New milestone badges and what they mean!

**Feel Good Glass** · 03-10-2015, 06:40 AM

7 years

**PyroChixRock** · 05-20-2015, 08:44 AM

Bump for anyone who hasn't got a badge! Post here!

**boro bob** · 05-20-2015, 09:30 AM

Started melting glass two years ago but have only had my studio up and running at home for six months.

**Ro's Glass World** · 05-20-2015, 09:50 AM

13 years for me.
Ro

**Mac Maestro** · 05-20-2015, 11:40 PM

Coming up on the big 20. I'm actually excited about this one. I'll have been manipulating Boro full time for half of my life! Degenerate for sure.

**JHamilton117** · 05-21-2015, 05:56 AM

First started 3 years ago now damn. Lol
Mostly off rather than on due to life, studio upgrades, and bills. At least most of my time off the torch is on books and forums trying to learn more!

Thanks again for this great resource Mish!

**Ronin** · 05-22-2015, 03:18 PM

I started in '97, but left it behind for a long time, so I really only count 4 years as of May 5th.

**Gonzo719993** · 05-23-2015, 03:56 PM

I started blowing glass two years ago. I went to a private class just to learn the basics of lighting and turning off the torch and verifying safe procedures for setup. Ended up starting with a national 3-b mounted to a table!!!! Then went to revere glass school in Berkeley California where my wife and I studied intensive classes for over 6 months (we took every class available including scientific and lathe classes and were resident artists of the studio. We learned so many things. Now I have my own home studio setup with a paragon f130 running on k tanks for now about to purchase an oxygen frog setup for my oxy supply ( maybe dewar tank instead not fully sure yet) using a redmax while I wait for my magic number to come up at gtt for the 2 mirages (one for my wife and one for me &#128525

I'm in line for! I am addicted to glass as most of us here are! I started and never looked back and hope I will continue to grow with glass for the rest of my life! (One time I thought I died and was talking to God my first question was do I still get to blow glass?lol) don't ask it involved several chocowaskas lmao

**PyroChixRock** · 06-18-2015, 06:33 PM

bump

**gomilobster** · 06-18-2015, 07:56 PM

Guess I first got on a torch late 2003 early 2004... various times and years of not being on one throughout that though... so if it just means involved or interested or between shops and stuff then I guess I have 11 years, if it means actual torch time and working actively then I would say more like 5 or 6... whatever works... prob be less embarrassing for people to see my work if they didnt actual know the 2004 part LOL... sigh...

**RedToroBoro** · 06-19-2015, 12:18 AM

Hit 7 years on the 13th. Thanks Misha!!!

**khan** · 06-19-2015, 12:38 AM

I been in glass since before dirt was invented...!!!

Khan

**Jason Lindquist** · 08-09-2015, 09:43 AM

Today is the one year anniversary of the first time I lit my torch. I am celebrating this milestone by packing up my gear and heading to AGI.

I never imagined when I bought that torch (on a whim) that it would ever be more than a fun distraction. A mini-hobby to spend a couple hours a week messing around with.

Instead, I found an awesome community of amazing, generous people that are always more than willing to answer questions and offer advice. The mini-hobby has turned into a 30-40 hour/week obsession. (I was warned, I know.)

Now I have the opportunity to spend the next week hanging out with some of you that helped me along the way, and I couldn't be happier or more excited. It's five years till the next milestone badge, and I hope to have met and shared with many more of you by then.

Thanks, TMP!!

**PyroChixRock** · 08-09-2015, 10:15 AM

Looks like you need a second badge, congrats! have a blast at agi. I'm glad you're getting to go. You will be happy that you did.

**Nifty!** · 08-27-2015, 08:06 AM

I first got on the torch about a year ago and I have been obsessed ever since. I was constantly in and out of studios trying to learn as much as I could. I early on made the decision to attend Salem Community College for the Scientific Glass program. I just moved up here about 20 days ago and for the first time in a while, I am eagerly waiting for classes to start.

**neddowerx** · 08-27-2015, 09:09 PM

I have 18 on torch( started in my garage in December '97) but started messing around at friends studios in Washington state a yr or two before then and bought and sold glass pipes starting in '95. I learned a lot about what not to do then taught myself when I moved back to Vt Xmas of '97, still a fully self taught teacher/ mentor to many. I love all things related to glass, and glass tools- mainly torches. Now its still my main hobby, and love it as much as I ever did! I esspecially like sculpture form, functional and non but had to work my way up through many of my own styles, fumework, and colorwork before getting into more shaping my ideas into glass art. I'm always here on tmp to help when I can, and look forward to sharing knowledge with others. There's always more secrets I don't know ;-)