Hi Folks,
Just received my little blow pipe and I have been testing it by just blowing down it, but it only has a real tiny amount of air coming out of it, and I'm getting a wee bit dizzy :-\
I have now inspected the mouth piece hole size and it really is not as wide as a pin, should I make it slightly larger ???
Thanks in advance,
Lou
x
I've only used a blow pipe mandrel once, and very nearly blew the glass out (just caught it in time). You only need a tiny amount of air, about enough to resuscitate a mouse! I expect someone else with more experience will get back to you with proper advice.
Nick
Nick thanks for that, though I'm not sure if the amount of air would resuscitate a flee :D
The hole size is approximately 0.1mm ???
Feeling a bit woozy - feels like I've had a couple of glasses of vino could save me some money :D
Do you have the slim Jim one? My eyes damn near exploded out me face first time I used it and still no shard! Try starting off with a small hollow. Once you have a wee bit of puff in there it does get easier.
You can actually still breathe while blowing down the tube so you don't get dizzy, put some air in your cheeks like a hamster and use that and just breathe through your nose
The hollow pipe is meant to be better than th slim jim...but i still get lightheaded trying to blow but dont think i have the technique down right! ::)
I have the slim jim and found the same first time I used it however I then started to breath through my nose and it helped. It is amazing how small an amount of puff you need to make the glass expand and I always start with a hollow. HTH x
Quote from: tinker on August 01, 2013, 11:04:46 PM
Do you have the slim Jim one? My eyes damn near exploded out me face first time I used it and still no shard! Try starting off with a small hollow. Once you have a wee bit of puff in there it does get easier.
Not sure what its called but its slim.
I will fill my cheeks like a Hamster & use the breathing techiques ;)
If that doesn't work, I will eat loads of baked beans, stick it in another blow hole and fart like crazy, I may get enough extra heat to melt some borro :D
Is this to get the first bubble in? If so then a couple of suggestions, you could try thumbing in like a glass blower does. So put your thumb in your mouth with the pipe with lips sealing all, blow into the pipe, cover the pipe end with thumb, take out of mouth - this should have put some air into the pipe and sealed it in there - then the heat from the pipe should expand the air and it has only one way to go - into the glass. Once the bubble is started blowing the rest should be easier. Or the other way to start a bubble for lampworking would be to wind the glass onto the end of the pipe such that you build a bubble into the glass - like you do when making a hollow bead, then make sure there are no holes in it, even it up and then blow
After a few trys and nothing with glass, tried blowing it in water & a very tiny bubble showed in the water - no wonder I was almost passing out, OH cut the end off so it now has a hole of the same diameter at both ends - and guess what... it is purfect really easy to blow and I blew a nice sized bubble first time and made these shards, should of cut the end off sooner!
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u661/Oasis-sw/shards1_zps989cad91.jpg)
Thanks for all your suggestions folks ;)
Hey they look great! ;D
Quote from: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on August 03, 2013, 06:26:55 PM
Hey they look great! ;D
He, he - cant wait to try them out as they do have a nice smudging of Kalypso & Triton on them ;D
Ooo they are going to be a bit spesh then, have you plans or are you going to go with the flow?
Quote from: ♥♥Tan♥♥ on August 03, 2013, 08:59:36 PM
Ooo they are going to be a bit spesh then, have you plans or are you going to go with the flow?
I'm just going to roll with it or in it - little kiln & gas on - check, tee minus 20 minutes and counting b4 I set myself loose, then shards away - & steady as she goes :D
Share pics please?
Will do, all in kiln so waiting for the morning
they look great, i'm still struggling with making shards, very impressed! :)
Quote from: jammie on August 04, 2013, 11:15:19 AM
they look great, i'm still struggling with making shards, very impressed! :)
I think making the size of the hole at the mouthpiece end to the same diameter of the end has made it a whole lot easier, and can still alter the flow via the other two small holes in the pipe. I have now looked at professional blowing pipes and they seem to have a decent size hole at both ends.
yep a hollow pipe/tube! i'm still struggling, byt will persevere! ::) ;D
Quote from: Barnacle Bay on August 04, 2013, 11:27:47 AM
Quote from: jammie on August 04, 2013, 11:15:19 AM
they look great, i'm still struggling with making shards, very impressed! :)
I think making the size of the hole at the mouthpiece end to the same diameter of the end has made it a whole lot easier, and can still alter the flow via the other two small holes in the pipe. I have now looked at professional blowing pipes and they seem to have a decent size hole at both ends.
If there are two small holes at the sides near one end, that is a mandrel for blowing hollow beads that are built up around those side holes - in fact, the end nearest those holes is usually completely blocked to force the air out of the little holes (the mouthpiece being the other open end) - if it is, I'm not surprised you had problems ;) I notice these are called blowpipe mandrels on Tuffnels site but they aren't for blowing shards.
A blow pipe mandrel - like the Slim Jim - is usually the same diameter hole all the way along.
Quote from: Calico Cat on August 04, 2013, 04:00:33 PM
If there are two small holes at the sides near one end, that is a mandrel for blowing hollow beads that are built up around those side holes - in fact, the end nearest those holes is usually completely blocked to force the air out of the little holes (the mouthpiece being the other open end) - if it is, I'm not surprised you had problems ;) I notice these are called blowpipe mandrels on Tuffnels site but they aren't for blowing shards.
A blow pipe mandrel - like the Slim Jim - is usually the same diameter hole all the way along.
That's the thought that occurred to me Carol and you've just confirmed it for me. If you want to use the mandrel you've cut for blowing hollow beads, just dip the end into bead release and let it dry in the end hole but leaving the two small side holes free. If they do get covered with release, just let it dry and poke the holes out with a pin.
So I had it the wrong way round :D It really should of come with some numpty proof instructions.
It is working really, really well so never mind, I am very happy with it.