Topic: Twists glass Edinburgh paperweights

[Lustrousstone]

Perhaps what he changed was the order of doing things.

[chopin-liszt]

THe first torch he had was oxygen - which was running out. That was when he thought he might have to change plans for the blue surface-decorated weight.
He normally uses oxy-acetylene.

The original plan was to make the two weights, the clear crystal close-pack and the blue surface decorated.

I think they've found that it's a practical and economical method to do two weights at one time - it certainly was for the purposes of this demonstration because he wasn't using the glass from the pot, but his own crystal and things which were kept in a second annealling oven - perhaps with the temperature set for his needs there on the day.

When the second torch was produced, he was able to continue with the original plan.

Wuff has very kindly written to me privately, to point out my error in thinking that interesting bits of the canes might have been left behind in the bit of the clear crystal glass which was chopped off. 

The actual canes had been "squeezed" into the dome - the outer ring of white-surrounded canes were slightly longer than the others - it would only have been a few squished bits of them.

[Wuff]

Here is another image of the canes set up - showing clearer that the outer white canes are much longer, to form a sort of basket in the final weight, with the complex canes completely within the closepack weight.

[Frank]

Planning such demos takes a lot of work and especially when a particular type of glass is needed and particular temperatures. It is a caveat in the cap for Edinburgh College of Art that they were able to accommodate the needs of two different glassmakers in quick succession on the Saturday and a third on the Monday. Not to mention a split screen presentation and live video of an engraving demo on the Sunday.

ECA technicians prepared everything in advance and everything ran smoothly, including me between the three widely separated lecture rooms 50 or 60 times on the Saturday.

[Lustrousstone]

We were all well impressed with the smoothness of things. I was just trying to work out if Mike was using Plan A or Plan B

Heating the cane setup for the close pack (a mix of Mike and Aaron Hunter canes, plus a mixed Mike and Aaron cane)

Most of my other bits are video

[Wuff]

Mike Hunter also gave a second demonstration: making a small vessel using the Pastorale pick-up technique. I have posted a selection of images in the glass section.

[Lily of the Valley]

I have really enjoyed the photos and all the comments/observations, etc.  Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences at what must have been an amazing conference.

In appreciation ..... Lily  :hiclp:

[Frank]

Both of these weights and one donated by Peter Holmes that was the last of the edition of 32 Paul Ysart homage weights made for the 2005 conference will be non-profit auctioned on Scotland's Glass from the 1st to 14th of November.

Proceeds will be used to meet the costs of the Edinburgh conference, with any surplus going to the Glass-Study.org to preserve glass web-sites.

I will post in market-place closer to the date but as weight collectors have made it clear they only look in this forum I am posting here now so no one misses a chance at these rather special items!

[Frank]

The demonstration pictures for Mike Hunter are now on Scotland's glass along with details of the paperweight auctions.
http://www.scotlandsglass.co.uk/cms/

[alpha]

Color me stupid, Frank, but I can't find the auction details on the provided link. Can you give instructions on where it is or provide a more detailed link?