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#1
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A Fantasy question, not OT!!!
This has been passing thru my mind for a few days now, and I figure if
anyone can come up with an answer..it's this group!! Assuming one has the natural abilities already (I assume one must have natural creativity and a steadiness of hand, among other things) how much would it cost to go from nothing at all to being able to make lampwork beads? By this I mean attaining the skills thru classes, buying the tools'o'the trade, the glass rods, mandrels, torches... setting up a work space, etc...everything you'd need to set yourself up for lampworking. Not that I could right now, mind you, lol...but in the future, I definetely will be working towards this goal. Thanks everyone Candace P.S. I've appreciate hearing estimates of what different people have put out for this very thing, too...everyone has different experiences, right? |
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#2
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You know, I'd be interested in the answer to this question too...just for
future reference of course! Arleen "Candace" wrote in message om... This has been passing thru my mind for a few days now, and I figure if anyone can come up with an answer..it's this group!! Assuming one has the natural abilities already (I assume one must have natural creativity and a steadiness of hand, among other things) how much would it cost to go from nothing at all to being able to make lampwork beads? By this I mean attaining the skills thru classes, buying the tools'o'the trade, the glass rods, mandrels, torches... setting up a work space, etc...everything you'd need to set yourself up for lampworking. Not that I could right now, mind you, lol...but in the future, I definetely will be working towards this goal. Thanks everyone Candace P.S. I've appreciate hearing estimates of what different people have put out for this very thing, too...everyone has different experiences, right? |
#3
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I'll give it a go since I asked this question myself about a year ago. I
have taken no formal classes and that has worked for me. What helped the most was books and then a video or two. The books gave me the technical info while the videos actually showed me how other people held rods, how slow to turn, etc. That was a huge turning point for me. I feel if you aren't sure if you'll like the craft you shouldn't invest in too many gadgets at first. If you start off small and decide you don't like it then there isn't a lot of cash out the door. You can always sell everything you purchased at a good price because these things depreciate very little. Here is what I would purchase to try things out: Hothead torch $39 Didymium glasses $30-40 Fiber Blanket $10-15 Mandrels $6 per 12 (estimated) Needle nose pliers (varies) Bead release $6 Glass Starter Pack (price varies) Hose clamp & vise to hold propane/mapp gas (under $5) Propane $3.99 for two bottles Mapp $6.99 and up for one bottle You can always batch anneal using someone else's kiln or a studio kiln for a while if you have someone in your area. Or you may chose to not anneal the first beads. It's up to you. I had a kiln starting out for fusing and I didn't include that in the estimate. Now this is what I've moved up to since all that: Bobcat torch $199 Oxygen Concentrator $349 Paragon Caldera kiln with digital controller $750 Large Propane Tank $39 Hoses, flash back arrestor, etc. $100 I was given my regulator but they are about $100 Didymium shield $150 - I love this shield! I did use the proceeds from bead sales to pay for a lot of the equipment. I sold my new/old kiln and that paid for almost 1/2 of the new one. All my eBay money went to paying for the new kiln. I got the shield as a Christmas present, but everything else was purchased using funds from bead sales. "Candace" wrote in message om... This has been passing thru my mind for a few days now, and I figure if anyone can come up with an answer..it's this group!! Assuming one has the natural abilities already (I assume one must have natural creativity and a steadiness of hand, among other things) how much would it cost to go from nothing at all to being able to make lampwork beads? By this I mean attaining the skills thru classes, buying the tools'o'the trade, the glass rods, mandrels, torches... setting up a work space, etc...everything you'd need to set yourself up for lampworking. Not that I could right now, mind you, lol...but in the future, I definetely will be working towards this goal. Thanks everyone Candace P.S. I've appreciate hearing estimates of what different people have put out for this very thing, too...everyone has different experiences, right? |
#4
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Dang, I forgot to mention books.
