Furnace work/boro

**ALIEN!** · 05-01-2010, 12:59 AM

Wondering a few things. First: is there affordable boro stock available made to be melted down in a furnace or would I need to bust up a bunch of rod, and are there small crucibles on the market? A 2-4 pound capacity pot would be great in my mind for what I'd like to do. (marbles mostly) Sometimes I see stuff that has such a nice pattern or look to it that I don't think could be quite perfectly achieved flameworking only, and I just go nuts thinking how awesome it would be to have a little crucible to dip in and encase stuff, do awesome stringer pickups, canework, etc.

Abe you reading this? Any input from ya would be sweeeet.

**Kevin Bumble** · 05-01-2010, 03:41 AM

i belive that a 2-4 pound crucible is just too small, not enough mass to work out of.

i have heard of 15 pound tall crucibles avalibe but you still need a furnace or kiln thing. i think this is about as small and workable as ya would want to go.
imo.... well mabye 7.

**N~DARK** · 05-01-2010, 05:45 AM

I can tell you that 10-15 lbs is about the smallest you can go as far a crucible size. anything smaller and you will not have enough material to do much of anything. You can get crucibles from www.engineeredceramics.com/
I've seen most people melt down color and then work it solid or pull color tubing from it. You should know that the whole dipping to incase is not going to work!!! The furnace gets hot enought to melt the glass down yes, but when getting the glass back out it will be stiff and you will have to cut the tall off instead of dripping off. It's not like softglass. Sorry but if you want a furnace you can dip and incase you'ell need a different type of furnace altogther. Check out www.stadelmanglass.com they run MOLYBDENUM DISILICIDE elements. They also require a stepdown200amp-100amp Tranformer. This furance will get HOTTTTT. 3600F So if you really want to dip incase than this is what you would need. Hope this helps. Good luck with all you touch!

**jedi glassworks** · 05-01-2010, 06:54 AM

I just saw some stuff from some guys at Cornerstone that were dipping in clear and it worked fine, just takes some other thinking. You know, when someone says "you can't" do something, someone will find a way to do it.

Bryan

**highroller** · 05-01-2010, 08:22 PM

Scutt makes a furnace.That is what you saw @ cornerstone. I think. Todd

**weberglass** · 05-01-2010, 09:09 PM

Bryan you can't just go around filling people heads with the notion that they can achieve the impossible. Can you ? what if they do it? thad be a good thing huh?
carry on ... good post!!

**jedi glassworks** · 05-02-2010, 09:01 AM

ahhhha... I fergot.... scratch what I said.....

Bryan.

**mindblowingglass** · 05-03-2010, 06:21 AM

I cant count how many times this topic has come up. you can do it, you need a platinum crucible, moly elements 3-phase power high temp refractory brick etc etc.
Bottom line it costs mega bucks. I doubt their isnt a member on here that hasnt had the same idea. We looked into years ago. If any contaments get on the elements they burn out.
Abe can set you up with a premade furnace or what parts, pieces you need. Also you need to draw the glass out with glass. metal will electracute you as the glass conducts electricity at those temps
Search old posts you'll find a lot more info.

**LoneWolfandSon** · 05-03-2010, 01:52 PM

http://www.nwironworks.com/boro_glory_hole_details.htm

right hand side there is a video. looks like alot of work to get a vase. but at least he is doing it. also it would be a good start to have a vase like that and throwing on some sculptural stuff.

**styles1 torchlife** · 05-03-2010, 03:18 PM

The problem with a pot that is too small is that you usually have to pull a bit of scum off of the top. In a 30lb pot you usually lose about 1-3lbs. In a smaller pot you will run out faster than you want. The pot at Cornerstone lasted about 6 months before it failed and needed to be rebuilt. It also went down with a brand new 80 lb crucible full of clear. So the maintenance is something to greatly consider.

Here's a video of amber purple being pulled it last year at the DFO in Eugene. Bottom of the home page.
www.torchlife.us

**Abe Fleishman** · 05-04-2010, 08:03 AM

I am working on a new furnace design right now that would allow you to use a 7-15 lb crucible, this would work great for encasing marbles. We have tested many ways to get perfect clear and we have figured it out. We are also working on a new crucible to go with the furnace. N-Dark I think you have a little misimformation about the temps, at this point if a furnace can get to 2500f you can gather perfect clear out of your furnace, also the Statlemen furnace can ONLY go to 2800-3000 MAX Not 3600f. I am in no way calling you out just wanted to make it a little more clear as to what you may need to have good clear. I have worked with Skutt on making the crucible furnace ready for the market and also am working with a few more companies to have some different options. GAS/Electric you might have both options in the next year so this might change the game for sure. If any one has questions about this process please feel free to contact me direct. This is were it all starts and booom in 5-10 years there will be lots of Hot Boro shops.
Abe

**Cosmo** · 05-04-2010, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Abe Fleishman

I am working on a new furnace design right now that would allow you to use a 7-15 lb crucible, this would work great for encasing marbles. We have tested many ways to get perfect clear and we have figured it out. We are also working on a new crucible to go with the furnace. N-Dark I think you have a little misimformation about the temps, at this point if a furnace can get to 2500f you can gather perfect clear out of your furnace, also the Statlemen furnace can ONLY go to 2800-3000 MAX Not 3600f. I am in no way calling you out just wanted to make it a little more clear as to what you may need to have good clear. I have worked with Skutt on making the crucible furnace ready for the market and also am working with a few more companies to have some different options. GAS/Electric you might have both options in the next year so this might change the game for sure. If any one has questions about this process please feel free to contact me direct. This is were it all starts and booom in 5-10 years there will be lots of Hot Boro shops.
Abe

If that becomes a reality, sign me up.

I am constantly envious of the furnace workers and their ability to just dip their marbles to encase them...

**N~DARK** · 05-04-2010, 11:24 AM

Ok Sorry Abe I was a little off 1800C or 3272F. Not 3600. http://www.sentrotech.com/size.php Has the element I was looking into for my Design. I have burned so many Elements in Softglass furnaces over the years it's crazy. So I'm look for a way to make it last. How long do you get from the element you are running and also Isn't the max temp on the Skutt Furnaces
GM818CR 2350F or not? You said above 2500F is the rt dipping temp?

**Abe Fleishman** · 05-04-2010, 12:36 PM

Yes the skutt only goes to 2350f but the new gas and electric furnace I am working on will go to at least 2600f and maybe 3000f. Once you get to 2800f the whole game changes due to the materials avalible and they are not cheap. The guys at Cornerstone have been melting clear glass at 2350 and getting pretty nice clear with no to a little air. All of our different furnaces are rated for different job some will Only go to 2350 and some will go as high as 2600f, with just wire melting it seems if you take care of the furnace to can get 6 months to a year as long as you are not going over 2350. Right now you can gather BORO out of the furnace at 2350 NO problem as long as you are melting cullet, but to get the glass to string off the pipe when you gather you need 2500f if you want to have to cut off a small tail when dipping 2350 is all good. N- Dark give me a call and we can talk. Most of the Moly elements say they are rated to 3200 but ONLY in a non oxy atmospheer.
Abe