blowing shards....***update with pics***

bluefairy · August 14, 2009, 07:48:30 AM

Quote from: Redhotsal on August 13, 2009, 11:38:33 PM
Quote from: Jolene on August 13, 2009, 11:34:08 PM
Great advice from Sal there Veronica. It was Sal who taught me how to make my first shards

Jo x
Blimey - was it, Jo? I didn't remember that!

Yes, wise words Les, "blow, don't' suck" applying to so many things in our lives!

and vice versa

sorry, too early in the morning to be lowering the tone in such a manner

Nikki · August 14, 2009, 08:43:22 AM

I was thinking about having a go too!
Found this site which you have probably seen but just in case.

http://www.glassgirl.com/shards.html

Nikki

Rockpooljewels · August 14, 2009, 09:14:54 AM

Sorry to jug in on this, but just received my first blowpipe mandrels today, and noticed the holes are not at the bottom where I thought they would be, but further up the mandrel a bit? Do I have to put bead release on these, I am slightly confused as all demos etc I have seen so far use blowpipe with holes all way through!!! help please.
Mandyxxxx

Jolene · August 14, 2009, 09:50:51 AM

Hi Mandy, I have newer used a mandrel like that before, I think they are for making hollows

Jo x

Trudi · August 14, 2009, 10:08:07 AM

Quote from: Jolene on August 14, 2009, 09:50:51 AM
Hi Mandy, I have newer used a mandrel like that before, I think they are for making hollows

Jo x

Tis a mandrel for making hollows!

Rockpooljewels · August 14, 2009, 10:14:45 AM

Aw what a shame, I wanted to make shards, hadn't realised when reading Martins site that they were specifically for hollow beads...never mind, will have to go hunting now for the other type. Does anyone know if you still have to put bead release on them? I am assuming yes, but unsure because wouldn't want it flaking off inside the bead... Oh gawd what have i got myself into? lol

Mandyxx

Edited to say: Mmmm Mandy if you had read Martins description properly you wouldn't be in this predicament....rofl..good thing I love spending!

afina · August 14, 2009, 12:18:26 PM

I never use bead release when blowing shards.

Trudi · August 14, 2009, 12:19:45 PM

Hi

for shards you don't want to use beadrelease.

For the hollows you do

the one you want is

6mm dia hollow pipe
A metal pipe mandrel , 6mm dia x 400mm long which can be used for blowing or making beads with huge holes through them.

Zia · August 18, 2009, 08:59:22 PM

to you all and thank you for the advice...pics on the first page for those who havent seen it on the newbie show and tell

xxx

Jolene · August 18, 2009, 09:05:45 PM

Looking good Veronica

Zia · August 18, 2009, 09:23:17 PM

blushes...... now thats a compliment.......from the queen of shards......bows

thanks Jolene! still a long way away from making your beauties .......

Jolene · August 18, 2009, 10:06:59 PM

Now I'm blushing lol

Those aqua ones in partcular are very pretty, looking forward to seeing your very first beads with your own shards

Dee Dee · August 18, 2009, 10:26:22 PM

Fantastic looking shards! I've had a go or two myself, but they always seem to end up too thin!

What size of a pre-shard gather did you make initially? And did you make it very thick?

Zia · August 18, 2009, 11:14:23 PM

Quote from: Dee Dee on August 18, 2009, 10:26:22 PM
Fantastic looking shards! I've had a go or two myself, but they always seem to end up too thin!

What size of a pre-shard gather did you make initially? And did you make it very thick?

uhmnnn ....you are asking a newbie here lol........but I think I will try explain what I did......
basically I made a base that looks like I was about to make an implosion, just thicker, (well than my implosion attempts!) about 5 mm...the width of one of my thinnest rods which is what I used to start with (I am still on a HH type thing!)
then I just built it up as I would with the implosion or a one sided hollow bead...I do suppose its alot thicker because I was worried it would block the hole! I kept turning it to keep warm (got a nice booby burn a while ago because I didnt while trying an implosion!...
I used a proddy poky thing to actually close the hole and then sealed it with another "blob" of glass....
I heated this up and then used a graphit marver just to shape it a bit coz it was very very wonky...and irregular ...remember its my first lol!
and then I heat it up alot until almost yellow and glowing...and took it out of the flame and did what I was told to.......blow like a balloon....first a bit mor puff then less until it wouldnt budge and let it cool....

I did get thicker and thinner bits...but I like that...

Once the bubble popped but then I just reheated and added glass to close the hole....and retried.......

Mabe just beginners luck-------

Pat from Canvey · August 19, 2009, 07:11:56 AM

Quote from: Dee Dee on August 18, 2009, 10:26:22 PM

What size of a pre-shard gather did you make initially? And did you make it very thick?

Steph, I experimented yesterday with using much less glass, about a cherry sized ball in the end and found it much easier to manipulate. It didn't seem to matter that the void inside was miniscule or that the blob was mis-shapen and it was much easier to bring the whole blob to blowing temperature. Heating and twirling makes it form a bead shape anyway and evens out the walls. In the past I've used a "hollow on the end of a pipe " technique and found that was more hit and miss.