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Bicycle Glass

Glassblowing Experts

Bicycle Glass Co. was founded in 2016 by David Royce and Michael Boyd, two professional glass experts. Bicycle Glass is primarily a lighting company, committed to quality, sustainability, and affordability. All Bicycle Glass products are made of high-quality, recycled glass and are hand-blown by a dedicated team of artisans. The studio is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by conserving energy in all of its production. Using renewable wind energy to offset all electricity usage, the studio is actively working toward the goal of carbon neutrality. Bicycle Glass believes that high-quality, handmade glass products should be within reach for everyone.

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Q&A Comments (8)

How do you polish and buff glass?
To polish and buff glass effectively, begin with coarser diamond abrasives and progress to finer ones, utilizing a spinning flat lapidary wheel while ensuring proper safety gear. In a production setting, a laser with a grinding disc and water can be used, starting with a coarse diamond grit and gradually advancing to achieve the desired smoothness. Progress through different grit sizes, with an 80 grit being significantly rough and a 600 or 1200 grit representing a very fine stage. The final step involves a felt wheel and cerium oxide for a full polish, eliminating any remaining scratches. Consistent adherence to safety measures is crucial throughout the entire process.
What grit should I use when polishing a glass?
The level of smoothness desired determines the grit to use when polishing glass. Advancing through different grit sizes is the key, starting with an 80 grit representing a significantly rough stage, while a 600 or 1200 grit signifies an extremely fine level. The progression in grit sizes allows for achieving either a buff or a highly polished edge based on your desired outcome.
Can I melt and mix glass with a torch?
The ability to melt glass together depends on the type of glass used. The term "glass" can encompass a broad range of materials, but different types of glass are often employed in the context of techniques such as flameworking. It typically involves working with diverse glasses, ranging from borosilicate glass to softer varieties that can be manipulated with torches. The fundamental process remains consistent: if two compatible glasses are heated with a torch, they can be fused. However, it is essential to ensure compatibility, as attempting to fuse incompatible or markedly different types of glass may result in cracking due to varying shrinkage rates.
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Co-authored Articles (15)

How to Cut a Glass Bottle in Half with String, a Glass Cutter, a Dremel & More

Plus, how to score and remove designs and shapes from your bottleYou may have seen vases, candles, cups and more made from old bottles and wondered how the glass was cut. The process is simple, and with a few steps, you ...

How to Cut Glass in a Straight Line or On a Curve

Plus, learn how to cut a glass jar using fire Whether setting a window pane, creating a stained glass mosaic, or cutting a jar for another project, cutting glass is a handy skill that isn't difficult to pick up. With the...

How to Sand and Buff Glass Edges for a Smooth Finish

Use sandpaper, a Dremel, or silicon carbide for your next glass projectIf you're planning on repurposing old glass or reusing a piece in your glass collection, it's important to smooth out any chipped or jagged edges. Th...

How to

Cut Wine Bottles for Crafts

A great way to recycle old wine bottles is to use them for home decorations. However, if you need to change their shape for the craft, you'll find that cutting them takes a lot of practice. Moreover, since you're dealing...

A Complete Guide to Uranium Glass: Identification, Value, & More

Everything you need to know about this unique type of vintage glass The distinctive green glow makes uranium glass pieces a favorite among collectors. But how do you know if you've got genuine uranium glass or just a cle...

How to

Cut Tempered Glass

Because it’s a type of safety glass, tempered glass cannot be cut using the same methods as you’d use to cut ordinary, untempered glass. If you must cut through a pane of tempered glass, you’ll need to heat it to n...

How to Melt Glass Using a Microwave Kiln or Regular Kiln

A beginner’s guide to glass melting with kilns Melting glass is an exciting way to use old glass pieces and to form impressive, decorative art. Melting glass requires either a regular or microwave kiln, a firing profi...

Simple Glass Fusing Instructions for Beginning Fusers

Everything you need to know before you start your first glass fusing projectThe art of fusing different glasses together can be used to create sculptures, jewelry, dishware, and other beautiful pieces. Despite the intric...

How to

Glue Glass

Do you have a broken glass vase or want to add some pizazz to your next glass art project? With some extra preparation or specialized glue, you'll be able to complete those glass-based projects without any trouble at al...

How to

Solder Stained Glass

Stained glass is a great way to make a beautiful ornament, picture frame, or window decoration. Learning how to solder stained glass can open the door to a lot of great craft ideas. Soldering can be dangerous, so it's im...

How to

Repair Broken Glass

Learn to mend cracked glass without hiring a professional Broken glass is a bummer, but often you can fix it. For a broken window, remove the old broken glass and replace it with a new windowpane. If you broke glassware,...

How to

Cut Glass Circles

You've probably seen a movie where a burglar places a fancy glass cutting tool against a glass case or window, scores a perfect circle, taps it out, and makes a getaway with the jewels. Well, it's not quite that simple t...

How to

Bend Glass

Bending a glass pane or bottle to a precise shape is not feasible without professional equipment. However, glass rods and tubing is easy to bend, and frequently done by artists and people working in laboratories. All you...

How to

Cast Glass

Glass casting is a process where you place glass in a mold to create a specific glass sculpture or design.. 6 December 2023. The mold must be placed in a kiln to fuse the glass together and form your desired item. Castin...

How to

Do Glass Painting from a Pattern Tracing

Glass painting can be intimidating, but it does not have to be. If you use a pattern to trace from, it can be simple and fun. This article will show you how to get started in the art of glass painting.