Custom Glass Ideas/Designs Thread

[blankrider]

OK the torch rig suggested by @Frederick McGuire seems worth discussing. First off how many of you guys already own a vector torch or bed bath and beyond torch? Because you would need it for this rig.

Second, would you hit it while on the torch or off?

Third, would it come with a nail? Quartz or ti? Because it wouldn't fit every domeless and might be difficult to match to the specific height. Also would it be that style domeless in the picture? The bowl with a straw through it, because that is outdated and been replaced with bangers and such

and do we actually want anything worked? Clear appeals to everyone and the second you add colors or sloppy art they will only appeal to a certain crowd

 

[Erwin]

I love your knowledge of the function, these details are extremely important. I see a piece and think Damn that looks cool i want it. It's people with knowledge like yourself That save me from buying chuggy hard pulling terribly functioning pieces

Or in this case, save you from designing chuggy hard pulling pieces.

To answer who I am @VJJJV , I am english speaking and live in the united states. I have a passion for glass that many do not understand. I have been collecting glass for over a decade and have been fortunate enough to have held in my hands and/or hit some of the most sought after and expensive designs in the world of scientific glass. I have spent thousands of dollars on glass in my life. Perhaps even a thousand in the last year and I have really scaled back.

I am not one of these ballers with tons of money. It is hard for me to afford my habit. I have always felt that as much as I love and appreciate american glass the mark up is unjustified in many cases.

After finding FC and the sellers on DHgate I saw there was hope in getting good quality glass for amazing prices. These deals are almost too good to be true and we need to remember how things were and not let ourselves get greedy asking for too much and for absurdly cheap prices.

You guys are requesting some new glass tech from some of the top names that sells for thousands. Please be realistic with request. Even if we could get some of these they would be over a hundred maybe and people would bitch. Please lower your expectations a little, you are already being hooked the fuck up.

When I request a design I try to be extremely impartial to my own feelings and go solely off what is the best design for intended function and what will get the most sales across the board. Like I said before FC accounts for a very small amount of glass sales in the entire market. We cannot be the minority trying to speak for the majority. Truth is the majority combusts

The market has moved away from male joints and domes and now uses primarily domeless. Now with bangers and honey buckets available with male joints even modern day "oil rigs" are made with female joints. This is nice for everyone and helps with compatibility. For this reason almost all rigs made from this point will be either female 14mm or 18mm.

The market has moved away from straight neck. It is somewhere between sidecars, bent necks, and angled straight necks. I am pretty sure everyone would prefer one of those over straight vertical neck but there will always be some argument.

I did a decent amount of legwork to make this happen. I contacted many sellers with my glass knowledge and suggestions and it took a long time to find someone willing to listen and trust me. Lots of people think they are experts and want to say how things should be. I am not trying to speak for everyone with my own opinion. I am doing my best to give the people what they want and make sure what they want is a good idea. For example a fab egg recycler is a bad idea function wise, go watch a video @huffyglass on istagram.

There is always going to be someone who wants something made differently or disagrees with the final product. If that happens to be you in any case I am sorry that sucks but maybe the next piece will be perfect for you.... And also someone else will hate it

@blankrider, I really appreciate your approach to all this. I know many glassheads who scoff at China glass or anything less than $400 that's not made by an established American artist with a reputation. It is the rare individual that can enjoy and immerse themselves in the world of high-quality glass and yet still remain open to the pure value and functionality of inexpensive alternatives. So many glassheads like us can't seem to separate the function of scientific glass from the value of heady art. I'll pay through the nose for heady glass if I find a piece of art that I feel is worth it, but when it comes to pure functionality and what I want to smoke everyday, my focus becomes utility. I don't want to pay hundreds of extra dollars for something purely functional simply because it was made by the interns of some famous glassblower, when I could get something equally functional for a literal tenth of the price elsewhere. (e.g. the Quave club banger)

And as I and others have said before, I really appreciate all the legwork on this. The opportunity to be part of the design process for glass while still having a working bank account is rare and amazing indeed. I can sense you're understandably a bit frustrated with the amount of response and how much people are focusing on details, but I think there's just a lot of enthusiasm about finally being able to have creative input. Everyone has thought for years about the pipes they'd make if they could or the changes they'd make to the one's they have, but haven't had any outlet whatsoever for these ideas until now. I'm grateful for how much consideration you seem to give for everyone's input on this board, just don't stress yourself out about making each and every one a reality. In the end we'll all be happy with anything functional that resembles the pipes of our dreams and are affordable, and those details will be forgotten in the wake of all our awesome new glass.

