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Can This Be Done????
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 4:47 pm
by molly
I need yet more advice. I have a friend who has a glass "dome", which was dropped and broken. Only the very bottom part broke off, leaving a slightly sharp and jagged, but still "usable" item. (these are the types of glass domes some people display flowers or other keepsakes in....it just sits over whatever you want to display.) She has asked me to try and smooth out the bottom, where the dome sits on a surface. Now, should I simply cold work this glass? OR Should I try and put it into the kiln to sort of "soften" the sharp bottom a bit. If i put the glass in a kiln, what temp should I use, and for how long? The glass is EXTREMELY thin, and is clear in color. I would say this glass is no more than about 1/2 to 1 millimeter thick. Can anyone help me? I'd like to fix this for here, but I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, and perhaps breaking it. Thanks!
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 4:50 pm
by charlie
cold work on a glass grinder with a very fine (or very old) bit.
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 4:58 pm
by Tony Serviente
That is going to be tough. I'd go with Charlie advice and use a very light touch, or even using sandpaper that you can get at the hardware store. About all you'll do is dull the edge, but that may be best you can hope for. If you put it in a kiln and heat it enough to round off, you'll no longer have a dome, but something perhaps far more interesting. Good luck.
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 4:23 am
by watershed
I agree with both, and they are called "Bell Jars". The only thing I've tried to rehab is a corningware lid for a casserole, and the belt sander did just fine. But Bell jars are MUCh thinner. Check out the prices at Marc's or your local crafte store. Might be much cheaper to buy them a new one, rather than breaking their existing one. We won't tell...
Greg
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:33 am
by molly
Thanks for all the advice. I finished the thing last night, after several hours work on it. Did it by gently grinding eges to make them more "even", and then hand sanding for a smooth edge. It is not perfect, but all is well. Thanks! I could not have done it without you all to help me! have a great week.......
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:47 am
by molly
Thanks for all the advice. I finished the thing last night, after several hours work on it. Did it by gently grinding eges to make them more "even", and then hand sanding for a smooth edge. It is not perfect, but all is well. Thanks! I could not have done it without you all to help me! have a great week.......