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Thread: Billyben's progression thread

  1. #1
    Billyben Lurker

    Default Billyben's progression thread

    About time I started one of these...

    Started torching around September 2012, had about 8 weeks off at the start of the year because we moved house. Started with just clear for a while, clear and fume, more wrap and rakes happening lately..

    Here are some of my first pipes - my first is on the bottom.

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    And some more recent w&r's

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  2. #2
    Billyben Lurker

    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    My first slides I made as replacements for a friend and my first attempt at a reversal.

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  3. #3
    Billyben Lurker

    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    My first try at a honeycomb. Turned it into a turtle (tortoise?) because I had no idea how to make anything else. Had a few good HC pendants since then that my gf sold to people, but recent ones have really fell off....

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    And a w&r I made for a present for someone on a bronze hand that my gf cast.

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  4. #4
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    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    Good work! Repped, because those slides are a grommet away from being the old school grommet style.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    Nice colors on the turtlecomb. keep at it, you'll find the sweet spot again.

  6. #6
    samoth890 Lurker

    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    ^ agreed, sick combage man!

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    Look forward to seeing your newest glass. Great job, you make me nervous!

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    Nice job on the honeycomb and those slides are OG!

  9. #9
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    Default

    Nice crystal growth
    "Scientists proposed that male lion's skill at ambushing prey in dense vegetation was previously unknown because of scientists' fear of being ambushed by male lions in dense vegetation." Harpers, findings, may 2013

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    Nice stuff. Grommet tubes will never die!

  11. #11
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    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    That honeycomb is very nice...how'd you do that?
    Don't trouble Trouble unless Trouble troubles You!

  12. #12
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    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    Looking good !

  13. #13
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    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    Hey billyben hows it going..man that bronze hand is sick..you have to come over and show me how to make a honeycomb sometime

  14. #14
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    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    The oxys always free here bro glass and safety breaks too lol...

  15. #15
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    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    Hey man..dont know if your keen but you should comw over the hill this week sometime? Im packing up and moving out of this shop real soon and headn to the states To blow glass so might not get another chance for a while
    Free oxy and glass here bro, got heaps of shorts and stuff here if you want them too.
    Im yet to meet another lamp worker so just thought id offer..
    Sweet as catcha

  16. #16
    Billyben Lurker

    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    Aww cas sorry bro didn't catch up - life took me away from the 'pot for a while. I need to update this thread! Hope you're lovin it over there bro - living the dream!

  17. #17
    Billyben Lurker

    Default Re: Billyben's progression thread

    Alright! Long time no see!

    Life as mentioned took me aside for a while - university fills up much time - so I have not been torching as much as I would like.

    But I have managed to move house, set up the shop again in a temporary spot, and make a little bit of progress. I have also managed to sell my very first batches of prodo, approx 50 spoons in two lots at $20-$25 / piece! The second shop I sold to said he will buy everything I make so I am super stoked about busting out this year! Now I just need to be making 2 nice spoons an hour...

    Since I last updated the laws in my country have changed and no one is allowed to sell pipes with a glass bowl or water filtration. Although chillums and bats are OK because they are actually 'cigarette holders'. This supposedly stops people smoking synthetic cannabis. Thank Jesus they found an effective solution to that problem! Henceforth all of my ramblings are purely fictitious.

    So now there is a shortage of glass and blowers around and the shops are gaggin for it

    The temporary spot is a rundown old garage on our new property. It is soon to be pulled down and replaced with an awesome new garage which will hopefully have a professionally ducted ventilation system

    Here's the setup - I have ducted my fan into the next room and also shifted my LPG out there. The 90 degree bend in the ducting cut noise levels down by almost half! I imagine once I can move the fan several more meters and perhaps another bend away in the new garage it'll be much quieter again.

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    You can also see I have installed a knife as a necking device under my torch. Using the knife I have moved away from pulling points to blow tubes and can make points at around 4 times the rate. Weld blow tube to 25mm, break off piece with necking knife to leave a hole in the 25 mm tube ready for the next blow tube. I have also started measuring the amount of glass I use e.g. 25 cm or blow tube to 8 cm of 25 mm. Doing this has increased my consistency and massively helped the quality of my work. In my tins are 100+ points for my next order.

    Here are some very crappy pics (Sorry!) of some of the prodo. I need to remember to take more pics in future.

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    Other items from the last year include some more honeycomb pendants

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    And a flower mib and pendant for the missus

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    Thanks for the patience all ~ I hope to make more time for the 'pot and the torch this year!


    Last edited by Billyben; 02-04-2015 at 01:28 AM.

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