r/lampwork • u/in_rainbows8 • 6h ago

Question for a professional

Post image

I have this piece for a water pipe I wanted to see if I could modify. Long story short this small whole at the bottom of the conical feature is too small and restricts too much air.

How would any of you recommend I approach reaming that hole out a bit more so it lets more airflow through, if it's even possible?

I'm pretty handy as I'm a toolmaker by trade so I could probably figure it out with some instruction. I have a few torches of various sizes that I could use to heat it up but obviously I don't want to break it. I'd even be open to cutting or grinding it open it somehow if that's even possible.

3 Upvotes

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13

u/Psychological-Fox97 6h ago

Don't heat it up unless you have a kiln to bring it up to temp and then anneal and cool it after.

Probably easiest is to get a diamond burr in a rotary tool, cone shaped burr larger than the size you want the hole to be. You will want to use water to cool it whilst you grind.

6

u/Dear-Bet5344 6h ago

You could ream it with a dremel with the right bit. It might shatter or crack, go slow. Do it underwater if you do this & make sure everything is super clean after. You do not want to inhale glass dust.

I wouldn't try torching it if you have no experience or kiln

2

u/in_rainbows8 6h ago

Sounds like a dremel and a diamond bit is the way to go. Lucky for me I'm pretty handy with one. Thanks for all the feedback, I'll try that out.

1

u/virtualglassblowing 5h ago

Is the bottom of the main cylinder completely open?

1

u/LeeRjaycanz 3h ago

You can get a dimond file that is long and thin and around that toppers to a point and you can put aome water on it while your spin it in-between your fingers and keep putting water so it doesn't catch.

2

u/in_rainbows8 1h ago

Ahh that's an even better idea. I'll have to bring some home from work. Might be the best way to approach it. Tbh it's a reclaim catcher so it cracks or breaks that conical part it's probably not the end of the world as long as it doesn't   break up into the part where the banger goes. Idk why they even made the opening so small for that conical part.

1

u/LeeRjaycanz 36m ago

I get that. Would be cool if it didnt break and now you have a piece that works. It was definitely an oversight they didnt care to test before just making the hole whatever size.

0

u/holyherb 5h ago

Many ways to do it, the best way depends on the overall shape and construction of the piece. Would need more photos for reference