To anyone concerned about the diffusion pump, the bead at the bottom is indeed glass and the height of the neck is being adjusted.

Seriously ...so damn stoked about this.

 

[Frederick McGuire]

OK the torch rig suggested by @Frederick McGuire seems worth discussing. First off how many of you guys already own a vector torch or bed bath and beyond torch? Because you would need it for this rig.

Second, would you hit it while on the torch or off?

Third, would it come with a nail? Quartz or ti? Because it wouldn't fit every domeless and might be difficult to match to the specific height. Also would it be that style domeless in the picture? The bowl with a straw through it, because that is outdated and been replaced with bangers and such

and do we actually want anything worked? Clear appeals to everyone and the second you add colors or sloppy art they will only appeal to a certain crowd

I don't actually have one of those torches, I have a chefs creme brûlée torch, but my understanding was that those vector style torches were pretty much the most common ones floating about?

Seeing as they don't seem to have any other kind of base, I'd assume you're supposed to hit it while attached to the torch?

I kinda assumed if they did run with that one they'd include a nail like the style in the pic, but Ti.
I just recently got one from Kathy, so they shouldn't be too hard to source?

I'm assuming most people would prefer quartz, as there are often doubts about the quality of Chinese Ti, but I don't know if I've seen any of them...

I'm certain there's gonna be a market for some people after heady/worked stuff, but id guess it's always gonna be a more fragmented market than those looking for all clear.

What are your thoughts on showing them a microverter?
Seems like a design they could relatively easily adapt to most of the ash catchers they already make...

 

[blankrider]

@Erwin you hit the nail on the head. I have friends who would love the way these things function and would respect them if they were the real thing but then turn their nose up at it the second they found out it was China glass and cost 1/10 the ridiculous price.

@Frederick McGuire isn't the chefs creme brulee torch another name for the bed bath and beyond torch? Sometimes abbreviated BBB torch. I own 2 of them and I believe they are dimensionally the same as the vector torch and also of similar quality. They are about $30 and work really well. Not sure how many people already own this model or a vector because they would have to go out and get one if they wanted this rig. But maybe lots of people already have one

It does seem simple and a good novelty rig. Is it made by any major companies? Does anyone have any design suggestions for it to make it any better?

 

[jambandphan03]

@Erwin Does anyone have any design suggestions for it to make it any better?

I got to use a torch rig and we found it to be a little sketchy hanging off the torch like that, esp. passing around to newbies. It seemed a finger grip was missing, to help hold it steady, but there is also another issue with how much weight is pulling on the torch nozzle, my friend's vector nozzle was starting to get a little wobbly after hanging that rig from it for a bit. It was a cool piece, but needs some kind of way to grab it while working the torch, like a ring or something for the finger to wrap into while gripping the torch, help hold the rig steady, instead of having it swinging free...

 

[VJJJV]

yeah the china glass also might just give in with the constant heat. I assume they just skip the annealing and is it even borosilicate glass? That's what it should be for that rig right?

 

[mestizo]

yeah the china glass also might just give in with the constant heat. I assume they just skip the annealing and is it even borosilicate glass? That's what it should be for that rig right?

If the glass is not annealed, it will not last nearly as long as the glass we have received, it will crack for no reason and people will be talking about it in this forums all the time.

Edit: also, boro glass is easier to work with than soft glass, it can withstand changes in temperature better than the other glass.

 

[Frederick McGuire]

@Erwin you hit the nail on the head. I have friends who would love the way these things function and would respect them if they were the real thing but then turn their nose up at it the second they found out it was China glass and cost 1/10 the ridiculous price.

@Frederick McGuire isn't the chefs creme brulee torch another name for the bed bath and beyond torch? Sometimes abbreviated BBB torch. I own 2 of them and I believe they are dimensionally the same as the vector torch and also of similar quality. They are about $30 and work really well. Not sure how many people already own this model or a vector because they would have to go out and get one if they wanted this rig. But maybe lots of people already have one

It does seem simple and a good novelty rig. Is it made by any major companies? Does anyone have any design suggestions for it to make it any better?

All I know is I got my one from Amazon, an it seems to be one size larger than the vector torch.
My one is just a head that attaches to the big cans of butane used for camping stoves.

