Guidelines

GLASS ART CLUB GUIDELINES

INTRODUCTION

MEMBERSHIP:

If you are a returning member, update the membership registration, sign a waiver sheet, pay the monitor $25.00, receive your badge symbol and your receipt. Lockers can be rented annually for $10, $5 of which is returned at the end of the season when the key is turned in.  Those doing fused glass pay an additional $10 annually.  

 If you are a New Member, in addition to the above, you must attend an introductory class in glass use, equipment use, and practices; Glass 101 at no additional cost.  Additional classes are available (most at modest additional cost) and sign-up sheets are posted on the back wall.

TRAINING:

Members may be taught specific skills:ie: classes, garden stones, fusing, saw, foiling or kiln operators, etc.If you wish to be trained, contact a monitor;

Members are encouraged to assist each other, but ONLY designated and trained members       of the club may instruct classes or perform certain functions.

PARTICIPATION Members are expected to participate:

1. To volunteer, for the following activities:
   Being a Monitor; Assist shop clean up daily

Share your knowledge – individually, or in a class

Serving as a club officer;- (terms are annual)

Co-ordinating or assisting with a special event for the club; a fundraiser, annual club party, glass art open house, glass art raffle, recreation open house, or fundraising dinner.

2. FUNDRAISING by assisting with
   Sunday Gabfest, Club raffle, chicken dinner, make and take,
   Make an item worth $10.00 or more for the raffle in March;

3. MEETINGS - attend Club meetings on the 2nd Thursday monthly at 3:00 pm, or as posted

4. CLUB PARTY- you and your guest are invited to attend the annual club party.  This is a time to show appreciation for all club volunteer hours given to you and by you and to enjoy the creativity of fellow members.

5. FINANCIAL: Members MAY NOT make purchases for the club and expect reimbursed UNLESS it has been pre-authorized by the executive or the club.

MAY YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A GLASS ART STUDIO MEMBER

BE ENJOYABLE!

USING THE STUDIO

PLEASE REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR BADGE AND CLOSED TOE SHOES, or you will be sent home to get them!

SIGN IN:

Daily, print your full name in the book in the AM and PM.  If you come for the full day please sign both times.  These stats are used by the club and Social Board.

• Record the number of the tool box you will use, which will correspond to your work station number;

• Tool boxes for use on the tables are in the supply cabinet, marked “table” and numbered;
  If a tool box is missing a tool, notify the monitor, attempt to locate it with the assistance of the monitor.  Each tool is numbered, DO NOT TAKE ONE FROM ANOTHER BOX.  You are responsible for tools at your station #.

All supply areas and bins are labelled.  You are expected to return items to the correct areas throughout the studio.

FOR CUTTING GLASS: you will need:

• A work board

• Oil

• Cutting mat or grid

• Tool box, your glass, a pattern, glue stick, grey/black marker;

• CLEAN UP YOUR STATION WHEN YOU LEAVE:

• Sweep surrounding counter/table, floor and chair;

• Mat – available to the right of the entry counter; when through, ensure no glass pieces are left in the holes as the next person could be cut.  Dispose of glass shards in the garbage;

• Morton System – clean out the glass shards;

• Check that the tool box is clean, complete and return it to the CORRECT AREA with the mat and oil.

• Clean any other area in which you were working.

GRINDERS:   you will need:

• Goggles

• Water in the grinder

• Wet sponge – must touch water in the grinder to wick to grinder head

• Bottle of water to maintain water level in grinder

• Check with the monitor to adjust grinder head – if needed

• Grinders may be used on the counter or at work stations.  (Do not take from grinder counter or work station to a table) grinders for tables are located on black shelving in classroom.

• Master pattern for fitting;

• Tacks/nails/tape to secure fitted pieces;

• GRINDER CLEANUP:
  All grinders and work stations must be cleaned, BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

• NOTE:  Grinders can be shared equipment at work stations and on grinder counters. Please be mindful of others

.

GRINDER CLEANING TIPS:

Each person who uses the grinder is expected to clean it BEFORE YOU LEAVE --Empty water into a plastic dishpan, clean grinder, scrape sludge out of grinder, remember to brush the glass from grinder head and wipe the inside of the grinder well with paper towel.

• Set grid with sponge on top at an angle which indicates it has been cleaned- Clean backsplash, counters, goggles, chairs.  

• Wipe up work station glass shards with paper towels only, (cloths hold glass and could cut the next person),sweep floor around your work station.

• When you are in the studio and have been using a shared grinder, before you leave check with the monitor to see if you need to clean the grinder at that time,

• Grinder water is to be emptied into the sloping rocks on the west side of the building at end of use..

FOILING:  you will need:

• Foil and a tool box

• Reminder – ensure all pieces are well washed to remove grinder residue, glue, and ink before foiling (tape may not stick).

