Search found 34 matches

by Ralph
Sat Apr 05, 2014 4:34 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: I bought a sandblaster; now what?
Replies: 9
Views: 13894

Re: I bought a sandblaster; now what?

Any suggestions for resources to teach myself to use it? Check out Cutting Edge Sandcarving and Arizona Glass Classes, especially the forums. Decide on what type of abrasive blasting to work on first - probably either photo resist (mostly for shallower blasting and half-tones) or vinyl film mask (f...
by Ralph
Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:03 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Wax Vac, no its not what you think!
Replies: 12
Views: 16707

Re: Wax Vac, no its not what you think!

I'm with CM on this. A regular vacuum cleaner sucking through various "pen" tips works well. With very fine tips you can be amazingly precise - even removing individual grains of powder. Sucking from the side often works better than from above. I've used reducing sections of vinyl tubing a...
by Ralph
Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:08 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: CMYK color separation
Replies: 13
Views: 16941

Re: CMYK color separation

Charlie Cummings (Florida) silkscreens process (separated) photo images on porcelain. He has a detailed article in Ceramics Technical issue 35. You may be able to access an online version through Zinio. Note: Charlie's process is offset printing to clay via an intermediary plaster slab. This wouldn'...
by Ralph
Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:18 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Lost Wax Chemistry for Casting
Replies: 5
Views: 9766

Re: Lost Wax Chemistry for Casting

Take care Peter...beeswax may not be as acrid as mineral wax when burned out, but there's still the same risk (acrolein, formaldehyde release) according to Monona Rossol of Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety.
by Ralph
Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:42 am
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: A Newcomer's naive questions!
Replies: 5
Views: 6040

Re: A Newcomer's naive questions!

Stephen The Pyxsys ATR620 can produce most any schedule you'd want to use for glass fusing, but it's an odd controller to use (at first). The controller has many complex capabilities but for standard glass schedules these may hinder rather than help. I sought advice from the Au agent to program out ...
by Ralph
Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:09 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Fused glass and 3D printing
Replies: 8
Views: 10709

Re: Fused glass and 3D printing

Hi Cynthia I've visited Steve Royston Brown's site thanks to your wonderful blog. His primary orientation seems to be ceramic. My background is experimental ceramics - in early 1980s I started with printing raw clay slab, then jiggering plates from the prints. Followed this with a couple decades of ...
by Ralph
Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:52 am
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Fused glass and 3D printing
Replies: 8
Views: 10709

Re: Fused glass and 3D printing

So you're applying powder on top of art glass sheet? At this stage I'm claiming "proprietary information". The processes are still evolving and I'm not sure where it will all lead. I can say I've been working with this and related methods for some years. It's highly unlikely the average f...
by Ralph
Sun Sep 23, 2012 12:13 pm
Forum: Art, philosophy, and content
Topic: 3D printing with glass powder
Replies: 28
Views: 40517

Re: 3D printing with glass powder

Interesting issues in this thread. I've been mulling over similar ones since trying 3D printing. Continuing the earlier discussion: Pretty much anything can be art, but of course there's art, and better art. Artists give us new ways of looking at the world, or ourselves. Some of these insights are m...
by Ralph
Sun Sep 23, 2012 12:12 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: Fused glass and 3D printing
Replies: 8
Views: 10709

Fused glass and 3D printing

Images below refer to my posting in the current 3D print thread in Art, philosophy and content . This is early experimental work in small-scale fused glass relief using 3D printing as part of the forming process. 066-relief.jpg The largest hexagon is 38mm (1.5") across. The relief varies up to ...
by Ralph
Sat Sep 22, 2012 10:58 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: glass kiln plans
Replies: 18
Views: 33013

Re: glass kiln plans

by Ralph
Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:58 am
Forum: Kiln Casting
Topic: Advice on a generic recipe for mold mix, please
Replies: 9
Views: 22186

Re: Advice on a generic recipe for mold mix, please

ButterC - about local refractory sources... Walker Ceramics has calcined alumina in 100# and 300#. Qld Potters Supplies should also have both. They'll also have alumina hydrate but you're buying quite a bit of water. Zirconium silicate (zircosil 5), a very fine ceramic opacifier is also available. I...
by Ralph
Thu Apr 01, 2004 8:40 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Eternal Tile Saws
Replies: 7
Views: 8181

Thanks so far Brock and Dee...your experiences support buying quality in the first place. I'm primarily interested in moving-motor against moving-table. Guess most everyone has the moving-table type. I'm looking at the Felker FRS Tile, Marble and Granite Rail Saw - about half down this page: http://...
by Ralph
Wed Mar 31, 2004 9:51 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Eternal Tile Saws
Replies: 7
Views: 8181

Eternal Tile Saws

I'd like to follow up a question asked by Paul T. (bottom, page 1 of this post - http://www.warmglass.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3413&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=tile&start=0 ) Are there opinions on the moving-motor saw offering more, or less, than the moving-table style? In Au...
by Ralph
Mon Mar 22, 2004 10:48 pm
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: What the...?!!
Replies: 13
Views: 17039

However, doesn't it dispense the powder too fast? or can it be regulated? Jim You can regulate the flow in different ways - first of course with the on-off switch. A toothbrush with only one button alternating on-off is best. Saves fumbling for the off button when you need to watch the business end...
by Ralph
Mon Mar 22, 2004 10:03 am
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: What the...?!!
Replies: 13
Views: 17039

this toothbrush vibrates. . . Indeed it does, and places powder in nice ways. Too sharp, Jackie. This is the improved version. Anyone can make the basic model in a couple minutes. Roll a little cone of paper and gaffer tape it lightly on the bristles of an electric toothbrush - the kind that has so...
by Ralph
Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:35 am
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: What the...?!!
Replies: 13
Views: 17039

Jackie

There is quite a personal element to this but nothing you'd mind talking to your mother (or daughter) about.

R
by Ralph
Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:28 am
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: What the...?!!
Replies: 13
Views: 17039

Jackie

You're on track but I'm not sure you've detected the essential feature. Anything to add?

R
by Ralph
Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:21 am
Forum: Photos and Stuff
Topic: What the...?!!
Replies: 13
Views: 17039

What the...?!!

Here goes with my first new topic posting on Warm Glass:

Anyone care to hazard a guess on what this glass-related gadget does...?

Image

Ralph
by Ralph
Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:23 pm
Forum: Techniques and Tools
Topic: Silica / Flint / quartz
Replies: 4
Views: 7936

Katia Essentially they should all be SiOsubscript2 (silicon dioxide). However there may be local variation in the way the names are applied according to the physical form of the material, its purity, or where it was obtained - from a beach or deep-mined for example. For plaster/silica molds you need...