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.

Attachment 41220
Attachment 41221
Attachment 41222
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.

Attachment 41223
Attachment 41224
Attachment 41225
Attachment 41226
Attachment 41227

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?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ronnieclaymusic

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

---

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.

Quote:

---

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.

---

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.

Quote:

---

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.

---

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.

Quote:

---

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.

---

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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TlkQ

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

---

Lol,it would be but I only work at night it really is quite a enjoyable work space under the open stars

No. You're shooting all the toxic shit right at the fan. It's grabbing it all immediately and pushing it out. You can even build a box around the fan to make sure you catch everything.\

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ass/gp1011.jpg

My first studio

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TlkQ

No. You're shooting all the toxic shit right at the fan. It's grabbing it all immediately and pushing it out. You can even build a box around the fan to make sure you catch everything.\

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ass/gp1011.jpg

My first studio

---

What about just mounting a more powerful fan to the edge of my work bench and not blocking off window?

It'll be like 10% as efficient so, no.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TlkQ

It'll be like 10% as efficient so, no.

---

I don't understand why it would be less efficient. Same fan only a few inches closer to me and a whole door to vent out of.
Also what fan. If I have so many open doors do I really need a fan to replace the air as well?

You're not getting the core concept here. You should do some research on fluid dynamics and then come back and try again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TlkQ

You're not getting the core concept here. You should do some research on fluid dynamics and then come back and try again.

---

Look I've done enough research and NOTHING really applies to my situation at least nothing I can find in a reasonable amount of time ( 6 hrs looking for same question is not acceptable) and the responses I'm getting also contradict each other. on THIS forum I've found info saying a lit cig can tell u your good if its smoke is easily pushed out. I'm getting absolutely NO musty smell or build up. And any more wind in my studio and I wouldn't be able to control my flame. Maybe that's why I can't melt my color fast. Either way if anyone else wants to tell me just to do " reasearch" please don't bother to comment in this thread. I making this thread because I COULD NOT Find the info I needed with MONTHs of research and I thought I had it right but apparently not. So I would like to fix it but I want to know the right way and why its that way.

Can you honestly tell me there is a thread here telling me why I shouldn't a full door to vent instead of a small box. Also what thread here addreses a glass room with more then 8 full open sliders and an open roof. I've even looked for " outside ventilation" with almost no info anywhere here. So I'm a little frustrated I appreciate good advice but " do more reasearch" is no help to someone who has already taken the time. Sucks I can't find the info but I have looked and I made that clear in my first post. So I don't mean to be rude I really don't but I'm asking questions I could not find on my own.

I'm not trying to be a pain but I truly feel my situation is unique or at least unique enough my answer is not readily available anywhere I've looked. And I have no one in my area I know who can help so I'm on here.

Have you tried looking off of this board? Like on the concept of fluid dynamics like I suggested? If the fan is not sealed into the window it is going to use the little cracks as make up air and suck the fumes right back in. Having a controlled flow is a million times more efficient than opening the damn windows. I can keep telling you how it is and you can keep not believing me. Or, you can do some research on the basic concept of fluid dynamics like I suggested and actually have an understanding on what I'm talking about. I've given you a description of the exact setup you need to accomplish this. I'm sorry you don't like it for whatever reason. I've spoon-fed you the answer and then after you continued to question it I pointed you towards the information you need to help you understand it. You claim to have done research. Great. It very, very clearly was not enough, otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion.

http://www.marinechemist.com/documen...ingExhaust.pdf

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owad...RDS&p_id=10699

these still apply, I was sent this link by a member to get ya up to speed, If you dont get proper ventilation, you WILL hurt yourself. I have known some of the posters here for years and years, they are good people trying to help you, if ya have any questions ask away, Just please be safe.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TlkQ

Have you tried looking off of this board? Like on the concept of fluid dynamics like I suggested? If the fan is not sealed into the window it is going to use the little cracks as make up air and suck the fumes right back in. Having a controlled flow is a million times more efficient than opening the damn windows. I can keep telling you how it is and you can keep not believing me. Or, you can do some research on the basic concept of fluid dynamics like I suggested and actually have an understanding on what I'm talking about. I've given you a description of the exact setup you need to accomplish this. I'm sorry you don't like it for whatever reason. I've spoon-fed you the answer and then after you continued to question it I pointed you towards the information you need to help you understand it. You claim to have done research. Great. It very, very clearly was not enough, otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion.

