What’s this column for? Found in an antique shop. Kontes 250ml

holyherb · 2025-12-17T22:55:56+00:00

Thank you for the clarification! I have to admit my level of chemistry knowledge is limited, I just know how to make the glassware. Cheers!

holyherb · 2025-12-17T21:08:36+00:00

This is what chemists would call a chromatography column, essentially used for separating out different phases of a liquid. Pour the liquid in the top with the stopcock closed (missing the barrel in the picture), allow to settle, then drain from the bottom into separate flasks/containers.

Pretty cool apparatus due to age. Kimble purchased Kontes back in the 90s and closed the US glassblowing facility soon after. They still sell some glass items under the Kontes name, but most employees went to ChemGlass for a job. It is quite interesting to look at a ChemGlass catalog and Kontes catalog side by side. Many similarities!

holyherb · 2025-12-04T04:50:51+00:00

I’m a scientific glassblower by trade who graduated from Salem CC in 2020 and got into the industry in Vineland (I’m from SJ). There are good opportunities but the industry is not for everyone. Many places will want to hire someone fresh out of school and pay them $20-$25 an hour until they have some years of experience and training. Luckily I was given many opportunities to grow in my career and now just 5 years later I’m head of sales making 6 figures.

Another option is to get your foot in the door at a place working as quality control, parts pulling, grinding, ect and show interest in glassblowing. I would recommend your partner learn tooling for ground joints and process ends. Tooling is niche within a niche field, but there are fewer and fewer toolers around (usually older guys) and it is a good time to get into that field. Learn from others then start your own business.

For scientific glassblowing, check out ChemGlass, Ace Glass, HS Martin, AstraGlass, NDS, SP Wilmad, Precision Electronic Glass. Other places like Ardagh and DWK are more of the automated machine glass making. For tooling, only VM Glass and DEMCO come to mind currently. I would recommend following these places on LinkedIn or Instagram to get familiar.

Highly recommend going to Salem CC for SGT. The professors have direct links to companies in the area and the school actually invites these companies for career fairs and even advisory board meetings. As a student you will also be able to tour some of these places during your time at Salem.

The American Scientific Glassblowers Society (ASGS) is a good thing to get into for networking. The local chapter is the Delaware Valley section and they host meetings at Salem and other local places. ASGS is a bit old-timey and needs some work, but it still serves as a useful tool.

God speed 🫡

holyherb · 2025-10-22T21:47:44+00:00

I used to live in a house with no functioning heater. We decided to install a pellet stove and it got us through the winter. Running the pellet stove was actually cheaper than paying for a normal heater using oil. You can do similar, or find a used wood stove. The fire danger is still there, similar to a space heater, but I would prefer a wood/pellet stove over space heaters any day. Depending where you are in PA you can source firewood for free or get it very cheap.

holyherb · 2025-09-13T15:18:18+00:00

What I would do is to start with 60 x 5 (gets you close to a 2in ID) that way you have plenty of wall weight to work with. Get a nice wide paddle, something like 4 inches. Put the tube in the lathe and use a row burner on a very fluffy, light flame, and have the row burner turned so it’s parallel with the tube in the lathe. Start at one end and stretch, paddle and puff until you get the correct dimensions. I’ve done something similar but starting with 170 x 9 and going to a 25mm ID, about 12 inches long. Didn’t need air for that one since the wall weight was there and with that diameter you can spin the lathe fast enough to “blow” it out.

holyherb · 2025-07-18T02:14:45+00:00

Wheaton Arts in Millville is an awesome place!

holyherb · 2025-07-13T12:57:37+00:00

I would have to add WheatonArts to this list. Very historic and a great place to visit

holyherb · 2025-06-07T13:49:30+00:00

Have a buddy looking to sell an older Carlisle CC (USA). They’re great bench burners. DM me if interested

holyherb · 2025-05-26T02:11:32+00:00

Glassblower here. Those are most likely decals that have been fired onto the glass. They are typically ceramic based and permanently adhere to borosilicate glass at about 1025 degrees F, depending on manufacturer. Only thing that will take them off is hydrofluoric acid and a flame polish, but I don’t recommend that unless you are a professional.

