recycling glass

**your_comforting_company** · 11-11-2009, 01:43 AM

In high school I took a pottery class. I did lots of ceramic things, but more interestingly, I went down to the clay bank of the creek where I grew up and gathered some. I cleaned it, kneaded it, and made a bowl out of it and my teacher (reluctantly) fired it for me.
I also had 2 years of chemistry, so I talked my teacher into letting me borrow a few oxide chemicals to make glaze colors with. I mixed this with sand and borax and glazed a bowl.
My mom still has this bowl and it is still functional.
I have a pretty decent understanding of proper conditions and temps for working with clay and such.

I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about working with glass specifically and if we can get some info up about working with glass that has been made into something before, like a beer bottle or old drink bottle. I have read some info on primitive kilns, maybe someone could post some more info on this specifically also.
aside from the skill required to actually work it, I would think it would be possible to melt down old bottles and mold them into something usable. This is a notion I've been bouncing around with some locals, but haven't found much in the way of instruction.
You could flatten rounded glass into a flat spall that you could make knife blades and arrowheads out of, bowls, spoons, etc. and as much trash as there is on the side of the road and scattered about trails, certainly in a survival situation it would be a very handy skill to know.

Mike Rowe happens to be blowing glass in a factory on Dirty Jobs tonight. Couldn't help but watch so I won't feel so humiliated when I fail haha.

anyhow, I was just putting some feelers out there, get some gears turnin, and basically pick brains (not like I do with deer). If anyone has anything, please share!!

**Rick** · 11-11-2009, 08:21 AM

Dirty Jobs on glass was an interesting show. I think your ideas warrant merit, too. The same could be said with knowing how to make clay pottery in an off grid life style.

**Winnie** · 11-11-2009, 09:04 AM

I've seen goblets made of beer bottles, and bowls made of spirit bottles that have been softened just enough to flatten them and then moulded slightly, but for the life of me I can't find the website! I'll keep looking.

**your_comforting_company** · 11-11-2009, 09:34 AM

Thanks winnie. I've got some info in books on primitive pottery firing, but since I've not tried it, I'll refrain from plaigarizing.
basically you dig a pit fire, build a huge bed of coals in it, surround it by more wood, and cover it with even more wood. Gotta keep the fire super hot for several hours, and still you will lose some pottery coming out in the cooling process. Primitive pottery is a very UNforgiving art.
did I just say something positive about modern technology?
The chinese used hillside "convection ovens" where the fire is built in one chamber, the heat is concentrated in the above chamber and air is regulated through a tube.

This is something I will be exploring much deeper after deer season is over. Thanks for everything guys (and gals).

**aflineman** · 11-11-2009, 02:02 PM

A couple of the local Community Colleges here offer glass jewelry classes. Many using recycled glass and a kiln. Some are beading classes, some do other things. My BIL has taken a few (as well as the ceramics classes), and has made some amazing things. I know a few also delve into the history of the art/craft. You might be able to pick-up some tips and ideas to apply to what you want to do.

**your_comforting_company** · 11-11-2009, 02:17 PM

maybe you can pick his brain for me (not like I do deer)? I checked a few years ago with the CC's and none of them offered a ceramics-type class. There are a few art classes, but nothing dealing with glass or earthenware. AFAIK the most knowledgable person locally regarding this would be my old high school art teacher. Unless they've added a class recently, I'm stuck using books and the net

Thanks for the idea though! I will check with them again.

**Survival Guy 10** · 11-11-2009, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by your_comforting_company

maybe you can pick his brain for me (not like I do deer)? I checked a few years ago with the CC's and none of them offered a ceramics-type class. There are a few art classes, but nothing dealing with glass or earthenware. AFAIK the most knowledgable person locally regarding this would be my old high school art teacher. Unless they've added a class recently, I'm stuck using books and the net

Thanks for the idea though! I will check with them again.

yea you can learn a lot from the web and books but hands on experince is the only way to really learn

**aflineman** · 11-13-2009, 12:22 PM

There is always here: http://www.seattleglassblowing.com/

A good friend of my Dad studied with this guy: http://www.chihuly.com/
He has since passed away, or I would ask him for some pointers.

I will see if my BIL has any pointers the next time I see him. With his schedule, he is not the easiest to get a hold of.

**your_comforting_company** · 01-14-2010, 09:09 AM

might have been more appropriate elsewhere, but this is the clay pot I made from the creek nearby. I made the glaze with sand and borax and a few chemicals (color) from chemistry class.
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