About the Studio
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I started out with a hothead type torch after watching a YouTube video one day. Went down to see Marilynn at Studio34 on one Saturday morning, she set me up with the complete what-all I needed to get started and later that afternoon I was cooking. Quickly evident was that I would need major equipment. I caught a break when summer-time projects provided some windfall overtime money and today my upgraded studio includes the following: |
| I got my Oxygen Contentrator from Jack at Unlimited Oxygen. They get medical oxygen machines, refurb & modify them and my blood pressure gets a break from not having to worry about having a 2500 psi cylinder around. I use an M-15. It hisses quietly and works just dandy :-) |
Shaping (mostly bevelling) is performed on an Inland twinspin
(dual diamond bits) glass grinder. It's water cooled and I
usually add a 1/2 teaspoon of oil-coolant in with each refill to
protect the cutter bits.
Fusing and Annealing is performed on a Paragon SC-3 Kiln with the Sentry Xpress 3 key digital segment controller.
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I’ve gotten brass presses from Cattwalk, Molds from Slumpys, Tools from Arrow Springs. I mention these companies below because they’ve done OK by me.
Prices vary quite a bit, (for instance I got the same Smith
Propane regulator everybody else wants $90 + shipping for, from a place called
Cyberweld.com for like $76 Shipped). Glassworking is
inherently expensive, no need to make it worse by paying more than you have to - Iif you’re in the market, be sure to check around.
grounds, Studio 34 beads.
| As for where I get my supplies & gear - Here's some links if you want more info: Manufactures & Supplies I've done business with (along with some comments of my experience) Clay-King.com Hands down best kiln prices. IMHO. Must Check ! Inland Grinder- AllThingsStainedGlass Sells the SAME EXACT THING for $150 everyone else wants $240 for. Sure enough FAST delivery, brand-new, sealed box, with all the factory extras. Me Happy. Catwalk Solid Brass Presses, Pricey as all hell (3 of em set me back $225) but each comes adorned with a little ribbon & a piece of candy :-) |
| Slumpy's - Molds for slumping and supplies for fusing. Moretti & More Good assortments of Effetre 104 and I love Labelled rods. (unlike some places). I enjoy that. Started buying Boro also. Tracy's Stained Glass Workshop - My sheet glass source (since they have a really 'usable' website. Well packed and arrives 100% intact. Arrow Springs - great assortments, great prices, but they're batting 1000 no matter what I order I always get a phone call saying something in my order is out of stock....grrrr Arrow's Moretti rod assortments are however, one of my staples. Wale Apparatus - Fast shipping, has clear pyrex boro mini-cases (75 x 4' rods) for like $80 and cut it down into 300 1-foot lengths. Also clear tube and GA Boro. Not far from me, these huge cases of glass rods arrive fast ! |
| Studio 34 - My local art studio. Lessons & supplies for all
things glass, plus beads, plus PMC. Marilynn sold me my very
first torch ! Sunshine - Semi-local store in a neighboring town. I buy mail order, they ship fast, it get's here fast. BeadFX - Toronto - my source for loads of findings. Shipwreck Beads Flaming Tree Glass - Rosewell, Georgia - Had what I needed, when I needed it (and everybody else was sold out) and they shipped it nice and quick to me way up north. |
COMING LATER
Kiln Programming - Plain English guide to Sentry programming.
My Firing schedules - Everybody has theirs...I have mine.