Just an experiment

[GBF]

As some of you will know I am always looking for new ways to enhance my work and having seen Pete using glass I thought I would do some experimenting with it.
Having found out where to get the glass from Pete I had a go today.
This is on a bit of scrap wood the edges of the groove and the edge of the centre are a bit rough I was more concerned with how the glass would sand.
Setting the glass is the easy bit sanding it is something else it is so hard and the abrasive does not last long.
I will have to do some homework on the best way forward but I like the result but this is a very small area.
This is about 6" wide over all

Regards George 

[malcy]

Very interesting, George. You could try the abrasives used in the optical industry for polishing lenses. As far as I know, these are diamond based and 3M do a range of these. Probably expensive but would certainly last longer than mortal abrasives. Just a thought. Hope it helps with your experiments. Malcolm.

[GBF]

Thank you Molcolm after a bit of research it looks like diamond pads might be an answer

Regards George

[bodrighywood]

That's the medium grade isn't it George? I find the quickest way to sand was on the lathe with the drill and a pad. If using the powder it is a lot easier. 

Pete

[GBF]

It is a mix of medium and fine Pete.
I am thinking of doing a large sculpture so I need to do a bit more experimenting first

Regards George

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

George, not sure if this is of any help but years ago when working with sheet glass I used to sand and polish the edges using a sharpening stone made from slate.

[GBF]

Thank you John.
I will keep trying things until I crack it.

Regards George

[Bryan Milham]

George,

How about Wet & Dry paper, it's carborundum based. That should cut glass and is readily available.

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

Thank you John.
I will keep trying things until I crack it.

Regards George

I don't think cracking it is quite what you want to do. keep up the good work it looks smashing...oh shouldn't say smashing when you are working with glass!!

[Les Symonds]

I wonder how a small amount of pierced work would look if it were infilled with glass and cut back and polished. Could be quite attractive, although there is a danger that too much of it could just look like a poor attempt at mimicking a stained glass window!
Les

[edbanger]

I like that idea Les a wooden hollow form with stained glass insets

Ed

[Les Symonds]

I like that idea Les a wooden hollow form with stained glass insets

Ed

There are special gel pens that can be used....if you have a small enough aperture, you can "write" the gel into them and it dries to form a coloured film, but having real glass would (in my opinion) lift the quality to another level.
Les

[GBF]

I don't think it would work very well on a pierced Hollow form because to pierce you have to have the walls thin and when you sanded the glass off I think you would soon go through the walls .


Regards George

[GBF]

I lay in bed thinking about my problem and I think I know the answer when I get time I will do a bit more experimenting.

Regards George

[bodrighywood]

RE: the idea of using it in pierced work. I have found that if the glass is cut back too thinly it will break off. May be different using epoxy though. I would think that to get the effect of stained glass you would have to have thicker walls which would make the piercing more difficult.
Pete