Ronnie's progression thread

I started on the torch about 6 weeks ago. Maybe 8-10 hrs a week. I'm loving it but Im learning pretty much everything on this forum and YouTube. I don't have access to lessons.

Any way I have some pics of some pipes and my studio space in my home. Please feel free to give some input I just want to get better so be honest you will not offend me :) my mouth pieces need serious help. Can't seem to shape them right. And I am really lost on bowl depth.

I have used the search bar so please don't lecture me on that. There is a lot of info here but not always easy to find. And some times I don't even know what term I need to search for.

I have been wondering what I'm doing wrong in that it seems to take me about 2 hrs to make any pipe with color. It may be I'm using to thick of color or my torch can't handle it. But I'm sure it's just something I'm doing wrong. I'm on a lynx and using 25.4 heavy wall tubing any thoughts would be appreciated.

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All the glass doors slide open and so dose the glass roof. I have a fan behind me and one on table to push out. I would think this is good ventilation.

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Man, I'm no pro by any means, but my roomate is and I have been to a lot of shops. I have to say from my experience you must increase your ventilation and make it directional. It sucks when the wind hits your flame from the side and pushes into your fingers or hands or something.

Your pipes look cool man. Did you start with rod first or did you go straight for the tubing? What is taking you so long for the pipes? You have to elaborate a bit more, I can't amagine what is taking you two hours :twitch:

My limited hands on experience but long time exposure suggests that you start learning to make marbles and pendents so you can learn some basics.

Really? I was sure it was enough ventilation. When the doors are open I'm practically outside. Plus with the fan at my back and one in front of me if I light a cig I can clearly see the smoke push out. I's there a reason u think this is not enough? I am seriously concerned if so I do want to be safe.

As far as time goes it just takes forever to melt in the color so that it is smooth an completely melted in. I don't know why as I see others on videos do it much quicker.

Outside is not the same as ventilation. What you have is not adequate at all.

I suggest you do some reading here on the subject.

I have done alot of reading on ventilation .not claiming to fully understand it but I am not clear as to why my setup would need more. Can you be more specific ?

Also I'm a Dj so i used my fog machine to fill the room. High density fog that will linger in a closed room for 15 min. With doors open fans on it cleared in 30 secs.

turn up that lynx and get that glass hot! the lynx is a mighty torch and will easily take down a nice size chunk of 25hvy even if you add color thats thick...no reason it should take 2 hrs to make a simple w&w...turn up your torch, slow down your spin, keep your glass in the flame and work in a nice even heat base, but seriously turn up your torch...the lynx is beast mode...decent start...and yes your ventilation sucks...

When you say turn it up do you mean oxy or propane? I always hear it start to hiss alot and blow out the flame when I try to crank it. Also I REALLY appreciate any advice but so far that's 3 people telling me my ventilation sucks but no real specific reason why which is not helpful at all. I will glady fix problems if I know what they are.

If you're going to do a fog test it needs to clear out in like 5 seconds. The goal is to give it no time to be inhaled. Proper ventilation according to the MSDS you have to turn over the air in the room like 6 times a minute. [I have no idea where I got that number from, just remember it from back in the day when I was researching.]

A 6 inch office fan blowing at a sliding door screen isn't proper ventilation. Safety first, I would take ventilation little more serious and do some upgrading.

The hotter your flame the faster that color will melt. Turn your knobs up for more heat. However an even heat base & control is everything.

Spoons are looking good though for self taught, keep it up but fix your ventilation setup first, then keep spinning.

I do take ventilation seriously . I did a lot of research ( but obviously didn't come to the right conclusion) I'm all about fixing it but I don't know how. This is a rented house so no major construction and as you see all the walls are glass. Any suggestions to fix that aren't outlandishly expensive ?
Is it simply a bigger exaust fan?

Also how do I tell when the torch is at its hottest ? Should the candle length be more then an inch long?

By the way all the questions I'm asking I have extensively reasearched on here and other places on the web as well as reading contemporary lampworking cover to cover. It's hard to find what your looking for with this forums search engine so I appreciate any help ;)

I am confused as to why you are confused if you have actually read.

Have you tried the search since the upgrade?

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Originally Posted by ronnieclaymusic

It's hard to find what your looking for with this forums search engine so I appreciate any help ;)

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Keep using the search engine, everything your asking has been answered dozens of times. You'll figure it out eventually, practice makes perfect.

Here I'll give you some help, type "VENTILATION" into the search engine. Read the ventilation threads till you understand.

Yes I have but there seems to be almost no info about my current situation. An all glass room I can not mount a hood. Also with as much open space as I have. That room is 4 times the size you see in the picture and don't know if I should run fans only on a few doors with rest shut or open all or what.

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Originally Posted by Twist

Keep using the search engine, everything your asking has been answered dozens of times. You'll figure it out eventually, practice makes perfect.

Here I'll give you some help, type "VENTILATION" into the search engine. Read the ventilation threads till you understand.

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I have been on this forum studying for like six months ( though i just registered, was using a friends account before) and though I have no doubt the info is there I run 2 business's and simply don't have hours to look for the answer to a couple questions. The problem is even if use the right word " ventilation" there are THOUSANDS of posts and I can't seem to narrow it to my specific question. So again help is appreciated but rest assured I have spent more than a reasonable amount of time with the search engine with no luck on like half my questions.

This is why I made the time to take pics and ask so that my specific situation could be addressed not to be told to read more on the forum which has led to no answers and a lot of frustration.

After reading I came to the conclusion that lighting a cig and watching the smoke easily push out of the room would be sufficient but that's obviously not right as you all have said but I'm asking because I have found no answer to my current predicament.

find a way to build an insert into the door so you can mount a more powerful fan. mount the fan to plywood vertically maybe with the fan on top and open the door a little and drop the fan in when you work. or find a better space. That whole space looks sketchy inside a house. Dont drop hot glass on the floor in there or blow up your torch. seems like you should do even more research about safe setups before attempting to work alone.

^What he said. Open/remove a window/door and fill the space with a sheet of plywood with an attic fan in it. Point torch towards fan. Open up a window or door behind you somewhere.

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Originally Posted by gambitglass

find a way to build an insert into the door so you can mount a more powerful fan. mount the fan to plywood vertically maybe with the fan on top and open the door a little and drop the fan in when you work. or find a better space. That whole space looks sketchy inside a house. Dont drop hot glass on the floor in there or blow up your torch. seems like you should do even more research about safe setups before attempting to work alone.

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What do you mean sketchy? It's got a concrete floor and is as close to being outside without being outside as your likely to get. So what looks off to you?

Also, isn't the sun annoying as shit in there? Fucker makes the flame pretty much invisible.

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Originally Posted by TlkQ

^What he said. Open/remove a window/door and fill the space with a sheet of plywood with an attic fan in it. Point torch towards fan. Open up a window or door behind you somewhere.

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This doesn't make sense to me( though admittedly I don't know much lol) why would I close off a fully open space that lets air out( only a metal screen in open doors) wouldnt that block more air from escaping?

Also I hope you all take my questions the right why I'm not sure if I come across ok in text and all your help and suggestions are GREATLY appreciated