smolder holder's curio collection

**Riley** · 12-01-2010, 07:24 AM

its something like that. it eludes my understanding, it is probably like you are saying more about having the temperature of the bubble warm enough and the dots hot enough when applied. then the difference in temperatures isn't as drastic and manifested in visible seams.

i am sure everyone who has done honeycombs had experienced this at one time or another.

anyhow a few more tips for clean honeycombs (at least visually). clean your rods with alcohol prior to use. if you grip up high on the rod, oil on your fingers will make it dirty again so keep it clean.

as well after applying dots, sometimes the rod will also get a little bubbly at the end where the thinner glass has boiled. if you clean this off, you will get cleaner results.

anyhow good work man, i dig your style, lots of organic tones, attachments, and marbles. good stuff.

**Riley** · 12-01-2010, 07:28 AM

one last thing about to elaborate on what i was saying about polishing the surface. the seams will reappear when worked in a more reducing flame, and anytime i have had this problem, i just wait till the shaping is done to polish the lines off the surface. otherwise if you do polish it while working the piece you will just do it over and over again, so its more of a thing to take care of at the end. otherwise you just get preoccupied with it.

p.s. use alcohol and paper towel/cloth to wipe clean anything before you photograph. touching the object with the paper towel/cloth last as to not put fingerprints and smudges back onto your goods prior to snapping the shot.

there is also a f-ton of photo tips on here, with tips about using indirect lighting, when and if to use a flash and whatnot. blah blah blah, hope it helps

**smolder holder** · 12-01-2010, 08:35 AM

Thanks Riley, quality of product is really important to me so anything to raise the quality of my work is VERY much appreciated.

**Albino Sasquatch** · 12-04-2010, 12:29 PM

and with the combs alot of the times if there fume ones you may not really be able to see all the definition of the comb but if you run it through a couple of cycles in the kiln it will really grow the blues and seperate the dots nicely! i find it eazier than letting it cool a bit and flame striking over and over again

**LTD** · 12-04-2010, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Albino Sasquatch

and with the combs alot of the times if there fume ones you may not really be able to see all the definition of the comb but if you run it through a couple of cycles in the kiln it will really grow the blues and seperate the dots nicely! i find it eazier than letting it cool a bit and flame striking over and over again

This advice sounds familiar....

**smolder holder** · 12-04-2010, 05:29 PM

I had an analog kiln which I just sold and am still waiting to get a digi aim 99 but I'm really looking forward to the control that the digi will give me when kiln striking, as well as holding temps for sparklers and chrome colors.

**smolder holder** · 01-18-2011, 04:49 PM

here is some new pendants. been really getting into the reti's. these are for the 2011 melting pot pendant swap.

thanks for lookin

**smolder holder** · 01-18-2011, 04:50 PM

i forgot to take an individual pic of the eye. oops

**MarioSC** · 01-18-2011, 05:02 PM

Some good work (as usual)!

I been wondering how to do a eye

**TlkQ** · 01-18-2011, 05:06 PM

Eye Tutorial by Aussie

**smolder holder** · 01-18-2011, 05:09 PM

There are some really good eye tutorials on here I believe aussie has a good one. That eye was made with eye millie which is a different tech than aussie's tut. His eyes kick ass btw. This is like the fourth one I've made, deffinitly takes a little practice.

**keys4life7** · 01-18-2011, 05:33 PM

wow man

those retti pendants are amazing! do u mind if i ask what color that is?

**TlkQ** · 01-18-2011, 05:35 PM

I really like the third pendant. Can't figure out how you did it lol.

**smolder holder** · 01-18-2011, 05:44 PM

Thanks for nabbing that link tlkq. You posted at the same time as I did. I was just a little lazier

Thanks for the comments.

**smolder holder** · 01-18-2011, 05:48 PM

Tlkq that pendant is a fumed honeycomb that I reduced, imploded then flamestruck, backed with some china black. Did it on 12mm x 3.2mm schott.....I think those are the dimensions.

**MarioSC** · 01-18-2011, 06:58 PM

Thanx tlkq!

And I agree too. Think that 3rd one is my fav too!

**smolder holder** · 01-18-2011, 07:41 PM

Keys- I used butterscotch for one of them and I'm not sure what the darker color is. It was in a bag of momkas shorts.

**smolder holder** · 02-07-2011, 12:34 AM

Digi aim 99ls arriving Tuesday so new work to post up soon. Now I just need that call from gtt........

**smolder holder** · 02-12-2011, 09:19 AM

Ok first project after I got my kiln this piece was commissioned by my boss for a chemist I work with. 43 sections, totally fun to build. One of my largest sculptures to date. Sorry for the crappy phone pics. Can't find the charger to my camera.