read this if you are ordering a TCB…………
by admin on Oct.05, 2011, under Uncategorized
I will continue making Torch Control Boxes, there will be a few changes. Delivery will be made 2-6 weeks AFTER payment has cleared. All custom orders are still welcome. I am not able to get these out as fast as people seem to want them. I will post here and TMP when I have finished product on hand. I do not always have all components in stock at all times. Sometimes I have to wait on parts. This is beyond my control. I appreciate all the business you guys have given me. I hope to continue making you nice tools for years to come. Please click on the store link in the upper right hand corner to order.
Taking a few days off
by admin on Jul.19, 2011, under Uncategorized
I will not be shipping any TCBs until after the 1st of August. I will still be processing orders. Production and shipping are on hold until key components are available.
Thank you
LTD
DFO!!!
by admin on May.21, 2011, under Uncategorized
Building a bunch of TCBs for the DFO right now. I will have event prices (read DISCOUNT!!)
I will have standard on/off models, and few with oxy bypass (Dosh box), I will also have a few six stud (three stage) boxes on hand. If anyone wants something specific let me know. Oxy bypass on a six stud? I can do that. Pilot light so you can use TCB to operate your cradle burner with your foot. In-line needle valves to control that burner with out valves? I can do that.
If you have an idea for a custom option and you are not sure if I can do it, just call and ask.
Can’t wait to meet more of you folks.
Back from the road
by admin on Apr.08, 2011, under Uncategorized
Sorry I have not been writing much lately. I have been on a road trip to Wisconsin, Illinois, Montana… Most of interstate 94 from the west coast to the Midwest. It has been a blast. Hit shops I had never seen before, saw friends I had not seen in a while, put faces to names. Did a little artwork, learned a few things. All in all it was a good time. I want to thank my clients, friends, and the random folks I met on the road. Without you guys this trip would not have been near as successful.
I had almost forgotten how much I love the freedom of a road trip. I spent a good amount of time in the late 90’s trying to live out ‘on the road’ but I was a few decades late. I traveled with a back pack, sturdy boots and a big black marker back then,(signs work better than your thumb, learned that in a hurry). This time cross country I was in a big ol ford van with my girls my ,dog and Grumpa. I think I like driving the van better than hitchin rides. And I have to say hotel rooms are, for the most part a better place to sleep than the random punk rockers couch.
One of the great things about traveling around is still seeing random live local music. I stumbled across a band that I believe was called the Invaders(?) They were an Iron Maiden cover band. I almost miss Madison nightlife. It was a great show, tiny bar, lots of people, no shoving or macho B.S. Just a bunch of aging rockers, cheap beer, facial tattoos, cute Midwest girls and a few too many overly exaggerated handlebar mustaches. During the daytime I had an amazing time checking out the Madison Children’s Museum. It was mind blowing. We spent three or so hours there and still had not played with all the goodies they have to play with. I highly suggest visiting with plenty of time to spare if you end up in Madison with kids. Schedule more time than you think you will need.
Golden Gate Tubing
by admin on Mar.10, 2011, under Reviews
I have been using Golden Gate tubing for a few months now here and there in some of my work. I just got some of the single color tubing, “TAG EXP #1″ and “Full Metal Jacket”. I am very impressed at the quality of this tubing. There is definitely some diameter and wall thickness variation and a little twist in some of it, but it is considerably better than some of the stuff I picked up from earlier batches. It is getting nicer all the time. The ends are a lot nicer than they used to be, I was told they have new tools for scoring and breaking down the pulls.
Full metal Jacket
The Full Metal Jacket and TAG EXP #1 tubing I have used have had very few bubbles, almost none at all, and work well once heated up in the kiln. I have not tried just sticking any directly in to the flame, as I just don’t think that is a good idea with any tube pulls
TAG EXP #1 (heavy blue leprechaun)
This stuff works very smooth, and unlike some other sparkly stuff I beat this up and reheated and garaged for a long time and got no checking. I was able to blow it out and honeycomb it nicely. Even though these two styles are single color pulls the actually look pretty cool with switchbacks. All in all I give it a thumbs up. If Golden Gate keeps getting nicer at this rate they will be at the top of the game in no time.
