I'm a tool geek; I love to try different tools by established makers, have custom tools made to my specs as well as make my own when I can't find something that meets my needs. As most toolmakers aren't glassblowers, they aren't using their own tools and need to rely on feedback from their...
03.17.2016
A thread came up in CraftWeb about how to reduce injuries. Here are some of my approaches to take stress off my body while making bigger glass: I used to pitch the pipe up to get four and five gather pieces to flow a bit before necking or after necking until I hurt my rotator cuff--now I...
12.16.2015
I use 24" diamond disks and a 106" belt sander for my coldworking, so these tips apply to those machines. My favorite coldworking technique is all about avoiding the little bites, facets or scrapes you get when you put a piece down even a tiny bit off flat on a moving wheel. If the...
11.12.2015
Most of my work is flattened so I'm well-aquainted with corks--most specifically the smell of them burning. I'm generally using corks to flattening vessels that end up between 15-26" tall x 10-16" wide x 3-4" deep, so medium to larger work. Corks aren't the only tool to flatten glass, some other...
09.17.2015
Getting cane and murrine onto a blowpipe presents a number of challenges, the first of which is what kind of plate to use and how to prepare it. I've tried all different methods and settled on what describe below. You've got to be careful about prepping and using plates or you'll get...
09.13.2015
My style of glassblowing isn't terribly common and the way I've evolved it is unique to me. This means that I occasionally need tools that aren't commonly made or I want them made a certain way. Heating plates of cane or murrine in the glory hole requires a pastoralle fork, but all...
09.11.2015
Ok, this isn't about wiping out something that you can fit your hand into--that's easy. This is about when you get something (cerium, moisture, dust, dirt) on the inside of a piece with a very small opening. Since my Spheres and Resistenza both have very small openings, I've figured out...
04.14.2015
I'm frequently asked about how to best light, secure and care for my glass so I thought it would be helpful to summarize my recommendations here for future reference. LightingAs the vast majority of my work is one-of-a-kind, each piece interacts a bit differently with light so experimentation...
04.23.2014
I'm often asked by glassblowers who shoots my work (me) and advice for photographing glass. Instead of replying by email each time, I'm going to summarize my setup and advice here so it's easy to reference. I've been a photo hobbyist for years and since I initially got into photography by...
04.09.2014
I'm teaching a class this summer on how to work with cane; specifically Uroboros' System 96 Rods. I rarely teach primarily because I'm super busy making my own work. Nevertheless, I've seen a lot of people around Public Glass struggling with cane and knew that I could help out without...
10.18.2013
I'm contacted a few times a year by students of glass about all sorts of stuff--mostly requesting visits, internships and advice on how to best learn glassblowing. I've answered enough of the education questions that I thought I would post them here so I can direct future inquires to this...
07.24.2013
Frequently I need tools or custom versions of tools that aren't commercially available, so I make my own. Here's a selection of homemade tools I use frequently:Damascus color paddle/tagliol is great for saving the strap of my jacks from the heat from large overlays.Extra long damascus steel...