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Re: tubebending with a "flexible heatingtube"

Posted By: Gavin
Date: Monday, 8 January 2007, at 6:59 a.m.

In Response To: tubebending with a "flexible heatingtube" (Kai)

> Hey,
> I am a glasbender in germany and i am
> looking for a flexible tube with a heater to
> bend a curve. May be someone have an idea?

Hi
I think what you refer to is a length of (nichrome?) wire that wraps around the glass. The wire is then heated using electricity and softens the glass to the point at which it can be manipulated. I havent seen one for 20 years. We used to get work that was bent using this method ( short curves)come through the shop for repair. I think they mainly came onto the market to assist european benders as using a single cannon burner flame to make curves can be tedious work.
The hot wire bender would often leave tell tale marks on the glass like a spiralling effect where it would overheat where the wire was. Like i say - i havent seen one for 20 years - youd be better off investing in an adjustable ribbon burner to do curves, or any work for that matter. I only use my cannon burner now for square bending soda work or annealing. But if your really adamant in obtaining one - im sure a few european bending shops still have one that got put away in a corner somewhere.
Hope this helps,

Gavin

Messages In This Thread

• tubebending with a "flexible heatingtube" -- Kai -- Thursday, 30 November 2006, at 4:06 p.m.
  • Re: tubebending with a "flexible heatingtube" -- dan -- Friday, 29 December 2006, at 6:51 a.m.
  • Re: tubebending with a "flexible heatingtube" -- Gavin -- Monday, 8 January 2007, at 6:59 a.m.
    • Re: tubebending with a "flexible heatingtube" -- Kai -- Wednesday, 10 January 2007, at 1:30 p.m.

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