[Makerspace-keymembers] Costs for a glass lampworking starter kit

[Jeffrey Putney]

I think it would be a fun activity to be able do anytime.

And tonight the bike project invited us to a jewelry making workshop where
they want to make jewelry from bike parts. I think it could be fun to
include some custom glass beads in this activity ;-)

Jeff

On Wed, Jan 28, 2015 at 7:18 PM, Gergana Slavova <
gergana.s.slavova at gmail.com> wrote:

> We have no other plans to purchase things in Jan/Feb/Mar and no major
> events planned.  I'm ok with spending the money.
>
> ~Gergana
>
> On Sun, Jan 25, 2015 at 9:01 PM, Emily Knox <emilyknox at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> At the moment we have $500 in the budget for 2015Q1, just FYI.
>>
>> On Sun, Jan 25, 2015 at 8:57 PM, Dena Strong <dena.strong at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, all! Gergana and Jeff asked me to mail out a list of what it would
>>> cost to put together a glass lampworking basic kit for the Makerspace. My
>>> hypothesis is that it should be doable for under $100 and that everything
>>> should be available at either the hardware store or the grocery store
>>> except for the actual glass rods and mandrel release. Let's see if that's
>>> an accurate guess...
>>>
>>> (Some Internet investigations later...)
>>>
>>> OK, it looks like a pair of didymium glasses are the break point between
>>> "could get going under $100" and "over $100."
>>>
>>> Here's a kit for $99 that would need the gas, glass, and a table
>>> protecting aluminum tray added; it contains a set of didymium glasses.  (
>>> http://www.sundanceglass.com/kitslamp1.htm ) Adding the gas, glass, and
>>> aluminum tray would take the total to about $140.
>>>
>>> I've got to admit this is a pretty good deal, because the lenses by
>>> themselves start at $60 and go up from there. If the Makerspace wants to
>>> own a set of those lenses, this kit is definitely the way to go because
>>> adding them on to a piecemeal order later would end up costing about $20-30
>>> more overall. (Getting the kit and adding glass/gas would total about $140.
>>> Getting the components separately and adding the glasses would cost
>>> $160-$170, without factoring in multiple shipping costs.)
>>>
>>> But it is possible to hit the "under $100" target if the didymium
>>> glasses aren't in the equation.
>>>
>>> If we wanted to piece it out and not get the didymium lenses to start
>>> with, here's how the math would go:
>>>
>>> Fire:
>>> MAPP gas - $7.50, Menards
>>> Mag-torch aka hot head torch - $15, Menards (currently on sale for $12)
>>>
>>> Table anchoring stuff (the Makerspace may already have some of these for
>>> other purposes too):
>>> C-clamp - $3
>>> 4" angle bracket - $3
>>> Hose clamp - $1.50
>>> Aluminum baking tray for table surface protection:  $3
>>> Vermiculite - (I've got a partial bag of the stuff, I'm happy to donate
>>> a gallon-ziploc of it for bead use)
>>> Wide mouth can or clay pot for holding the vermiculite - (I bet there's
>>> something kicking around we could reuse; if not, we should be able to find
>>> something suitable under $5)
>>> Regular non-didymium safety glasses - (the Makerspace has some, right?)
>>>
>>> Glass stuff:
>>> Sampler set of 30 rods with assorted colors: $30 from Sundance
>>>
>>> Mandrel release bottle: 4 oz - $7 from Sundance
>>>
>>> Mandrels - $7 per dozen from Sundance, or $33 per pound; alternatively,
>>> 1 pound of stainless steel welding rods would be $15, in 36 inch lengths
>>> that would need cutting down but would give you several dozen. (Given how
>>> easy it is to have a glass item adhere to the mandrel, a few dozen would be
>>> a good idea.)
>>>
>>> So the without-glasses version works out to $90ish by making our own
>>> mandrels from the pound of welding rods, or $108ish by buying a pound of
>>> already-made mandrels from Sundance along with the glass and bead release.
>>>
>>> What do you think of the options?
>>>
>>>
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>>> Makerspace-keymembers at lists.chambana.net
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>>>
>>>
>>
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>
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