The vector torch (and I'm guessing the BB&B torch) is a single unit that you fill with butane.

Most dabbing vids I see and most online stores seem to have that size of torch, so I assumed it was pretty popular?

 

[VJJJV]

@blankrider so are the pillar designs, diffusion pump, ms torus and klein all decided on regarding the design? Or can we make suggestion on some of these?

 

[blankrider]

I am putting the torch rig in the maybe pile for now until it gathers more interest or someone figures out how to make it less sketchy. Thanks for the help @jambandphan03

Mini pillar and diffusion pump are done and hopefully available soon.

Not sure what could be changed at all to the ms torus or klein. Those designs seem to be very solid and extremely popular even at over a thousand dollars. I don't believe there is anything we should change.

The large pillar still needs a neck figured out. I really think a bent neck coming from the top of the can would be most preferable. @EverythingsHazy has been helping with photoshop on that piece and thinks it should have a neck like the 186 and come from the side of the can. I would really like to hear feedback on this from the rest of you. Do you really like your 186 necks? How they exit the can from the side and the shape of the mouthpiece?

I have always found the 186 mouthpiece ugly but do not want to speak for everyone.

 

[FlyingLow]

I am not sold on those torch hanging rigs yet either, BUT I do suggest more bubblers and tubes begin setting their female nails at the right height so that users do not have to hold their torch while heating their nail. Seems like a pretty logical request.

 

[Mister G]

I would really like to hear feedback on this from the rest of you. Do you really like your 186 necks? How they exit the can from the side and the shape of the mouthpiece?

I have always found the 186 mouthpiece ugly but do not want to speak for everyone.

I prefer a flared trumpet style mp, thick glass. Not really interested in the torch rigs.

Are the MS, Klein and Large Pillar going to be 18mm females? I think that's been mentioned already, sorry for asking again.

 

[VJJJV]

Everyone is getting to wrapped up in their own personal opinion of what is best. I am trying to request the designs that will sell the best and only a single model of each design. Everyone is not going to get exactly what they want. Sorry

There are a good selection of pieces that I am trying to have produced. There will be something for everyone. There does not need to be different joint and neck options for every model.

FC-187 is 18mm female and sidecar mouthpiece

Mini pillar will be 14mm female and sidecar/straight angled mouthpiece

Large pillar will be 18mm female and different mouthpiece. Perhaps bent neck

diffusion pump is 14mm male and bubbler style mouthpiece

ms torus and klein designs are bent neck

and more designs to come....

I don't think the torus and klein joints where mentioned, but large pillar is 18 female

I'm for the sidecar on the large pillar. I actually believe that could work much better than expected.

 

[EverythingsHazy]

The neck and mouthpiece from the official stereo matrix is fine too. As is a different mouthpiece. I just don't think anything should come from the top of the can. It blocks the view into the can, as well as the front of it while you are hitting it that way. And having. To use a mirror or something to see into the can is hateful. The large pillar is the fc 186 for a reason. Because it is like the 186 but with pillar percs.

The other pieces can be sidecars or bent necks, and come out of the top of the can, or whatever else anyone else wants. The smaller pillar piece is going to have the mouthpiece coming from the top anyway. No need to make them both that way. If anyone doesn't like the fc-186 they can skip it, but all the designs I made or it so far have gotten a bunch if likes within a few minutes and a bunch if "I'll be buying". So that speaks for itself.

And yea that one is gonna be 18mm female.

 

[NickDlow]

I too personally would not be interested in a torch rig.

I'll prob be getting doubles of every other piece as i did with the fc-187. As far as the MP, I like the original 186 or a sidecar. Both are good IMO. I forgot who said it but I like the idea of the slant where the neck comes out of the can to prevent the water pooling at the bottom of the neck. As long as that is implemented idc what the MP/neck looks like lol.

 

[blankrider]

I understand that some people like the 186. Some people love it. Maybe we could work on remaking it and having it regularly available for sale since yingmin has been having difficulty. We could call it the FC-186

The full size pillar will not be a sidecar in order to create some variation between it and the mini.

I don't believe the majority of people purchasing a pillar want it to be crossed with the 186. Even if the neck does come from the side of the can this is the style mouthpiece preferred by the community unless I am mistaken.

 

[EverythingsHazy]

I too personally would not be interested in a torch rig.

