Good vs Bad Glass
- Thread starter Galactus
- Start date
NoddingDonkey
Oil, Glass & I'm a bit of an ass
Chinese glass has very low quality control. There are two ways "chinese/slave glass" is referenced: as a building block material (rods/tubes) that are blown domestically, or fully manufactured end products produced 100% in China (involves more slave labor and even further reduces quality)
Morality aside, "bad" glass comes from bad starting materials. Like this:
That is supposed to be China White from an import glass supplier. That purplish smudge was sticky and created a bizarre fume when torched. Everything that was made from this material cracked.
How to avoid this: do not buy import tubes/rods and do not trust import pipe makers to be doing much quality control.
Schott & Pyrex are two "brand name" tubing suppliers that have an amazing domestic track record for durability. HVY glass (not my fav brand but cheap and quality: use 9mil Schott in 8-arm tree beakers that retail for $300). Albeit plumbing is changing rapidly these days but for a traditional stem and perc piece...
Artists names or studio names are Brands: research the brand before buying. I'd say for a $500 price point you can get something cutting edge functional and durable enough to last you at least 3 years if you're half-way careful with it and a lifetime if you respect it. Don't go more elaborate than you need to if you're putting your dollars towards function rather than art. You're paying for all those marbles that might break off one day.
I'm sure someone will expand on that.
Morality aside, "bad" glass comes from bad starting materials. Like this:
That is supposed to be China White from an import glass supplier. That purplish smudge was sticky and created a bizarre fume when torched. Everything that was made from this material cracked.
How to avoid this: do not buy import tubes/rods and do not trust import pipe makers to be doing much quality control.
Schott & Pyrex are two "brand name" tubing suppliers that have an amazing domestic track record for durability. HVY glass (not my fav brand but cheap and quality: use 9mil Schott in 8-arm tree beakers that retail for $300). Albeit plumbing is changing rapidly these days but for a traditional stem and perc piece...
Artists names or studio names are Brands: research the brand before buying. I'd say for a $500 price point you can get something cutting edge functional and durable enough to last you at least 3 years if you're half-way careful with it and a lifetime if you respect it. Don't go more elaborate than you need to if you're putting your dollars towards function rather than art. You're paying for all those marbles that might break off one day.
I'm sure someone will expand on that.
NoddingDonkey
Oil, Glass & I'm a bit of an ass
My post was 100% in reference to construction quality. Better in the sense of hits and such is largely a matter of opinion. Some people love recyclers, some people like ice pinches, some folks are diffusion fanatics. I would highly advise you watch "Degenerate Art: The Art & Culture of Glass Pipes" available on iTunes or Netflix (I am not affiliated with Slinger, and am plugging his film for free because its good, period) Let google and social media be your guide to the curiosity and questions spawned from that film.
jambandphan03
in flavor country
Sickwindsor
Member
Lenz Joints & Schott rods and tubes. Quality to last 50 years.
SD_haze
Well-Known Member
Why not Schott rods, tubes and joints?
Sickwindsor
Member
SCHOTT Makes Boro Artistic glass used for artistic creations however it is still Borosilicate glass. They also have a brand Duran. Lenz in Germany takes Duran stocks and builds the joints.
http://www.us.schott.com/tubing/med.../english/schott-tubing_brochure_duran_usa.pdf
http://www.lenz-laborglas.de/en/ground-joints.html
PS. I got this information from the Mobuis webpage as to the materials he uses.
I really wish more manufactures join the discussion.
http://www.us.schott.com/tubing/med.../english/schott-tubing_brochure_duran_usa.pdf
http://www.lenz-laborglas.de/en/ground-joints.html
PS. I got this information from the Mobuis webpage as to the materials he uses.
I really wish more manufactures join the discussion.
IMHO SCHOTT artistic sucks
it is 2nd quality tubing that has lines/checks/air bubbles
High quality chinese tubing ( yes there is such a thing ) out performs boro artistic
I have used both ( in fact i have 2 pallets of schott sitting collecting dust )
I have yet to use 1st quality schott but it must be tits for the price they are asking.
Simax is also pretty damn nice but uber expensive
I have seen great stuff come out of China/India being here in SoCal imports have a huge effect on my market - they keep stepping up their game and make nicer and nicer stuff for cheaper and cheaper
take the chinese white for example - i was given a case by my supplier 2 years ago
stuff was garbage - couldn't make anything with it at all - works fine on the lathe but blows up in the kiln
the COE was very inconsistant
fast forward 2 years
this new white is very stable and workable - comparable to Chinese Cobalt .
so getting back to the point i think the main difference is between the buyers taste/budget
if you want something unique get a custom heady from a independent artist on instagram or something
if you want something cutting edge get something from one of the smaller labels : toro/hitman etc
if you want cheap but functional get an import, just be informed and know what you are buying - its sad to see guys dropping coin on an import, thinking it was domestic made.
it is 2nd quality tubing that has lines/checks/air bubbles
High quality chinese tubing ( yes there is such a thing ) out performs boro artistic
I have used both ( in fact i have 2 pallets of schott sitting collecting dust )
I have yet to use 1st quality schott but it must be tits for the price they are asking.
Simax is also pretty damn nice but uber expensive
I have seen great stuff come out of China/India being here in SoCal imports have a huge effect on my market - they keep stepping up their game and make nicer and nicer stuff for cheaper and cheaper
take the chinese white for example - i was given a case by my supplier 2 years ago
stuff was garbage - couldn't make anything with it at all - works fine on the lathe but blows up in the kiln
the COE was very inconsistant
fast forward 2 years
this new white is very stable and workable - comparable to Chinese Cobalt .
so getting back to the point i think the main difference is between the buyers taste/budget
if you want something unique get a custom heady from a independent artist on instagram or something
if you want something cutting edge get something from one of the smaller labels : toro/hitman etc
if you want cheap but functional get an import, just be informed and know what you are buying - its sad to see guys dropping coin on an import, thinking it was domestic made.
NewVape
What a guy!
I wanted to chime in here while on the subject of domestic vs import glass. In this case it has to do with the location of the glassblower. This is just a casual observation, lately I've seen more and more talented glass blowers (like Jahnpixel) offering good looking, really well made, functional pieces that are made locally (or at least in the US). Honestly some of my favorite pieces were made by people who live and work in my home area, and those pieces did not break the bank either. Most of the pieces I use every day can be had for the 125-200 range. I've also been able to find great glass from blowers in different states who were more then willing to send me some of their best work. At this point I've found myself becoming a promoter of supporting you local glassblowers. With a little looking you can get a really nice piece, and a great place to start is right here on the FC Glass Thread