neon lab II

[nibot]

In the first lab (last week), I learned how to make splices. This week Dennis taught me how to make 90 degree and 180 degree bends in the glass. Compared to making splices, making bends is quite simple. Splices are quite difficult to get right, but the bends are pretty easy to get. It just takes a little practice to make them nicely. (They do splices first intentionally so that everything else will seem easy.) I made something like a dozen 90 degree bends and three 180 degree bends. The 180 degree bends didn't come out well, so I still have to work on that.

To make a 90 degree bend, you measure out one tube's width in either direction of the center of the bend. Mark these on the glass on what will be the "inside" of the bend in pencil. Heat this whole region uniformly until it's glowing a nice red (the graphite in particular glows red). Then you pull the glass up out of the fire, and, moving both hands, bend the glass into position, with the bend pointed straight down (so that it doesn't sag off-axis due to gravity). While bending, blow into the hose to inflate the "kink". Then place the bent glass on the table (on top of a metal screen on top of your pattern) and adjust it to be perfect, and let it cool.

Comments

[easwaran.livejournal.com]

Where are the samples?

[nibot.livejournal.com]

fixed now... sorry