about 6 months now...

[richsantaclaus]

Hi all. Been at it for about 6 months now - still using soft glass COE 104 and I wanted you to let me know how I am doing in your eyes. I have tried encasing copper punchout shapes in marbles, playiny with color combinations looking for color reactions with Moretti glass and finally including milli in a marble. Here goes the pix... OH, they are only about 3/4 to 1 inch in size. I appreciate ALL your help!

Rich

[PyroChixRock]

You sure you've only been at it 6 months? I like what you're doing, and that's a big size for 104. We should do another trade soon, I wanna see more of this in person! :D

[LoneWolfandSon]

hey misha,
im down for a swap. if you dont have a enough time point me in the direction and i will set one up.

[alacrity024]

wow dude you should win some kind of award for:

posting "how do these look?" pictures that are actually IN FOCUS

and

posting "how do these look?" pictures of marbles that look GOOD.

:applause:

[PyroChixRock]

Dancingbears, you mean a board swap?

[LoneWolfandSon]

a board marble swap. i have never been in one but it sounds like fun.

[richsantaclaus]

You are too sweet Misha - I am making a flower marble tonight - I will post it after it gets out of the kiln... hope you like it - it's my first try at a big flower using 104.

[richsantaclaus]

Here is my FIRST flower marble - ok, is it ok?

[PyroChixRock]

It looks great, Rich..especially for your first one! That's killer.

To avoid those bubbles, move farther back in the flame a bit. What torch are you on? Sorry I forget...

[richsantaclaus]

I have a major/minor and use both flames too.

[alacrity024]

you know i think i'm starting to see what people were talking about in that "why is boro better?" thread.. the clear is.. well it's still clear but it's just not the same, is it?

[PyroChixRock]

You can get some super clear vetro, his looks clear, just some heat bubbles I think. I've had great results with vetro.

[PyroChixRock]

Hey Rich...I know I just mailed you something...but where do you live? Are you ever out this way?

[richsantaclaus]

I am in Southern California. Sometimes I get up to Washington to attend ArtFest at Port Townsen around Easter for an art retreat. I have coming the NEW Moretti clear real soon from Franz Glass he got there recently. He says it is really clear and doesn't burn easily - I'll see when it gets here!!!

[richsantaclaus]

I forgot - I tried making a few boro marbles - took MUCH more heat and seemed really "stiff" compared to the soad lime stuff I have a TON of...lol I am guessing I need PPP with boro. Someone who lived close to me that made boro marbles would help greatly too!!! Is there anyone near Lake Elsinore who makes Boro marbles that wouldn't mind giving a lost soul a hand?...lol

[SteppingRazor]

ive never seen anyone encase copper punch-outs like that. where do you even get them? it looks pretty cool.
~joe

[NOFO]

Looks great , keep it up !!!!

[CitizenNot]

those are pretty sweet

[alacrity024]

ive never seen anyone encase copper punch-outs like that. where do you even get them? it looks pretty cool.
~joe


+1

[yinzer]

dude......nice marbles........copper punch outs?????? interesting

[richsantaclaus]

I own a rubber stamp and scrapbooking store and we have this really thin copper 8x10 sheet of real copper. I used a selection of rubber stamp punches to punch out the shapes. Made a central core of a flower and encased it in clear - then without allowing the flame to overheat the copper, encased the punchout over the clear with more clear - sealing it completely - then making it round.

Are these steps clear enough?...lol

[Greymatter Glass]

Damn dude... I have to hand it to you, you've accomplished a lot in a short time. Those marbles look pretty good, and I love the copper stamps, great idea on the rubber stamp dies.

Keep it up, and don't be afraid of boro. LIke you've noticed it's stiffer to work with, and it always will be... but...with enough heat you can get it pretty fluid, I'd give it another shot.

Whatever you do, do NOT get your glass mixed up (I speak from experiance)

-Doug

[HumanLathe]

I'm on board with the, "The liking the copper punch out thing train" CHOO CHOOO!!

[richsantaclaus]

This is TOO good to be true - I am SO excited I am doing something you think is ok. I just am in from making 2 marbles with a beach theme.... the 1st has a sandy bottom sort of thing with 3 crabs encased... the 2nd has a under salt water kind of plant with an angle fish swimming around it with 3 other plants outside of that, all encased in clear. I also made a beach theme bead for a bead trade I am ging to take to my meeting on Sat here on the west coast (It is called So Cal Bead Makers) but there is MUCH more than just making beads. This Sat will be demoed marble making using Moretti glass - count me there for sure!!!!! Pam Pitts will be the demo person. Anyway, tomorrow after they are cooled and out of the kiln, I'll post pictures. Oh, the crabs, plants and the angle fish are all copper punched out from my sheet of pure copper.

Rich

ps. I tried Misha's suggestion to keep my marble a bit farther out from the flam but I surely still need more practice NOT getting those pesky little bubbles. PPP I guess!

pps. I also need advise... sometimes when I use a larger Moretti rod, it "pops" just above where I am working my marble. I try to be sure to keep that area hot but sometimes it still gets breakage lines and cracks. Once it completely popped off and I had to cahse this damned marble all around my cement floor where it burned in dust and crap that was there - I took 30 minutes to pick it all out and that marble is in my aquarium as gravel fodder!!! Any suggestions on how to prevent that from happening? Thanks

[Greymatter Glass]

Use a boro punty.

That and(or) just make sure you keep everything you're working on the right temp... that's just something you'll learn over time tho, keep practicing. We've all chased hot marbles across the floor...always.

-Doug

[PyroChixRock]

Don't flash it, that's prolly what is causing it. What brand of clear are you using? Some have more of a tendancy to crack then others.

So hey, Matt's surgery is June 27th, and I have NO idea what's going to happen, but when he gets better you should cruise up for a few days of fun, if you'd like. You're invited anyway. ;) We're not that far, portland. :)

[richsantaclaus]

Moretti clear - just the stuff you get from the ordinary glass companies like Sundance Glass, Franz and the like. I don't want to be stupid, but what does flash it mean? <--- too new still...lol

[richsantaclaus]

I'll make a new thread for the beach marbles and bead for you guys to see. PLEASE let me know what you think and Misha, I tried to stay out further in the flame but need more PPP I guess.