Creating Texture – Carving

In an earlier post we talked about using recycled textured glass in artwork.  There are also other ways to get a texture in your artwork.  Carving the raw glass with a variety of diamond bits is an effective way to get a variety of texture.

These pieces were all carved using raw 3/8″ stock (broken table tops) and then slumped very slowly to 1385 degrees F.  The slumping firing also fire polished the carvings for a more finished look.  The texture was dictated by the shape of the bits that I was using.

I use a flex-shaft tool, similar to a dremel, in conjunction with a water feed to carve.  The photo below is the water feed set up, I use very small surgical tubing and use gravity to pull the water down the tube (you need a small syringe or dropper to suck the air out of the tube and get the drip started).  The water drips down the tube and I can position it just above where I am carving.  The second tube, to the right, is doing the same exact thing, but using gravity to pull the water from the tray into a waste bucket.  Even further off to the right is the GFI where I plug in the flex-shaft.  If you are using electricity and water, you should also use a GFI.

Carving Water Feed Set Up

This piece is 3/8″ thick recycled float glass, carved with a disc shaped bit:

Carved Modern Recycled Glass Vessel

Carved Modern Recycled Glass Vessel

Thick Disk Diamond Bit for Carving

Thick Disk Diamond Bit for Carving

This piece is also 3/8″ thick recycled float, two different bits were used to make this texture:

Carved Recycled Glass Vessel

Carved Recycled Glass Vessel

Double Groove and Round End Bit for Carving

Double Groove and Round End Bit for Carving

This one is one of my own personal favorites.  This was carved with a drop shaped bit:

Carved Modern Recycled Glass Vessel "Rainslip"

Drop shaped diamond bit for carving

Drop shaped diamond bit for carving

This piece also used two bits for texture:

Carved Recycled Glass Triangle

Carved Recycled Glass Triangle

Cup shaped and Double Groove Diamond Bits for Carving

Cup shaped and Double Groove Diamond Bits for Carving

This piece is 3/8″ thick recycled table top.  The bit used for carving this one is a thin disk:

Carved Recycled Glass Vessel - Bronze

Carved Recycled Glass Vessel - Bronze

Thin Disk diamond bit for carving

Thin Disk diamond bit for carving

 

And, finally, another recycled table top piece with a carved herringbone pattern (also known as tire tracks.)  This one used a thin round end bit.

Carved Recycled Glass Herringbone Plate

Carved Recyced Glass Herringbone Plate

 

Small round end diamond bit for carving.

Small round end diamond bit for carving.

 

Bottle Glass Fish Sun Charm

What’s a Sun Charm?  A little something that’s more than a sun catcher, but not quite a wind chime.  I was in the mood to do some fusing and also use up a bunch of my jewelry making stash, so here we go!  Materials: Fused Bottle Glass Fish Jump Rings Split Rings...
Read More

Lentil Bead Molds – Instructions

Lentil Bead Molds – Instructions Materials needed: Lentil Bead Mold (any size, or ALL the sizes for extra fun) Kiln Wash Glass frit Step 1. Prepare the mandrels. Each bead kit ships with a dozen mandrels and a tube of bead release, so you’re all set to go when your...
Read More

Shelf Paper Burnout Time Lapse

If you’ve ever wondered why your shelf paper smells when you fire it, you are in luck!  We’ve made a time lapse video showing the organic binder burning out of the shelf paper as it fires.  Notice how the paper turns black and then white again, when the paper is white...
Read More