---

This was actually helpful. However I'm not again tring to be a pain and yes I have read but I obviously have nt been able to find an explanation that made it clear to me . This one was and I thank you but it still does not answer my question as to if the other does should be open, I'f I still need another fan to pull in air when there is already so much air available to me and also what power fan.

And again why is the cigaret test and no musty smell not enough to tell my my ventilation is fine? That's info I found ON THIS Site.

And while I'm in the room I can feel the air move so much my torch is constantly in flux so I don't get why that's not enough when I can clearly see smoke move away from me quicker then I can breathe it in.

Iunno about a musty smell. Poor ventilation smells like an indoor pool. If you set a smoke bomb off under your torch every last smidge of smoke should form basically a stream to your fan and immediately exit. In regards to what other windows you should have open, as I said in my first post in this thread, One behind you somewhere will be enough. You want to form a wind tunnel basically so that everything is flowing towards the fan.

Research general fluid dynamics. There are HVAC calculators that will tell you how big of a fan you need. I already told you an attic fan would work in this thread.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jeff3355

http://www.marinechemist.com/documen...ingExhaust.pdf

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owad...RDS&p_id=10699

these still apply, I was sent this link by a member to get ya up to speed, If you dont get proper ventilation, you WILL hurt yourself. I have known some of the posters here for years and years, they are good people trying to help you, if ya have any questions ask away, Just please be safe.

---

Thank you for your help and I have no doubt they are trying to help but it feels like no one is even reading my post. It's rather frustrating. Those links are VERY helpful. Im not trying to be spoon fed anything I just have not been able for whatever reason to find info I need . And I asked very clearly not to be told to research as I have and I've waisted so much time nt finding the right answer.

I thought I had but obviously I was wrong which is fine but I just want helpful advice and not smart ass do you research comments. I've spent at least 4-6 hrs a week researching for the last six months and this site can be really difficult finding the right info. Like I've been trying to find how to attach silver to a quartz rod for fuming and can't find it anywhere.

And this is not a great way to start a progression thread whole things messed up now. People ask me to go read but they can't read my very first post so it's just frustrating.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TlkQ

Iunno about a musty smell. Poor ventilation smells like an indoor pool. If you set a smoke bomb off under your torch every last smidge of smoke should form basically a stream to your fan and immediately exit. In regards to what other windows you should have open, as I said in my first post in this thread, One behind you somewhere will be enough. You want to form a wind tunnel basically so that everything is flowing towards the fan.

Research general fluid dynamics. There are HVAC calculators that will tell you how big of a fan you need. I already told you an attic fan would work in this thread.

---

Maybe I should have explained one thing about me is when it comes to mechanical shit I'm the worst guy to go. So when you say attic fan all I think is there must be a hundred types and sizes and I have no clue where to start. Your fluid. Dynamics search term is EXTREMLY helpful and is exactly what I mean when I say I don't always know what term to search for and I thank you for it. Ive been lingering on this forum for so long the last thing I wanted to do was come across wrong to the community and make a bad first impression which is why again I said pleas don't take my words or questions the wrong way as I know I'm not good at communicating in text form.

So again I thank you

Why in the fuck would you be trying to use quartz as a fuming rod? Also, I've read all of your posts. If you had done pretty much any research you would not have been asking the questions you asked after already getting the answers you need. You claim to not want to be spoon-fed, but that's exactly what I just did. Shit, you want me to link you to home depot's attic fan section? Everything I know about ventilation came from this site. I'm not sure why my first attempt at venting a studio looks so different from yours.

