packing color

[Jane Greer]

Okay, this may be a stupid question but I heard something last week from a glassblower at Steuben that I haven't heard before. He would take a gather of clear and then add color and would marver the hell out of it and when I asked him why he was doing that, he said he wanted to "pack the color in well". Then he would reheat and do the same thing and then reheat and block. He has been having trouble with the color blowing out but I keep telling him its because he is blowing it out too fast.
Anyone else doing this?

Thanks
Jane

[Brice Turnbull]

Without watching him do this, I am not sure. 'Packing the color' doesn't make sense to me, but it seems to matter to him.

Maybe his trouble was because he had been blowing when the blowpipe and/or some particular area of the glass was too hot or too cold. By working the glass so long after gathering, he may be unknowingly evening out the heat pattern completely, thereby solving the problem.

Once I talked to a glass blower who didn't seem to understand that even though he'd just gathered a hot second layer, the original interior gather was not hot, and when he blew (even though he could see the outside fresh gather moving) the interior was stiff. Right at the end of the blowpipe, his breath of air found a short cut to softer glass sideways from the blowpipe, instead of out in a nice round bubble.

It sounds to me like this glass blower you're talking to is not understanding what ever the real situation is, and I'm as mystified as you by his 'solution' because it seems unrelated.



But who knows? Maybe he's just so much ahead of me that I can't keep up!

By the way, this is written as an answer for You and a recommendation that you do not replicate his method unless he helps you understand exactly what and why he's doing what he's doing. I'm not saying he's wrong, or suggesting you correct him on my account - one of the best tips in glass blowing is "do what works for you", and if this works for him, then right now that is a good thing :)

Cheers, Brice

[Paul Thompson]

Originally posted by Jane Greer
Okay, this may be a stupid question but I heard something last week from a glassblower at Steuben that I haven't heard before.
Does that mean he works at Steuben as a professional glassblower?
He would take a {snipsnip}
That process as you describe it will certainly slow things down. Packin' and slackin'? But seriously (ahem), you don't mention the color. It could have been Kruger K911 "Pilchuck Pilchard" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilchard), in which case a tight packing with a Gaffer G174 Mustard sauce would make for a tasty piece. (boy, am I gonna get banned...)

[David Patchen]

A professional glassblower having trouble with the color blowing out on the bottom? I'd question any advice from him if this is the case.

Also, you say "take a gather and add color". What does that mean? Add color how? Frit, powder, overlay, cane?

[Jane Greer]

he says he was a gaffer at Steuben, and he can duplicate most of the items. But he never worked with soft glass it was always lead crystal and he never worked with color so that is new to him. He has definite skills but I just never heard of packing color. He is using frit mainly. He is use to working with a team and having every tool available to him with no regard to cost so he's having to get use to blowing somewhat "ghetto". (he uses my tools). I try to learn from everyone who uses my studio and that one just didn't sound right.

Thanks
Jane

[Wes Hunting]

Steuben is really soft glass

[Jane Greer]

He says that the crystal glass he was working stayed hot a long time and you could work it forever before it got cold. That doesn't sound like a soft glass to me?

[Brent Hickenbotham]

That glass is super long working because of the lead content.

[Dave Hilty]

Soft...or another term is "long" meaning it has a wide temp range within which you can continue to move it, work it etc. The wonderful virtues of lead crystal apart from very nice brilliance/clarity.

You experience the same when you use a typical lead base kugler versus a no-lead gaffer color. On the pipe the leaded color will blow out more easily than the stiffer no-lead stuff. Hence, soft.

[Jane Greer]

I did not know that, thank you for the lesson.

:)

[Pete VanderLaan]

further, Steuben workers have zero experience with color. I still have no clue what he is trying to accomplish though.

[Jane Greer]

I appreciate all the response, at least now I don't feel like I've been missing something all these years.

Jane

[Eben Horton]

i think he was trying to say that he was making sure the heat was even?? maybe?