Can I make marbles from soft glass?

[Kimster]

I've just been asked if I can make a set of marbles to go in a wooden puzzle. I don't know if I can or not!   Only one way to find out..
I can make a decent round bead & also have a beadroller. They don't need to be super dooper round as they're not for rolling, but it would be good practise for me 
Can anyone point me in the right direction for tut's etc? The only ones I can find seem to be boro..
Thanks all   

[james M knox]

Kimster,

I make marbles all the time from effetra (coe 104). I just take the borro instructions and do them in the softer glass. 

One thing I would say is be very carefull to anneal the marble fully, I find it takes longer than i would normally do for beads, but then my marbles are about 15-25 mm diameter and my beads tend to be 15 or less mm.

If I get a chance I will take a few photos of my marbles (if I dont loose them  ) and post them here.

James.

[Steampunkglass]

yes, I know that Drew Fritts did a book 'torchwork marbles' which was all soft glass. I think you can either use a boro punty which is the most popular way, or I have used a hot 3.2mm mandrel as a punty too, but I'm no expert, I find them harder to make as I'm just not used to soft glass much anymore  If you really want to get into them then maybe it'll be worth visiting Sean at Off Mandrel, he makes some lovely soft glass marbles

[Nicknack]

I just did a class last week at the Old Kennels, Dunkeswell, and on one day we made marbles.  We made soft glass ones in the morning, and a Boro one in the afternoon.  We used Boro punties for the soft glass ones, but it is possible with soft glass punties, as I made one at home, and didn't have any Boro.  As James says, just follow the Boro instructions, but use 104.  At least one of my 104 marbles exploded in the kiln on the course, but the one I made at home didn't.

Nick

[Hamilton Taylor]

Don't bother with glass punties, except for the very last one - use a 2.4 or 3.2mm mandrel instead.
Soft glass punties soften too easily at the connection point - you lose control.
Boro punties, there's a risk of leaving a bit of boro in a marble when detaching = kiln explosion.

"torchworked marbles" by Drew Fritts - can't recommend highly enough.

You can see some of my marbles here if you're interested - the vast majority are soft glass.

Have fun!

Sean 

[Pat from Canvey]

Beautiful marbles Sean. The lowest price I've found on Amazon UK for Drew Fritts book is £110 for a used copy. Are you by any chance offering a marbles course in 2014?

[Hamilton Taylor]

Wow. Drew is sold out too. He has some links you can try though, check his website.

Meanwhile, I'm looking for a safe to keep my copy in! 

As to classes - I'm not hosting any, but am happy to teach if one of the teaching studios is interested.

Sean

[Blue Box Studio]

Would love to try marbles (seeing I have so few of my own) and didn't realise it was possible in soft glass.  Love those with the flowers Sean.

[Kimster]

Thanks all. Beautiful marbles Sean! Much more inspired now to give it a go - will hunt out the boro videos on youtube. Can't splash out on that book at this stage   

[SilverGems89]

Pat I just took delivery of a brand new copy of torchworked marbles from artco. inc for $29.95 plus $24 postage (around £34 GBP)
here's a link for anyone interested in getting a copy
http://www.artcoinc.com/torchworkedmarbles.php

I don't know how many Malcolm has in stock but I assume he still has some as they are still listed on his site! Drop him an email and he'll sort you out  Mine arrived really quickly and managed to sneak past the customs radar  Just about to sit and have a read now!

[SilverGems89]

In response to Kimster, yes you can make marbles with 104, it is just more difficult to avoid thermal shocking than with boro 
Check out the Marble and boro room on LE, lots of useful hints and tips and links to tutorials, but I have found a lot of videos on youtube to be very helpful!

[Kimster]

Thanks again - have dropped an email re the book 

[Nicknack]

Me too.

Nick

[SilverGems89]

I believe Frantz have some too  

ETA, Scrap that, looks like they are sold out  They had some when I ordered mine!

[silkworm]

And me! Except mines is for my husband, that and a marble mold will be his Christmas presents.