SOLDERING:  you will need:

• tool box

• soldering iron

• flux –from the supply cupboard

• Q-tips

• Rheostat – setting 7-8 for 60/40 solder

• steel brush to keep tip clean 

• Work board

• nails or masking tape, to hold and secure your pieces; a mask is recommended for fluxing and soldering 

• Note:  Please do not solder on table/counter without a board.  Do not solder, other than to “TACK” on ceiling tile pieces.

CLEANUP:

• Remove all solder spatters from work boards, counter, and floor ( you may need a scraper)

• Clean tip of soldering iron with steel brush

• Scrape solder from the soldering iron holder

• Unplug the iron from the rheostat; put elastic around the cord,

• Put the lid on the flux and return it to the cupboard;

• DO NOT PUT A HOT IRON INTO THE CUPBOARD

• Please use elastics around all cords and place all supplies into designated areas in cupboard

SUPPLIES

Some supplies MAY be purchased from a monitor

there is no credit, you must pay as you buy; many items are available, some of which are listed below (a list of items for purchase is posted on the Monitor’s Cabinet, when in doubt ask a Monitor).

• Contact paper (clear)

• Glue sticks

• Silver/black markers

• Solder, if available

• Foil, if available

• Cement for stones

• Bevels, 1”, 1 ½” 2”-disposable gloves & masks

GLASS ART FINISHING:

Patinas and polish are available in the studio at no charge.  Hooks and rings for hanging, channel chain, and came for frames may be purchased from any glass store.

GARDEN STONES: 

All supplies are to remain outside and are to be paid for BEFORE use;

to be poured and cleaned outside.

• For your first garden stone, bring your class notes with you;Weldbond glue, chicken wire, cement, gloves and masks included in cost of stone

• Put your name, date, and time on the pan with masking tape; (tape and pen are in the outside storage area);
  
  

CLEAN UP:

• After pouring stone, clean all the equipment, and return it to the cupboard, sweep off the table, put lids back on tubs, etc;

• After dumping your stone, clean all tools used, and the table top

• Pan must be wiped out to remove cement and then washed with hot soapy water to remove ALL vaseline.  Dry and put it away;

• Note: Dirty cement water or stone cleanup water goes into the sloping stones.  Basins, tubs, sponges used for cement work must be cleaned up and stored outside, (do not take them from the shop supply).

* If you use a paper mask please put your name on it and put it

in your locker for future use.

PATTERNS:

Do NOT take patterns to the Activity Office for copies.:

• If there are multiple copies of a pattern, you may have one.  If there is only one left, it may not be removed from the shop.  See a monitor, or use the Tracing Table or copier if available.
  Hint:  tape the pattern on the table, place your paper over top and secure it with tape to make tracing easier and more accurate.

• Please do not replace any patterns with
  your hand traced ones !  Remember, you can always have a pattern enlarged or made smaller to suit your needs. 

FUSING GLASS:  

NOTE:  IT IS A PRIVILEGE FOR CLUB MEMBERS TO FUSE/SLUMP WITHOUT PAYMENT.  PLEASE DO NOT ABUSE THIS BY BRINGING IN THE WORK OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO BE FIRED.  Commercial art glass outlets will often provide this service for a fee.

• All glass to be fused in the kiln must be COE#96 ONLY.

• After cutting, glass must be washed thoroughly, use clear or blue Elmer’s Glue sparingly. 

• Always work on a work board. 

• Items to be fused will be placed on a shelf in the designated area and will be clearly marked

• with:  member’s name and telephone number, number of items, description of items, and state whether item should be full fused, mid fused, or slumped or textured, the number of the mold to be used and any special instructions..

• Items will only be handled by the owner and kiln operator;
  Items will be fired as soon as possible;
  Check for finished items only on the days the shop is open. 

• Note: Except for bottles, only club members may have items fused/slumped;
  Exception – bottles which have been prepaid, may be slumped for others if time and space allow.

SLUMPING GLASS:

• ONE layer of regular stained glass or COE#96 may be slumped on the molds;

• COE#96 which has been previously fused, may be slumped;

• Never cut glass larger than the mold pattern, otherwise the mold will break;

• Special bevel grinder is available to use on items to be slumped.  Use extra care with this grinder – request monitor assistance.  Glass MUST be kept wet while grinding;

• Items to be slumped will be placed on a tray in the designated area and will be clearly marked with masking tape with:  member’s name and telephone number, number of items, and any special instructions.

• As noted above, any payments for bottle slumping MUST be made prior to firing.

SAW TRAINING

• Glass cutting on the saw is to be done by trained members only.  

• Check with the monitor before using any saw. 

• If you want to be checked out on a saw, you must see a qualified equipment person to train and supervise you and then your name may be added to the list. Glass saw training classes are offered.

• Care must be taken to avoid improper use of the saws that causes excessive wear.  Saw replacement parts are costly.!

KILN OPERATION:

• Only designated operators will open, load and unload the kilns.

Proper safety measures will be followed by kiln operators

Note: Kiln operators have the right to refuse items for slumping (this is based on the product, decoration, size and time.) and may defer firing of a project if there are questions or concerns about the requested firing schedule or project preparation for firing.