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After much planing, rough sketching, and measuring, I finally decided how to shape (and cut) my wood mold for a current glass blowing project. I wasn't entirely sure how the glass would actually turn out looking once it came from the mold, but last Tuesday was the day that i got my answer! blaugh
Once the instructor gave the word to remove the clamps I had placed on the front (to keep the mold from opening during the blowing process as the glass expanded) my glass creation was revealed! heart
It turned out way better than I could have ever expected! My hard work and planning paid off and I was rewarded with a beautiful test piece blaugh heart !
Today was the day to add color to the glass and blow into the mold again, but this time, to make something that would really make a statement! 4laugh
First blow and set of color- Dark transparent blue and a lovely light cerulean transparent blue. We started off having a few problems. sweatdrop When closing the mold around the glass and the pipe the glass at the bottom became pinched in the flat section where the two halves of the mold meet gonk (i.e. the glass on the pipe was a bit too long and there wasn't quite enough space in the mold for it right off the bat). So the extra had to be pressed back into itself before the mold closing could officially begin. stare
Once out of the mold it was shaped to a small degree. The bottom (actual model has a pointed bottom) was a bit messed up from the fact it got a little squished from being pinched in the closing sections of the mold and having to be pushed back into itself. So we took a paddle and flattened the bottom, which made it look fairly wonky, but hey! I'm not complaining. Sometimes you just gotta roll with it smile
Anyways, we attached another rod to the bottom of the glass piece and separated it from the blow pipe. When it was in the process of being separated a section of glass from the neck area of the glass broke off in the transition of removing it from the pipe and fell to the floor, sending hot shards of glass skittering across the floor.
I was knelt down in the area holding a torch, waiting the the signal when they needed a spot heating on the glass when I feel a searing pain again the inside of my right elbow... As luck would have it one of those skittering shards hopped up and landed on the inside of my kevlar sleeve and landed on my skin.
xp
It was excruciatingly painful for but a brief moment. At first I tried shaking my arm, thinking that it might hop off...but no. The shard was still painfully hot, but it was more of an annoying pain than a "Oh God! It burns!". I looked down my arm at that shard and took a fingernail and tried picking at the edge quickly to see if it would flake away...No dice. Each time I tried flicking the annoying shard away, it wouldn't really move...just the skin underneath that it seared itself to moved. emotion_facepalm
After a short pause (the shard still very, very hot mind you) I pinched the shard between my fingers, peeled it away from my skin, and flicked it into oblivion (with no other burns emotion_c8 )
We managed to finish it with few problems and did a second hit on my wood mold, this time using a lovely milky white and a bright tomato red!
This piece had fewer problems during the molding process and the transfer process, however our torch can't be vouched for....IT RAN OUT OF FREAKING PROPANE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SHAPING PROCESS!!! stressed scream
Besides multiple trips to and from the furnace and a near collapse of the product, it turned out well! I can hardly wait to see them in the morning and see how the colors turned out on each one! 4laugh heart
Time to continue creating new mold sketches and ideas!
 Dark_Spiritua_Reborn · Fri Nov 09, 2012 @ 04:43am · 0 Comments |
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Being away from Gaia has been....interesting, to say the least. What kept me away was the fact that my internet service was rather unreliable and my computer a tad too slow.
I hope to have many more journal entries to come! And look forward to any comments!
I am many things, but one of my most current and challenging titles is "glass artist". Yes, I said "glass artist". What exactly is that? Is that, window making? Like, making bowls and vases? In short, yes and no. Yes because I do make stained glass windows and I have made bowls and vases, however it is much more than that. Literally ANYTHING can be made from glass.
Now, there are many different ways to make things from glass. It ranges from simple to exceedingly complex steps. I am experienced in lampworking, but my real talent comes from working with sheet glass.
I am currently learning how to blow glass (i.e. making vases, paperweights, bowls, and figurines) and also various other techniques that involve manipulating molten glass.
I am willing to post pictures of my work as they come to completion, for those who are interested. 3nodding
And so begins the return of the Reborn!
Dark_Spiritua_Reborn · Sun Nov 04, 2012 @ 05:40pm · 0 Comments |
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Glowing? Bump it up! smile