Glass Fusing - Coldworking # 2

I had my second coldworking class Saturday. Paul of Helios demonstrated two more techniques to get that "perfect edge" on a piece of fused glass.




Paul is using a wet 60 silicon carbide grit to shape the edge of the bowl by hand. A 60 and 120 grit is used to shape the glass, then move up to 220, 400, and 600 grit to refine and finish the edge.

Another finishing technique is working an edge on a wet belt sander as demonstrated above. The same grit progression of 60, 120, 240, 400, and so forth is followed.

We were then in for a treat. How to work on a lathe which is not a part of the class for several reasons. A lathe is used to carve or cut glass and is a decorating/design technique, not a finishing method. But, Paul has a Lamborghini of lathes and we asked him to demonstrate it.To get this, you do this:

Stay with me on this video -- my first time using the "movie" setting and it took a few seconds to get the focus. However, you get an idea what goes into cutting designs into glass. No one is allowed to work on this machine unless they have taken a class from Jane Bruce. To learn more who she is and what she does, you really should visit her website. Her work is outstanding -- the word outstanding is in itself is a gross understatement when it comes to Ms. Bruce's glass.

All in all, the second class was wonderful, just as expected. I can hardly wait for next week. :D

Until next time, God bless.