Logistics while learning, practicing...

[corleonis]

Hello, wonderful people!

When you were beginning, and you did not have your own studio, how did you (personally) figure out renting a space, tools, and glass.

For example... If you rented studio space, did you purchase your glass directly from the studio you were working at, or bring your own that you had shipped to you?

What about those of you who did not have a dedicated space to create your own studio? Like you apartment renters? Did you wait until you were actively selling pieces before investing in a bigger space, and setting up a studio?

Basically, I want to know what your progression was, if you didn't have your own space at first. How long did you rent space, and how often? What were the rates at your studio? Did you have your own tools, or use the studio's? And the glass. Did you get sample packs of colors, or did you buy a few full length rods to fiddle with?

Thank you for your input, today will be my third day behind the torch, and I just can't wait to do more.

[Aymie]

Start here: http://www.talkglass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?11-The-Newbie-Room

Tons of good info has been gathered and posted in that section.

[menty666]

I get what you're asking; it's expensive to set up only to find out it's not for you, so how do you toe dip without dropping 6k+ on a setup?

For me...

I took some classes at a local studio (Worcester Center for Crafts), where I'd use their equipment and buy some glass from them, picking up my glass the next day.

I found I liked it enough to go forward and wound up setting up in my backyard, on nice days, with a hothead and a soft glass sampler I bought from Arrow Springs to make some beads and put them in a fiber blanket, just to learn.

From there I had a shed put into my backyard, did the fireproofing I needed to, installed ventilation, ran electric, found a killer deal on what was essentially a shop in a box on craigslist from someone that was getting out for health reasons. I got a kiln, torch, some tools, a set of glasses (I quickly replaced) and some glass.

[Swim]

anyone who spends 6k starting out has been taken advantage of somewhere along the line. That is a crack smoker number for getting started in boro. No one should even be suggesting a person that is new to glass that they need to go to softglass and a hot head to avoid paying that kind of scratch to get started. Although, its a great place to start. I could for sure get someone started in boro for 1500, and that would be a damn good start. Every torch company besides herbert arnold has some good torches for 500 or less, and the rest can sertainly be sorted with another thousand dollars, even a small kiln could prolly fit into that. Softglass is only a good place to start because start up is less than 300$ and its a good place to begin your fundamentals.

[TacosGlass]

my beginner setup was well under 1k, nortel minor, clear sample packs, good deal on a bunch of clear I found on this site, tank off Craigslist, fan off craigslist, file cabinet vent hood, built everything myself(hood, table, a wall, ducting) - I'm lucky to have already had a place to set up at a warehouse

regulators off eBay...

it can be done, when there's a will, there's a way, not everything has to be bought firsthand

[Paul-C]

i learned from a friend where i did prodo for a yr and a half. having learned in a regular shop my setup has been pretty pricey. including the grand worth of color i just got i've prolly got 8 grand into it but i bought a concentrator that can run my CC which was way expensive but i'll never miss a week of work because the oxygen dude has a bug up his hiney.

[snoopdog6502]

There is no place to rent within hundreds of miles from me.

I had to jump in and buy my gear.
$600 outside on a card table, tanks, regulators, a GTT bobcat, some cheap boroscopes glasses. 6mm rod and some blow tubes.

14 months later Iv got a very nice set up. Iv spent about $6,300.00


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5FSluEbDQw

[jr23]

Well it's variable and all these options are fine but 6 k is not a crack head number .

But it is crazy to go that deep in without trying it out to test waters .

Take d maka or lorax as known here he just knew glass was for him so he got a mirage to start only using the Lynx to learn on . Rather than buying minor and working his way up losing money every upgrade to depreciation .

I have watched many people run threw all the cheep torches and end up with a red mad or phantom .

Great burners but when you add all the money they spent and lost buying and reselling the could have almost bought a champion / mirage or used herby

Now if you don't have a shop building or buying a 15x15 well insulated and finished wall building is like a few grand .

See how easy it adds up if you buy good grade stuff .

And it's best to get good stuff . If you have all cheep stuff and don't like glass and sell it . You are hard pressed to get 50 or 60 cents on the dollar .

People who buy great gear get 80 and sometimes 100 cents on the dollar when selling shop .


These are all things to think about .

My biggest tip will be to make small stuff with small torches until you are sure it's for you .

That was always my problem I would go to big for my current torch and get fussy . Don't take on projects bigger than your torch can handle it's frustrating and fuel cost goes through the roof

[glassmax]

Hello, wonderful people!

When you were beginning, and you did not have your own studio, how did you (personally) figure out renting a space, tools, and glass.

For example... If you rented studio space, did you purchase your glass directly from the studio you were working at, or bring your own that you had shipped to you?

What about those of you who did not have a dedicated space to create your own studio? Like you apartment renters? Did you wait until you were actively selling pieces before investing in a bigger space, and setting up a studio?

Basically, I want to know what your progression was, if you didn't have your own space at first. How long did you rent space, and how often? What were the rates at your studio? Did you have your own tools, or use the studio's? And the glass. Did you get sample packs of colors, or did you buy a few full length rods to fiddle with?

Thank you for your input, today will be my third day behind the torch, and I just can't wait to do more.

YES ! First I sold some expensive stuff and then i rented a fucking shed.
I´d suggest to read all the infos provided here.Then ask again.
As long as you have a good ventilation,you can blow glass in a chicken shack.
You ask the comunity to answer questions that had been answerded allready a thousand times before.
Please read,take time,think and then ask.
What do you expect? If you dont have a place at home you´ll gonna pay whatever a garage,shed or any other working place cost.Usually here is no subcharge for glass blowers sheds.

Dont get me wrong but I´m in the bussiness since a long,long time and it just sucks when Newbs ask the same questions again and again though we already have these infos.
so long,old fart glassmax