Glass molding...

Wulfgar Ullicsson · Post by **Wulfgar Ullicsson** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 12:39 pm

Does anyone have a link to a site re: Malding Glass? I found a great picture of period Tafl pieces made from glass, and I'd love to try it out... I'm guessing I'll need a crucible and a mold, but how do I make the mold?

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"Wulfgar spake, the Wendles' chieftain,
whose might of mind to many was known..."

Munz · Post by **Munz** » Mon Feb 26, 2001 3:36 pm

Are you wanting to pour/cast a piece of glass or is the piece mold blown? If it's cast you can make the mold out of anything that is not flamable, although some are better than others. I would have to see the piece in question to give you a better explanation. I spent a number of years blowing/working glass, and though I'm not a master, I'm reasonably competent. You are going to need a lot more than just a crucible to accomplish even a simple vessel or casting.

Post a link to the piece and I'll try to help all I can.

Munz

Wulfgar Ullicsson · Post by **Wulfgar Ullicsson** » Tue Feb 27, 2001 1:57 pm

Poured...

Here's the link...
http://user.tninet.se/~jgd996c/hnefatafl/Tafl1.jpg

Looks simple enough, but what do I know??

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"Wulfgar spake, the Wendles' chieftain,
whose might of mind to many was known..."

Patrick · Post by **Patrick** » Tue Feb 27, 2001 8:39 pm

Well, I only do lampworking, but I could make those with a marble mold and a torch flame. The first few might not be the greatest, but after I got the right feel for amount of glass to gather, I would be able to do them fairly quickly. (My current marble mold is far too small for this type of thing, I'd need to make a larger one.)

Look in the library for a book by Cindy Jenkins called _Making Glass Beads_ and turn to the section on making marbles. Answers lots of questions. Also, check with any local stained-glass shops for local bead makers. They will have the skills needed to do this and may be able to give you pointers.

Looking at the picture you linked to, I have to say this was probably not cast glass. There are punty marks on some of the pieces. That is sort of a dead giveaway that you are doing free-form work, not molding. Additionally, the black spiral trails in many of the pieces like this can easily be applied in the way I would make them, but not in a mold. Think about it. How would you pour in a spiral, then pour the main body of the glass? Look at the Regia Anglorum page on games for a color picture of similar pieces. http://www.regia.org/games.htm

I personally think your best bet will be lampworking. There are some attempts to replicate authentic glass-working methods, but I just use a torch and anneal in a kiln. Look for the book I mentioned. It really is a good source of all kinds of info. Then try it. See this page for an attempt to replicate Viking-era glass-working methods. http://www.regia.org/maccus.htm

If you want modern flameworking advice, feel free to e-mail me. fnpfw@uaf.edu

-Patrick

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 02-28-2001).]

Brandr hinn Rusli · Post by **Brandr hinn Rusli** » Wed Feb 28, 2001 8:51 am

If you want another option for period Tafl pieces, Elk Antler. Saw some period ones this past weekend at the Full Circle Exhibit (Put on by the goverment of Newfoundland for the L'anse aux Meadows project).

Might be a little easier to do, the other period option is wood, turned on something as small as your hand drill.

If you want more Tafl info, let me know, a local guy here has his laurel in Norse games.

Brandr hinn Rusli