|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,557 Likes: 25
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,557 Likes: 25 |
My wife does art glass. For this, she'd use a Dremel and a diamond bit. KEEP IT WET or it'll overheat and could shatter. A 2d person constantly squirting water on it is all you need.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,361
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,361 |
Don't sand it, don't grind it. Instead, take a propane or MAPP gas torch (a mini torch would work perfect) and heat it until the glass starts to melt - it will smooth right out. It should only take about 15-30 seconds of direct heat. Then cut the flame and let it cool naturally at room temperature. Seriously, it will work like a charm.
That's how we "polished" the ends of glass rod and tubing in the chemistry lab, except we usually used alcohol burners instead of torches. That’s the first thing I thought of as well. It WILL work, I promise. I can do it quicker, and better that way in less time than it would take me to set up my Dremel.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,361
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,361 |
Don't sand it, don't grind it. Instead, take a propane or MAPP gas torch (a mini torch would work perfect) and heat it until the glass starts to melt - it will smooth right out. It should only take about 15-30 seconds of direct heat. Then cut the flame and let it cool naturally at room temperature. Seriously, it will work like a charm.
That's how we "polished" the ends of glass rod and tubing in the chemistry lab, except we usually used alcohol burners instead of torches. That’s the first thing I thought of as well. Wouldn’t this subject the glass to severe thermal shock? Only if you dunk it in water to cool it. It's how it's done every day in chemistry labs throughout the world. Do you think I pulled this method out of my a$$?
Last edited by Triggernosis; 02/19/20.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,327
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,327 |
Don't sand it, don't grind it. Instead, take a propane or MAPP gas torch (a mini torch would work perfect) and heat it until the glass starts to melt - it will smooth right out. It should only take about 15-30 seconds of direct heat. Then cut the flame and let it cool naturally at room temperature. Seriously, it will work like a charm.
That's how we "polished" the ends of glass rod and tubing in the chemistry lab, except we usually used alcohol burners instead of torches. That’s the first thing I thought of as well. Wouldn’t this subject the glass to severe thermal shock? Only if you dunk it in water to cool it. It's how it's done every day in chemistry labs throughout the world. Do you think I pulled this method out of my a$$? Maybe...........
It's official. I missed the selfie deadline so I'm Maser's sock puppet because rene and the Polish half of the fubar twins have decided that I am.
ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ μολὼν λαβέ
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,383 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,383 Likes: 2 |
Don't sand it, don't grind it. Instead, take a propane or MAPP gas torch (a mini torch would work perfect) and heat it until the glass starts to melt - it will smooth right out. It should only take about 15-30 seconds of direct heat. Then cut the flame and let it cool naturally at room temperature. Seriously, it will work like a charm.
That's how we "polished" the ends of glass rod and tubing in the chemistry lab, except we usually used alcohol burners instead of torches. That’s the first thing I thought of as well. Wouldn’t this subject the glass to severe thermal shock? Only if you dunk it in water to cool it. It's how it's done every day in chemistry labs throughout the world. Do you think I pulled this method out of my a$$? Maybe........... Huge difference in the thermal properties of the borosilicate and quartz glassware used in modern chemistry laboratories and the glass used in 19th Century decorative glassware.
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,557 Likes: 25
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,557 Likes: 25 |
Before you put that kind of heat on it, you'd better know what you're doing. You could shatter the handle. A little touch up with a wet diamond grinder is quick, easy, and safe.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,359 Likes: 35
Campfire Oracle
|
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,359 Likes: 35 |
Don't sand it, don't grind it. Instead, take a propane or MAPP gas torch (a mini torch would work perfect) and heat it until the glass starts to melt - it will smooth right out. It should only take about 15-30 seconds of direct heat. Then cut the flame and let it cool naturally at room temperature. Seriously, it will work like a charm.
That's how we "polished" the ends of glass rod and tubing in the chemistry lab, except we usually used alcohol burners instead of torches. That’s the first thing I thought of as well. Wouldn’t this subject the glass to severe thermal shock? This is likely soda lime glass - plain, ordinary, glass. Laboratory glass is borosilicate glass and has much better thermal shock resistance. The lamp will almost certainly crack/shatter with the application of a torch.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 14,350 Likes: 8
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 14,350 Likes: 8 |
As best I can figure this lamp was made about 1890. It says on the glass ACME trade mark LEAD-FLINT. I think they added lead and flint to the glass in those days. Also says MADE IN THE US of AMERICA.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,974 Likes: 11
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,974 Likes: 11 |
I'd side with leaving as is. The grind is the easy part. Polishing even with the surrounding terrain is the challenge.
1Minute
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,557 Likes: 25
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,557 Likes: 25 |
I'd side with leaving as is. The grind is the easy part. Polishing even with the surrounding terrain is the challenge. The sharp edge is inside the top of the handle. There wouldn't be any need to polish it unless it has a high collector value. Just smooth off the sharp ridge a little.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 18
New Member
|
New Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 18 |
I would try polishing with cerium oxide polishing compound. This is what glass working shops and mirror plants use. Keep the glass wet with the polishing compound and take your time, it will work fine, put a torch on 1890s glass and it will probably explode. Amazon has cerium oxide powder.
I'm not an expert but I worked in the mirror industry as a chemist for a while. Cerium Oxide actually has a solvent effect on glass.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 17,594 Likes: 44
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 17,594 Likes: 44 |
What Cal-H said. Cerium oxide is the paste/abrasive I was thinking of....
Having cracked more than one item trying to heat polish a sharp edge thinking I could treat it like lab glass. I would stay away from the torch. Differential heating is a pain in the tookis.. and the more complex the shape, the harder to control predict. Just when you think you did ok it starts to cool and then craack... whoops
Last edited by OldmanoftheSea; 02/19/20. Reason: Auto incorrect
-OMotS
"If memory serves fails me..." Quote: ( unnamed) "been prtty deep in the cooler todaay " Television and radio are most effective when people question little and think even less.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,361
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,361 |
Don't effing polish it! Just hit it with a torch for 20 seconds and you're done!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,099
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,099 |
You could wear gloves if it hurts that much.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 14,350 Likes: 8
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 14,350 Likes: 8 |
Thanks for all the advice. I am a log builder I have thousands of dollars of tools. I have 2 of the 7 inch disc grinders, a DeWalt and a Makita. I have a real nice Makita belt sander. All kinds of expensive drills etc etc. But I don't have a dremel tool. Never used one. I went down to Lowes and bought this dremel grinding stone for $3.50. It fit right in to my DeWalt cordless drill. This thing worked great! I knocked out that little rim in about 7 minutes. Thanks for all the advice. I did buy some 80 grit and 120 grit sandpaper and was going to wrap it around the ramrod to my Kentucky rifle, and duct tape it on. But it didn't come to that the home-made dremel tool did the job. Easy.
|
|
|
|
533 members (1beaver_shooter, 12344mag, 10gaugeman, 06hunter59, 117LBS, 1badf350, 53 invisible),
2,702
guests, and
1,244
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,194,791
Posts18,536,355
Members74,041
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|