TAG EXP#1 (stylesone torchlife dicro image)
switchbacks in TAG EXP #1
Full Metal Jacket reversal in TAG EXP #1
Large JAWS
by admin on Mar.04, 2011, under Reviews
I got my large JAWS. ($110 ARTCO)The build quality is very good. They are very slick looking and work quite well. Like the small JAWS these came with a spare scoring wheel. I have not tested them extensively, but I have tried them on a few different sizes of tube and rod. 32×3.2, 25×3, and 12mm rod put up no fight what so ever.
Just score and snap easy as pie. I got two out of three snaps on 44×4 very clean, the one that was not clean was the one I smacked on the edge of the bench instead of touching with a hot rod. I got two out of three very nice cuts on a piece of 50×5. The one cut that was not clean was the one that I went all the way around and then part way around again. I will update this review after I use them a bit more.
A few days have passed since I wrote to initial review. I am liking these more everyday. I DO wish they had a loop on the end of the handle so they could be put away in my tool drawer closed.
We broke down some 75x5mm tubing with these yesterday. It is possible! It definitely would have been easier to do had the tube been chucked up in a lathe. The handles were almost too short to get the right angle to give enough pressure. Pulled it off though, and with a little practice it seems like it would be cake.
Once scored, touch with a hot rod
Once the tubing is scored, you put a drop of water on the score mark and touch with a hot rod end. Give it a little tap and it snaps clean.
not 100% perfect, but it was the first try
Small JAWS review
by admin on Mar.03, 2011, under Reviews
JAWS scoring pliers
I recently received a set of O.G. JAWS. ($45 ARTCO) These were released in a slightly different design a while back. They quickly disappeared from availability. I was lucky enough to find a friend with a set I was able to try out. WOW!! These things work so freaking well. I then tried to find a set for myself. I searched around and found that a few other companies had started making knock offs. I am a big believer in using the best tool for the job and the knock offs just did not look as nice as the real thing. I posted a thread on one of the lampworking forums (The Melting Pot) I was told by a few folks I was S.O.L. and that I might as well try one of the knock offs.
Well as luck would have it I received a message from Michael who was the man responsible for the O.G.JAWS in the first place. He informed me that he was just about to launch the new and improved version of his tool. I was very excited. I ordered up a handful of them for myself and some of the folks I work with. I must say that everyone was pretty excited to receive their new tools.
New style JAWS
I am very impressed with the redesign. The screw that the cutting wheel rotated on on the old design was replaced with a roll pin giving a smoother surface for the wheel to spin on. Also the rubber insert was dropped, it tended to fall out any way. Included was a spare scoring wheel. The use of a fairly high quality pair of pliers as the base of the tool was a good touch, they feel stout and well made in your hand.
I have used these successfully to score and cleanly snap tubing up to 38x4mm. Yes I said cleanly. No jagged edges. This is very handy. I hate wasted glass. I have found these to be very useful in removing extra material on glass on glass joints in a few of my production lines. I just score a pile of them at once then snap them all. I used to do all of that by flame cutting, reopening, then reaming the hole back to the original diameter. By just scoring and snapping, not only am I saving time, I am saving fuel. A win win.
Thank you for putting out such a nice tool Michael. You can purchase this tool through ARTCO Malcolm at ARTCO is one helluva a nice guy, but I will save that for another review.
Old style JAWS
Interview from the DFO II. This was the public unveiling of the TCB
by admin on Mar.01, 2011, under Uncategorized
I am not very camera friendly….
These prices are from before they discontinued the foot switch I used to use.
I had so much fun at the last DFO, hope to see you all there this year!
Comments- feel free to leave them!
by admin on Mar.01, 2011, under Uncategorized
I welcome any comments from those of you checking out the site. Just keep it clean and respectful. Thanks!
Hey glassheads!!
by admin on Feb.28, 2011, under Uncategorized
If you have a product that you would like me to review let me know! If there is a product that you are interested in, but unsure if it is going to preform the way you need it to, hit me up. If you have an event you want to advertise, let me know! New color you want the masses to use… you get the picture. Drop me a line at TCBbyLTD@gmail.com or leave a comment here. Thanks!
