at the wall. Do a side by side you'll notice boro's have a sort of khaki green color in it's wall. Flint glass will look a bit grey, leaded potash glass will look kind of blue, quartz while look very clear and white. I'd first check to see if the all of the glass is the same that it will seal to itself. Worse case scenario you may have more then one kind of glass material.

Good luck

[Borobot]

Ok... So I melted some of this stuff today. Didn't want to waste it because I plan on selling it, so I just took a 5mm tube and melted it into a blob to see how it reacted to the flame. It began to melt almost immediately after entering it into the flame. It was clear going in, and came out looking like this! I was very surprised and am now even more confused. Perhaps the color changing property of the clear (non-boro for sure) tubing will be enough information for someone to chime in and identify what I have here. I have lots of this stuff. Mostly a lot of 5mm tube, but other tubes ranging up to 25mm or so. None of this stuff is rod. So... Any guesses?
http://i58.tinypic.com/2lvb874.jpg

[vetropod]

Leaded neon tubing? In-focus photos are easier to look at, FYI.

[Borobot]

Yeah I tried. Took it on my phone... Which is pretty dated. That is why I am trying to be descriptive as possible.

Clear...
Light weight...
Feels like plastic...
Melts almost immediately...
Turns the color above...
Came from a deceased hot glass worker...
All tubes 5mm-25mm...

That is all the info I have and am just hoping it would be enough to identify the type of glass I have.
I really have no desire to work with this stuff, I just want to know what I have so I can sell it and get some things I could use.

[MrNiceGuy]

Pictures are worth a thousand words...

It's not the camera phone's fault. Re-take the photo. Brace your arms and make sure it's focused on the object. Otherwise we'll end up with another finely focused picture of the floor with a blurry hand in front of it. :dieslaugh

Set the object down also. Trying to use a shaky hand to take pictures of an object in another shaky hand rarely turns out optimal.

[coloringdan]

If it is flint glass it will glow a faint blue under black light.

[Borobot]

So leaded neon tubing, and flint glass start clear and turn this color? Looks like I need to find a black light.
If flint, Will it glow blue while existing as a clear tube or after being melted?

[somewhere]

That's leaded glass. Try again with lots of oxygen and you will find it can be worked and stay clear. Ideally you want a gas air torch.

[Borobot]

Awesome, I will try it next time I am at my shop with a small section. I will also figure out exactly how much and what sizes I have. You think people here would be interested in it, or should I try taking it to a hot shop or somewhere else and see what I can get for it? If I ship it, I will most likely be cutting it down. Can someone point me to an online retailer of this stuff so I can get an idea of the value of what I acquired?

[newmexicomagma]

You wont get much for it unless it is lauscha tubing. It is definitely soft glass.