Mosaics and Stained Glass: Question about tumbling glass

Forum: Mosaics and Stained Glass Replies: 9, Views: 219 Print -

Author Content darci_ Jacksonville, AR (Zone 3b) March 30, 2009 07:13 PM Post #6342171 Ok, so y'all inspired me to begin making "sea glass", and I bought a 3 lb Lortone rotary tumbler. (I'm wanting to make wind chimes, etc. out of the glass.) The guy where I bought it said I needed coarse grit for glass, and I finished my first batch today, pieces of a dark wine bottle and an amber candy dish. Well, it rounded them out nicely, but the pieces look whiter, more opaque than I expected. Here's my question: If I buy some medium or fine grit and tumble it a while longer, will it look a little less white? Or maybe I should have started with a finer grit? I know I'm gonna love this, but I just want to get my method down right. Click the image for an enlarged view. WUVIE Hulbert, OK (Zone 7a) April 04, 2009 02:23 PM Post #6363883 Hello Darci, I'm still toying around with this, as well. Although the frosty look is pretty, I had actually hoped to achieve a smooth finish with shine. Lately I'm been playing with the idea of torching the glass after it has come out of the tumbler, but haven't yet fired it up. Let's figure this one out together. :-) KM WUVIE Hulbert, OK (Zone 7a) May 12, 2009 04:53 PM Post #6540108 Update. Tried to use a MAP gas torch to smooth the glass. LOL. I have much to learn. After torching the glass, I turned off the gas and the glass exploded. Please be safe folks. The glass was super hot, then exposed to the cooler temps of the room. I must do more lampworking homework. Brender Topsham, ME (Zone 5a) May 15, 2009 07:14 AM Post #6551158 Wuvie, maybe Cheryl can answer this but what about fire polishing in your kiln and then it will cool down slowly thus (hopefully) not exploding? Not a full fuse. katiebear mulege Mexico May 20, 2009 02:24 PM Post #6575217 Based on my experiences with glass that has been heated/partially- melted by fires at the dump, the problem is that heat changes the structure of the glass. The glass that I have found that has been in a fire, it is much more fragile than it was before the fire. I think a slow cooling in a kiln that keeps it stronger. I don't know how sensative the process it. Anyone here who fires glass? kb imapigeon Gilroy (Sunset Z14), CA (Zone 9a) May 20, 2009 03:55 PM Post #6575547 katie, there are some experienced glass fusers who have posted on the Pottery & Ceramics forum (I'm not one, so am of no help!) WUVIE Hulbert, OK (Zone 7a) May 21, 2009 11:50 AM Post #6579005 Perhaps the cooling blanket typically used for lampworking? tonifafa Brooklyn, NY May 28, 2009 11:27 AM Post #6609244 Can I tumble ceramics (glazed clay)? I've looked into buying a tumbler, and the cheapest one I've found is USD$33. Is that about average? Is it more on the cheap side and will have to expect the belt to break and not good results? Also, can I tumble (space allowing, of course) an entire bottle? Here's what I'm trying to recreate: http://www.thechicecologist.com/2009/03/recycled-glassware-w... Elfs_Garden ( Kris) Smiths, AL (Zone 8a) June 01, 2009 11:34 PM Post #6629257 If you tumble it for less time it will not be so while and matt. Yu can tumble just enough to get rid of sharp edges, but not so long as to turn the glass milky. Hope this helps WUVIE Hulbert, OK (Zone 7a) June 02, 2009 09:30 AM Post #6630424 Hi Toni, I've tumbled quite a bit of tile, glass and such and have found that often the glaze will stay on if you do not tumble it too long. I personally prefer my pieces to be uniform and rounded on the edges, only because I'm fussy about my work. Hope you are having much fun! KM

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