I'll prob be getting doubles of every other piece as i did with the fc-187. As far as the MP, I like the original 186 or a sidecar. Both are good IMO. I forgot who said it but I like the idea of the slant when it comes out of the can to prevent the water pooling at the bottom of the MP. As long as that is implemented idc what the MP looks like lol.

here we go. Fixed the mouthpiece and neck to a nicer one, and made the angle change on the connection for the water bubbling problem.

 

[NickDlow]

here we go. Fixed the mouthpiece and neck to a nicer one, and made the angle change on the connection for the water bubbling problem.

that's it thanks @EverythingsHazy. also is the plan to keep the matrix with the pillar and this will be called the fc-186? am i on topic here lol

 

[blankrider]

@EverythingsHazy way better! Can you make the perc a little smaller and raise the joint up just a tad?

edit: thanks for fixing the perc

 

[Oglop]

I don't believe the majority of people purchasing a pillar want it to be crossed with the 186. Even if the neck does come from the side of the can this is the style mouthpiece preferred by the community unless I am mistaken.

I can't speak for other people, but what i like personally about the GB-186/original Mobius mouthpiece is the placement. I really like how it looks when the mouthpiece is connected at the back of the piece instead of on top.
The mouthpiece in your picture looks good, but not if it were to be placed on top of the bong i think.

 

[EverythingsHazy]

@EverythingsHazy way better! Can you make the perc a little smaller and raise the joint up just a tad?

Yea, I had used the wrong perc in that pic by accident, so I fixed it (edited in the post). Ill omove the joint up a little.

 

[BoogerMan]

@EverythingsHazy And maybe do a J style reinforcement under the joint connection since it is getting raised up more. Especially because the mini pillar has the reinforcement above the joint connection like you have there, so putting the joint reinforcement below will help make the large pillar look more different than the mini pillar. So the large pillar joint should be Like this one:

Another thing I liked to see, ice on top of a pillar. Ignore that weird arm on there.

@blankrider I agree with you I think most people like that style mouthpiece you just posted (see below) over the 186 style. I also think the thicker tubing on the mp you posted would look way better on the large pillar than the 186 mp tubing. The 186 mp tubing on there just looks weird and too narrow to me IMO.

I don't believe the majority of people purchasing a pillar want it to be crossed with the 186. Even if the neck does come from the side of the can this is the style mouthpiece preferred by the community unless I am mistaken.

 

[blankrider]

Yeah I want us to all be clear in what parts we are referring to. It seems like people are pulling towards what I would refer to a bubbler style neck. It comes from the side of the can near the top. Opposed to a bong neck which comes from the top.

Then the part that you actually put your lips on is the mouthpiece. Some necks taper inwards to a mouthpiece with smaller hole like the D020-W which you put your lips over. Some necks flare out and have a mouthpiece you put your lips inside like the 187.

Not really sure what to call the stereo matrix 186 mouthpiece. It is kind of its own thing.

But it is important we are specific about the part when we refer to it and pictures always help

edit: @EverythingsHazy I think that last one might be the winner

 

[EverythingsHazy]

Yeah I want us to all be clear in what parts we are referring to. It seems like people are pulling towards what I would refer to a bubbler style neck. It comes from the side of the can near the top. Opposed to a bong neck which comes from the top.

Then the part that you actually put your lips on is the mouthpiece. Some necks taper inwards to a mouthpiece with smaller hole like the D020-W which you put your lips over. Some necks flare out and have a mouthpiece you put your lips inside like the 187.

Not really sure what to call the stereo matrix 186 mouthpiece. It is kind of its own thing.

But it is important we are specific about the part when we refer to it and pictures always help

edit: @EverythingsHazy I think that last one might be the winner

Yea, so many different parts, it's like a mix-and-match.

@blankrider Thanks For the mouthpiece, just make sure its big enough to put your lips into. Doesn't have to be huge, but just comfortable like the 186 one (but nicer looking) or the flared style which is also nice.

 

[BoogerMan]

@EverythingsHazy check out my post above blankriders about the joint reinforcement. I think to help make the large and mini pillars look different we should do the large pillar with the joint reinforcement below the joint connection since the mini has it above the joint connection.

And I don't think we have to worry about water getting up into the mouthpiece tube so I don't think we need to worry about the angle the mouthpiece is connected to the can. I say this because the top chamber on the peyote pillar doesn't really stack bubbles. As soon as the bubbles come out of the pillar they pop they don't really stack.

Thanks for doing all the photo editing on this piece