Exciting/depressing

**ALIEN!** · 03-28-2009, 06:21 PM

Im so sad Im smoking a cigarette in my house right now.

I never do that. On the other hand, im excited because I now know what I need to do to go big

first tube pull:

turned into reballs:

My first big heady piece, can shattered as I went to take of the blowtube and finish the job. I think the only reason I didn't explode myself is because I grew a helluva lot today. I think I'll be able to save the stem and redo the piece, but that will have to wait till tomorrow. Im so full of mixed emotions, well...im gonna post this last picture and crack open the first of many beers:

PS: A huge thanks to Olddirtyglasstard, after meeting him yesterday and talking to him in person I was finally able to figure out where I was going wrong with multi-section work.

**themoch** · 03-28-2009, 06:25 PM

good job man, i remember being at that point when it all just clicked.

**ALIEN!** · 03-28-2009, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by themoch

good job man, i remember being at that point when it all just clicked.

thanks man, thats how I feel, Its like its all coming together now, and I can finally break away from doing just spoons and chillums all day all the time. The craziest thing for me has been realizing I dont need a $1000 torch to do stuff like this.

**themoch** · 03-28-2009, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by snake

The craziest thing for me has been realizing I dont need a $1000 torch to do stuff like this.

wait... what?

you're not using a $1,000 torch? right, because you should be using a $1,700 torch...

get yourself a mirage...

nah, i did my first tube pulls/wigwags off a barracuda. can be done, but is much better off something like a CC or hotter.

**KahunaGlassArt** · 03-28-2009, 06:46 PM

thats kill man good job. wish i was at that level!!!

**ALIEN!** · 03-28-2009, 06:47 PM

real men run an 8M

**hwcglass** · 03-28-2009, 07:09 PM

looking good.

get in touch with devin.

**Firekist** · 03-28-2009, 07:15 PM

there's someone named Olddirtyglasstard in waukesha? weird.

break and learn =(

z--seth

**ALIEN!** · 03-28-2009, 07:26 PM

no, hes nearby, working in milwaukee, lives near lake geneva, hes on gp.org, DirtyJ. Dude makes killer stuff.

**Johan** · 03-28-2009, 08:09 PM

woot woot for the Natty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**jr23** · 03-29-2009, 07:21 AM

Hells ya snake. looking good. Even broke you know where you can and will be going. It is all cool Natty's are great. I bet you work your way right out of that natty into what ever your heart desire's . At least meeting new peeps will give you opportunity to try a few torches before you buy.

**The Lorax** · 03-29-2009, 08:25 AM

nice job, i know the exciting/depressing feeling all too much every time i've done stick stacks.

**ALIEN!** · 03-29-2009, 11:18 AM

every time?! I didnt stick stack there btw, I just laid down heavy ass lines of color, then encased in clear. Ended up with more bubbles than I wanted, but the next one will be much better for sure. Pulling the big ass wad of glass is pretty cool, but wig-wagging up all those sections takes forever, not to mention its kinda been over done.

Thanks everyone for the very kind words I've gotten in this thread!

**The Lorax** · 03-29-2009, 12:10 PM

well my last stick stack attempts were in the fall, i just never melted em in enough. I am much more confident now and know exactly what i did wrong and how to fix the problem... the only thing thats been keepin me from trying another tube pull are my funds.

rod encasements are always great to start with, try a dichro one if you got some around (it's easier than you'd think) and pretty much the same method as you just did.

**filthy god brother** · 03-29-2009, 01:10 PM

Pretty colors make me feel fuzzy inside.

Mirage

Denny Crane

**$$$$$$$** · 03-29-2009, 02:11 PM

There is no need to ever get pissed about breaking a piece.. That is the key to glassblowing

**nodice** · 03-29-2009, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by snake

....The craziest thing for me has been realizing I dont need a $1000 torch to do stuff like this.

And when ya try to tell some people this, or that they might even be better off with the cheaper torch for now, they fight ya tooth and nail. The persons work who inspired me to become a glassworker worked on a regular national(3a I think they're called?) with another one piggybacked on it. What were you doin wrong anyways?

**ALIEN!** · 03-29-2009, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Cupcake

There is no need to ever get pissed about breaking a piece.. That is the key to glassblowing

Easier said than done bro, nonetheless, a true statement.

Originally Posted by nodice

And when ya try to tell some people this, or that they might even be better off with the cheaper torch for now, they fight ya tooth and nail. The persons work who inspired me to become a glassworker worked on a regular national(3a I think they're called?) with another one piggybacked on it. What were you doin wrong anyways?

I was trying to keep the entire piece hot the whole time I worked it. I was also making the mouth hole ahead of time and cold sealing the blowtube to it, then trying to weld everything together. I have learned to just keep the heat off anything im not working and if I work with the blowtube off the mouthpiece, I leave it welded solid and the mouthpiece is the last thing I do. For example I made a 4 section laidback sherlock today, let it cool in the air, then tore the blowtube off and blew out the mouth hole thru the bowl with my thumb plugging the carb, or you can just tear the mouth hole open if your good with that. Nothing went in the kiln till the whole piece was done.