first shard blown, a question

[jammie]

So...I made my first 'shard' tonight. Did good, get the hollow used the thumb bit as Beckys tut said and got it from a maltezer size to about a large marble. I blew again a bit and it popped, so I dropped it into a container,It was too thick, so I reckon I needed to blow a bit more, but maybe more gently at that point, would that be right. Also I wasn't sure once its  a nice round maltezer shape and very hot, is all the blowing done out of the flame, I wondered should I be putting it back in the flame, being used to trying to keep beads hot all the time, or get it nice and hot and do all the blowing out of the flame.
Pretty pleased that I got so far as I did. Takes more puff than I thought it would, worried I might hyperventilate haha. 

[Alison G]

Wow, you're brave

[jammie]

  I've had the tube there since Christmas!  A month of working up to it... seemed like a good idea today. 

[Les]

Sounds like you're on your way

Once your gather is nice and hot, let it cool for a second or two when it's out of the flame and just blow, slow and steady ... it's best to get it all done in one blow, as it'll just collapse if it goes back in the flame again.

It's all PPP ... you'll soon get the feel of it and know how much glass to wind on and just how much puff you'll need

x

[Ian Pearson]

Not sure if it helps but I would advise on rotating glass when blowing and be careful not to blow too much so that glass bubble "bursts". Those pesky flakes of glass in air can not only be annoying but are harmful. the bottom line is the hotter the glass the easier it is to blow.

Ian

[Pat from Canvey]

If the shard pops, reheat, twirling all the time and then reblow. I tend to blow a little, reheat and blow a bit more out of the flame, very quickly as the glass cools when the walls of the shard are thin.

[Kaz]

Yes, I agree with Pat - never chuck the glass away just return the remains to the torch and reheat to blob stage.
How I do it:
First of all put a small collar round the end of the pipe. If you are using silver glass make this collar out of clear. Then build up something that resembles a hollow bead on the end of the pipe closing off the end by blobbing glass on it. Then add more glass over the top (if the glass is too thin it is bound to blow out and you want as even as possible a coverage). I reckon to use about two thirds of a standard thickness rod for each shard bubble. Then heat the glass blob by rotating in the flame with your thumb over the other end of the pipe to try to get the air that is trapped inside warm so that it expands and saves you from having to blow so hard. When the glass is nice and molten, bring the pipe to your mouth holding the pipe slightly upwards and rotating it all the time. Then start blowing, when you start to feel resistance and some movement of the glass at the end then keep blowing but quite slowly and steadily. Once the bubble starts to grow keep blowing gently and turning. Sometimes if it does blow out the remaining bubble is still usable as shards. Put in tin bowl and bash with marver (cheap one!) or similar!
If you want silvered or fritted ones then add that once the glass blob is nice and molten, burnish on (for silver) and reheat following the steps above!
Voila - shards!!!
Kazx

[Les]

I haven't made any shards for AGES ! I might make some later

[Kalorlo]

Mine got worse! I think I haven't been using enough glass for the most recent attempts - I get holes, I try to patch them up, I get more holes...

[jammie]

Great thanks,that really helps with what to do,  will have another go, the holding the tube slightly upwards bit too Kaz, I was keeping it down like a tin whistle, not that I can play a tin whistle!   I was surprised (happily) at how well it went for a first go as at first I didn't think it was going to round up but it suddenly did and was a lovely round shape. I think just not quite big enough as it did pop with a little hole. Good to know I can reheat it too. I thought it might shatter if I did that with it having been out of the flame. 

[Kaz]

Just reintroduce it tentatively at the top of the flame til you're sure it's not going to explode!
Kazx