Making Glass Beads $21 - very good Corina's Passing the Flame $75 - Excellent & I feel a must have Beads of Glass $29 - Another great book, plenty of eye candy I would personally purchase Corina's book first if I could. If not, Cindy Jenkin's Making Glass Beads is my other first choice. I got Corina's for my birthday. |
#5
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Thanks Starlia, for all of the information- it really is very helpful to see
a breakdown of the supplies needed! IT was very nice of you to take the time to do it! Arleen "starlia" wrote in message ... Dang, I forgot to mention books. Making Glass Beads $21 - very good Corina's Passing the Flame $75 - Excellent & I feel a must have Beads of Glass $29 - Another great book, plenty of eye candy I would personally purchase Corina's book first if I could. If not, Cindy Jenkin's Making Glass Beads is my other first choice. I got Corina's for my birthday. |
#6
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Not a problem. I can of course add tools and everything else I have, but
the thing I use the most is my pliers. I'm a simple girl. "Arleen" wrote in message .. . Thanks Starlia, for all of the information- it really is very helpful to see a breakdown of the supplies needed! IT was very nice of you to take the time to do it! Arleen "starlia" wrote in message ... Dang, I forgot to mention books. Making Glass Beads $21 - very good Corina's Passing the Flame $75 - Excellent & I feel a must have Beads of Glass $29 - Another great book, plenty of eye candy I would personally purchase Corina's book first if I could. If not, Cindy Jenkin's Making Glass Beads is my other first choice. I got Corina's for my birthday. |
#7
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Ok here goes. I bought a used torch and oxygen concentrator and tools -
pretty much everything - used. I spent about $1300 getting my workshop set up - this included installing a window, a ventilation system, painting, putting stainless steel on my workbench, buying a big shelf and pegboards for the walls. (I still need to figure out a better glass storage system) I spent $350 on a one weekend long course (and expect to be spending more this year on class(es)) I spent $1300 on a (all used) kiln, torch, misc. tools, large supply of glass, pixie dust, enamels. I think this is a great deal - I think it would have been about $2000 if I'd bought new and I probably wouldn't have gotten as much glass. I spent $250 on additional glass in the new colors I spent $200 on an oxy con. I spent $30 for propane/tank I spent $50 for hoses to run the tank outside I spent $75 for Corina's Passing the flame book. And probably another $100 on Cindy Jenkins'2 books. I spent $100 on good protective eye glasses And I'm sure there are a few more hundred that went somewhere but I can't think of it at the moment. There are about $500 worth of tools and glass I want to buy right now, but have not gotten up the courage to spend that much again so soon. But I will ;-) Hope that helps! -- Pam Brisse The Blue Between - handcrafted jewelry and bead art http://www.bluebetween.com |
#8
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Oh yeah, I meant to share a photo of my lampwork studio:
http://www.bluebetween.com/beads.htm -- Pam Brisse The Blue Between - handcrafted jewelry and bead art http://www.bluebetween.com |
#9
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On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:42:15 -0700, Candace wrote:
This has been passing thru my mind for a few days now, and I figure if anyone can come up with an answer..it's this group!! Assuming one has the natural abilities already (I assume one must have natural creativity and a steadiness of hand, among other things) how much would it cost to go from nothing at all to being able to make lampwork beads? By this I mean attaining the skills thru classes, buying the tools'o'the trade, the glass rods, mandrels, torches... setting up a work space, etc...everything you'd need to set yourself up for lampworking. Not that I could right now, mind you, lol...but in the future, I definetely will be working towards this goal. Thanks everyone Candace P.S. I've appreciate hearing estimates of what different people have put out for this very thing, too...everyone has different experiences, right? Depends where you live too Candace.. but I'd be interested in some of these answers too.. Mavis |
#10
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On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 13:20:30 -0500, starlia wrote:
Dang, I forgot to mention books. Making Glass Beads $21 - very good Corina's Passing the Flame $75 - Excellent & I feel a must have Beads of Glass $29 - Another great book, plenty of eye candy I would personally purchase Corina's book first if I could. If not, Cindy Jenkin's Making Glass Beads is my other first choice. I got Corina's for my birthday. Hey Starlia, Do you have the ISBN for those books? Makes it easier... Ta, Mavis |
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