I'm sorry you found my "Do research on fluid dynamics" a smart ass response. I figured, apparently you aren't searching for the right thing in the right place. Fluid dynamics is the basis for everything about ventilation. It explains how air moves when just the windows are open via differences in air pressure, as well as explains how to properly mechanically ventilate a space. If instead of coming back on here and yelling at me for telling you to research you'd taken my advice, you wouldn't STILL be asking questions that you can easily answer with a tiny little bit of research.

Basically, I'm done here. I feel like I had to explain molecular theory to a toddler to teach them to tie their shoes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TlkQ

Why in the fuck would you be trying to use quartz as a fuming rod? Also, I've read all of your posts. If you had done pretty much any research you would not have been asking the questions you asked after already getting the answers you need. You claim to not want to be spoon-fed, but that's exactly what I just did. Shit, you want me to link you to home depot's attic fan section? Everything I know about ventilation came from this site. I'm not sure why my first attempt at venting a studio looks so different from yours.
I'm sorry you found my "Do research on fluid dynamics" a smart ass response. I figured, apparently you aren't searching for the right thing in the right place. Fluid dynamics is the basis for everything about ventilation. It explains how air moves when just the windows are open via differences in air pressure, as well as explains how to properly mechanically ventilate a space. If instead of coming back on here and yelling at me for telling you to research you'd taken my advice, you wouldn't STILL be asking questions that you can easily answer with a tiny little bit of research.

Basically, I'm done here. I feel like I had to explain to a toddler molecular theory to teach them to tie their shoes.

---

I don't know how you took that as a direct statement towards you if you continue to read you will see I said I really appreciate your comment about fluid dynamics and that it was helpful. But whatever it took forever for some one to actually give me a useful statement which was actually you TikQ so again I'm sorry if i come across the wrong way. But my specific question was about opening all the glass doors and nobody seemed to get that except you.

As far as quartz I read somewhere I don't know if it was this site that quartz works well because of the high melt temp

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TlkQ

Why in the fuck would you be trying to use quartz as a fuming rod?

---

seriously? I was under the impression it was practically common.

I mean if you have quartz laying around I guess why not. I use a piece of 9 mil or some cobalt and it works just fine.

Cobalt I've also heard, and meant to use. Stiffer than clear, but certainly not quartz. I use a 7mm rod of boro, and well, it'd be nice if it was stiffer, but certainly not necessary. Anyway, I didn't mean to dip into this conversation...

All that matters is, ventilation should be one of those most important aspects of your setup, ESPECIALLY when fuming is involved.

^^ Rookie you are correct.. Why the fuck "Wouldn't" you use a quartz rod for fuming?

The melting temp is much higher with quatrz, so it doesn't melt up as fast over your silver on the end of your rod when fuming in the flame. Using a boro rod for fuming is a pain in the ass!

Also Ronnie, those spoons are looking good. I always like seeing color melted in nice and well in early work threads, its a rarity to see! Granted, I'm not sure why its taking you 2 hours to get there. The only question I could think to help figure it out is, if you were to make a completely clear piece out of 25x4, how long would that take? No color, no fume, no nothing. Just clear glass, pull a stem, puff out mouthpiece, blow bowl bubble, pop hole(s) and push bowl, finish mouthpiece, voila. What's the time for that? Lets not forget about the ventilation issues, but I'd like to know why your spoons take 2 hours. I now make in 12 minutes what used to take 25, and I can make in 30 what used to take an hour, so I know that things start out much slower and than rapidly speed up with experience, but 2 hours is a loooong time. I mean no disrespect, just trying to help. And you are on a lynx no less? Hmm... have you worked with many other glass blowers or on other torches? Again, pieces looked good Ronnie!