A Fantasy question, not OT!!!

You know, I'd be interested in the answer to this question too...just for future reference of course! Arleen

I'll give it a go since I asked this question myself about a year ago. I have taken no formal classes and that has worked for me. What helped the most was books and then a video or two. The books gave me the technical info while the videos actually showed me how other people held rods, how slow to turn, etc. That was a huge turning point for me.

I feel if you aren't sure if you'll like the craft you shouldn't invest in too many gadgets at first. If you start off small and decide you don't like it then there isn't a lot of cash out the door. You can always sell everything you purchased at a good price because these things depreciate very little.

Here is what I would purchase to try things out: Hothead torch $39 Didymium glasses $30-40 Fiber Blanket $10-15 Mandrels $6 per 12 (estimated) Needle nose pliers (varies) Bead release $6 Glass Starter Pack (price varies) Hose clamp & vise to hold propane/mapp gas (under $5) Propane $3.99 for two bottles Mapp $6.99 and up for one bottle

You can always batch anneal using someone else's kiln or a studio kiln for a while if you have someone in your area. Or you may chose to not anneal the first beads. It's up to you. I had a kiln starting out for fusing and I didn't include that in the estimate.

Now this is what I've moved up to since all that: Bobcat torch $199 Oxygen Concentrator $349 Paragon Caldera kiln with digital controller $750 Large Propane Tank $39 Hoses, flash back arrestor, etc. $100 I was given my regulator but they are about $100 Didymium shield $150 - I love this shield!

I did use the proceeds from bead sales to pay for a lot of the equipment. I sold my new/old kiln and that paid for almost 1/2 of the new one. All my eBay money went to paying for the new kiln. I got the shield as a Christmas present, but everything else was purchased using funds from bead sales.

Dang, I forgot to mention books.

Making Glass Beads $21 - very good Corina's Passing the Flame $75 - Excellent & I feel a must have Beads of Glass $29 - Another great book, plenty of eye candy

I would personally purchase Corina's book first if I could. If not, Cindy Jenkin's Making Glass Beads is my other first choice. I got Corina's for my birthday.

Thanks Starlia, for all of the information- it really is very helpful to see a breakdown of the supplies needed! IT was very nice of you to take the time to do it! Arleen

Not a problem. I can of course add tools and everything else I have, but the thing I use the most is my pliers. I'm a simple girl.

Ok here goes. I bought a used torch and oxygen concentrator and tools - pretty much everything - used.

I spent about $1300 getting my workshop set up - this included installing a window, a ventilation system, painting, putting stainless steel on my workbench, buying a big shelf and pegboards for the walls. (I still need to figure out a better glass storage system)

I spent $350 on a one weekend long course (and expect to be spending more this year on class(es))

I spent $1300 on a (all used) kiln, torch, misc. tools, large supply of glass, pixie dust, enamels. I think this is a great deal - I think it would have been about $2000 if I'd bought new and I probably wouldn't have gotten as much glass.

I spent $250 on additional glass in the new colors

I spent $200 on an oxy con.

I spent $30 for propane/tank

I spent $50 for hoses to run the tank outside

I spent $75 for Corina's Passing the flame book. And probably another $100 on Cindy Jenkins'2 books.

I spent $100 on good protective eye glasses

And I'm sure there are a few more hundred that went somewhere but I can't think of it at the moment. There are about $500 worth of tools and glass I want to buy right now, but have not gotten up the courage to spend that much again so soon. But I will ;-)

Hope that helps!

Oh yeah, I meant to share a photo of my lampwork studio:

Depends where you live too Candace.. but I'd be interested in some of these answers too..

Mavis

Hey Starlia,

Do you have the ISBN for those books? Makes it easier...

Ta, Mavis

I don't have making glass beads anymore, but here are the others.

Passing the Flame 0-9726602-0-8 Beads of Glass 0-9719643-0-0

Starlia

Making Glass Beads is 1-887374-16-7

numbers! You really gave me a good idea of when I'll be able to start my forays into this art (*cries*...too long to think about) and the sort of things that are needed. I realised belatedly that this type of inquiry must have been made at least a couple times, so thanks also, to everyone for putting up with what must have been a general repeat of information.

Hmm..perhaps if I keep my eyes and ears open, I can aquire one item per year for the next..oohh..thirty years or so, and then I'll be all set! :)

Candace

Thank you ladies... I'll look in the library first, but, otherwise, I'll try to get them at the bookstore.

Ta very much..

Mavis

Thanks Roxan :) I was supposed to get out there today to make beads but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe tomorrow....

If I remember correctly, I spent about $4000 getting set up with everything, including a bunch of glass. This includes my studio table and chair, the ventilation equipment, a kiln with a digital controller, my glass storage, my torch and all my tools. It's definitely not a cheap hobby, but if it's what you want to do long term, it's not an expensive investment.

I should elaborate....

I have a stainless steel table that is about 8 feet by 5 feet, and cost me $200 to have it made. The ventilation was about $350, and then we paid a neighbor who is a carpenter to install it - about $100. The kiln with a digital controller was about $900, but can be bought for about $750 now. My concentrator was $300 including shipping. I bought the deluxe beadmaker's kit from Frantz, which included my Nortel Minor Burner torch - that was about $800. The rest was glass, glass storage and miscellaneous stuff to get started. I remember I had a budget of $4000 (from DH's retention bonus from work) and I used every dime. :) I did take one class, but that was a gift. I also apprecticed for a month with Paulette Insall - another beadmaker that I knew from this group. One on one classes range from about $100 to several hundred dollars, so that should be factored in if desired.

More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Glass Beadmaking by Jim Kervin - another must-have. About $30-$40 if I remember correctly. Much, much better than Cindy Jenkins' first book, IMHO.

I saw Kervin's book, but to be honest there is so much to read it really is hard for someone like me to pick up and take off. Does that make sense?

I think his book is excellent, but I don't think it's for everyone.