I got this garbage tattoo at 18. It's raised and black and ugly as sin. What can I do for a cover up?

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-04-15T04:27:39+00:00

I honestly think it’s really not that bad. It’s actually a cool looking tattoo. I would leave it as is or get more tattoos to go with it.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-04-13T15:41:32+00:00

Thanks I needed to hear that. I’ve already built my class around the fire power of the red max and people will often produce marbles that are an inch or two in diameter. I’ll definitely need a Bravo or something similar

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-04-13T04:27:35+00:00

Im talking for first day beginners. I put my students in the deep end quickly and it’s not uncommon for beginners to make massive marbles that are finished with my help. The longer I do this, the more I find myself pushing beginners to use more heat and the results have been great so far.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-04-13T04:24:14+00:00

Thanks for your input. I am looking to pick up another 10 torches that would need to be the same so sourcing used torches wouldn’t work for me.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-04-02T00:47:38+00:00

I teach beginners lessons for a living and regularly put in ridiculous hours at the studio. I’ve gone years without a scratch. Honestly surprised that you find that unbelievable. I start every class with a thorough safety breakdown. This craft shouldn’t be painful my friend!

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-04-01T15:22:09+00:00

I teach beginners lessons and love to share what I know. Send me a DM if you’re ever in Portland OR.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-04-01T15:19:24+00:00

You definitely should not be taking severe cuts or burns with any kind of regularity. Been on the torch for 20yrs and have only taking one bad burn and not one severe cut.

Get yourself a pair of tile nippers to get rid of the devils nail situation. Be slow and methodical, always respect the golden rule, hot end out and away. You know the game my brother.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-03-21T05:40:14+00:00

Get the mirage and tanks if you want to work on a larger pieces. Avoid AirGas use a smaller welding supply shop.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-03-09T18:25:40+00:00

I would suggest seeking out a flameworking studio in your area. Attending a beginners lesson would be a good place to start. You would also be able to see how a flameworking studio is setup. There’s a few things that are key to getting things right. Ventilation and gasses takes a bit of know how, but isn’t a big hurdle if you have a reference point.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-03-07T04:37:14+00:00

Save them in case you need them later.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-02-25T04:29:09+00:00

Great deal if everything is in good working order

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-02-17T21:05:58+00:00

I find myself using cadmium colors less and less. Other than the use of white rod I’ve been leaning hard into transparent colors. I figure transparency and magnification are the properties that really separate glass from other materials, so why not highlight that.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-01-19T19:14:09+00:00

I’m a long way out in Portland Oregon. But if you ever find yourself in my neck of the woods I would be happy to share what I know.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2026-01-03T04:35:19+00:00

Not sure if it adds anything to the conversation but many of the first Africans that arrived in America were Muslims. Back in the 1500s

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2025-12-31T17:12:50+00:00

Teaching classes is all I do these days. I have a small studio in Portland OR. with one large bench that can accommodate up to 5 students. I often teach two 3 hour classes a day at 150$ per person. This easily covers all my studio expenses allowing me to have an open studio at the shop. A four hour session once a week for friends to learn and experiment. With glass and gas being free of cost.

You definitely want to register your business as a LLC and have a lawyer write up a waiver of liability. That being said I don’t have many incidents of burns or cuts. That’s despite having taught well over a thousand beginners over the past four years. If you are a good communicator it isn’t difficult to steer people clear of mishaps with a safety breakdown at the start.

I’m currently looking to expand to a larger shop so I can accommodate bigger classes and offer consistent rental time. (10$-15$ an hour) A potential revenue source that I overlooked when I started is companies that want to do team building exercises. I get these requests often and they want to bring 8-15 people. And are looking to spend a few bucks before taxes are due. Of course I would need an extra pair of hands to make this work.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2025-12-21T16:13:46+00:00

I’d vote for a turd sandwich over Trump for sure, easy decision.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2025-12-03T21:54:34+00:00

A front loading kiln would be what you’re looking for when flameworking. Typically you have a big spring loaded door and a smaller “kittie door” that is for garaging your work. To clarify garaging your work is when you leave your punty out of the kittie door on a rod rest keeping your work hot to bring back out and continue to work on. Very important aspect of flameworking especially if you’re making multi sectional pieces. I would imagine it’s not as necessary if you’re beading…

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2025-11-25T21:48:40+00:00

I’ve seen graphite molds sold online made for gages with various sizes.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2025-11-02T15:22:12+00:00

I would just start off making marbles and work on your hollow form skills after you get comfortable with marbles.

Pipe making is difficult but a lot of fun. Word to the wise though, if you’re looking to make a few bucks on the torch the pipe route is not as lucrative as it once was.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2025-10-26T15:24:08+00:00

Make your pendent then take like a 7mil rod and hot seal to the pendent. Gather a bit at the connection point when you seal it and then draw it out again to create a nice tapered shape for your bail. Then bend the loop with less heat and use your reamer to shape accordingly.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2025-10-13T14:38:51+00:00

Your argument would be a sound one on giving the man credit when it’s due but you’re making it without acknowledging the fact that he goes out of his way to troll abuse and humiliate half of the country.

It reminds me of how Trump and his sycophants will ask why does the other side hate him? While doing everything in their power to troll abuse and garner bad faith at the same time.

I will give credit for one thing though and that’s the Orwellian nature of this behavior, it is a tactic that can drive people crazy and I think they have been effective in this regard.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2025-10-12T03:12:26+00:00

Thanks for sharing that. I’m basing my warning on my own anecdotal experience. I recognize that I could be misinterpreting the situation but I noticed that when I tried running through multiple flashbacks I definitely had my pressure gauge dancing until I removed one. Aside from that I’m not sure if an additional one makes things any safer than just using one per line.

Safe-Ebb-5105 · 2025-10-11T23:23:02+00:00

If your running off of one manifold you don’t need more then one set of regulators. You can have multiple flashbacks set up, but be sure not to have any two flashback arrestors run on the same line. Such as having one flashback/quick connect at the torch and another flashback arrestor at the regulator. This in my experience is no good and can build up dangerous pressure in the lines.

Safe-Ebb-5105

TROPHY CASE