Q & A Mondays are answers to reader questions submitted via email or social media. All personal information has been removed for privacy reasons and messages have been edited for clarity. You may submit your own questions through the About/Contact page.
Q: Hi, Jodi! I have enjoyed your classes in Curious Mondo and have tried some of your molds. Fun! Thank you for all your info and fun instruction! I am looking at the wet tile saw you use at Harbor Freight site, https://www.harborfreight.com/10-in-wet-tile-saw-with-sliding-table-69275.html, and this 10″ wet saw does not seem to open at the top. Would it be more versatile to have a saw which open at the top to cut different size bottles as well as chinaware like bowls and cups (I make mosaics)?
For example,
https://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-wet-benchtop-tile-saw-57087.html
or
https://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-portable-wet-cut-tile-saw-69231.html
Thank you in advance!
A: Hi there, one of my regrets was not upgrading to a 10″ saw earlier, I used a 7″ for years, and the 10″ is a game changer, I would definitely recommend it over a smaller saw. I use the smaller one in classes because the big one is too big to move easily. 🙂. This is the saw blade I use. I also got the stand for the saw, so I can roll it in and out of the garage. I also cut ceramics on it all the time. Hope that helps. https://www.mkdiamond.com/tile/bld_glass_215gl.html
Q: Equipment recommendation – kiln for bottles and bottom moulds. Thanks.
A: Hi there, the key features to look for are a digital controller and enough room for a bottle to lie flat on the shelf. I own a Skutt and a Denver, and they are both good kilns. It doesn’t seem like there is a huge difference among the different manufacturers, so I don’t have a specific model that I like the best. Kilnfrog.com is a great company if you end up ordering one. Hope that helps. Jodi
Q: Hi Jodi
I’m listening to a CD I bought from Curious Mondo where in one segment you are using a round tempered piece of glass. You said something about as long as you don’t have to cut it. When I tried to get tempered glass window out of the frame it ended up smashing into smithereens. How did you get the circle of class? Is there a way of cutting template class I couldn’t cut a piece I had I tried and tried
A: Hi there; They were tempered table top rounds, manufactured as a circle. Sadly I don’t have a way to cut tempered glass without it smashing to bits either. I wish I did, it would make my life easier. If the tempered glass piece will fit in your kiln, you can anneal and untemper the glass, and THEN you can cut it.