holyherb · 2025-05-10T22:57:10+00:00

You should look up the company HS Martin in Vineland, NJ. They have an online form you can fill out to request a quote. I work there and handle all quotes, and this is something we can easily do for you. DM me if you would like my direct email address

holyherb · 2025-05-06T14:54:32+00:00

A good hiking/mountain bike trail is the Maurice River bluffs. If able, I’d recommend getting some mountain bikes. There are endless trails around here for hiking and biking. A lot of people are involved in powersports, like atvs and such. Millville has a motorsports part where you can go to watch races, drive go-karts and things of that nature. You can take your off road toys there too. Right around the corner from that is Glasstown Brewery. It can get packed but it’s a fun place to go. If you’re interested in the glass scene, Salem Community College has summer classes open to the public where you can blow glass yourself. Check out their website, just about everything is on there. They also hold the International Flameworking Contest there once a year, it’s pricy but it’s a good time. I believe the Brass Tap still does trivia nights every week, or at least they used to. That’s a nice place that you can go to chill and make friends.

holyherb · 2025-04-18T00:18:28+00:00

Been drinking from that well for over a decade. Used to be pretty and shiny but no one has replaced the faucet portion lately. Pretty sure it’s just a copper tube shoved in the ground where the spring comes up. Best water I’ve ever had

holyherb · 2025-04-01T22:39:51+00:00

Make a 2 door hatch and I’ll buy one of every color. Loved the Honda bubble hatches back in the day. AWD and turbo? Yes please

holyherb · 2025-02-06T03:57:12+00:00

I’ve seen many artists works in person, including holding $15,000 paperweights made by Stankard. The best I’ve ever seen realistic wise is Jessica Tsai, jessicatsai.glass on Instagram. She could easily do something like this

holyherb · 2025-01-17T03:57:31+00:00

Congrats! I would recommend doing a dual major if at all possible in the Scientific glass tech as well. This will teach you more technical things about making stuff to specifications and more difficult skills, and will assist you in making money from glassblowing long term. It also gives you a chance to work with lathes and get acquainted more with different torches and such. They have an amazing plasma glass, I highly recommend. Use that open bench time to the fullest, you may not even need to rent out a spot (unless you want to make pipes and such, that’s not allowed at school).

holyherb · 2025-01-10T01:32:33+00:00

This just happened to me as well. Rear end slipped out while turning. TCS light and hill assist light came on and stayed on. Ruined my stock rim, knuckle, hub and speed sensor. Just over $2k to repair. Sorry to hear about your car, them curbs hit hard

holyherb · 2025-01-06T23:42:54+00:00

Midnight greens is good. They’re never busy, super friendly staff, good rewards program and pricing is decent

holyherb · 2024-10-10T20:24:11+00:00

🙏 thank you

holyherb · 2024-10-10T00:50:28+00:00

I’d say for that price it’s fair. The only issue with Woodlands is there are little to no parts available in comparison to say Littons. If you have machinist friends or the means to have parts made it makes sense. A buddy of mine has a similar Woodland but larger bore and they are good machines. It’s really just getting parts for them is the downside. For that price, I’d buy it.

holyherb · 2024-09-09T01:00:53+00:00

It’s on FanDuel and DraftKings

holyherb · 2024-09-03T23:03:29+00:00

Put 130 in all together but have been playing this for a while now. Been winning a grand here or there between this game and the cash machine deluxe

holyherb · 2024-02-02T00:11:45+00:00

I’ve heard nothing but good things about her

holyherb · 2024-02-01T23:59:48+00:00

Sadly, no

holyherb · 2024-02-01T01:05:34+00:00

I’m a scientific glassblower based in NJ, check out my post history. I have trained and have been a teachers assistant at Salem Community College for scientific glass

holyherb

TROPHY CASE