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Re: Hot Glass Q's

> Date:          Fri, 12 Jan 1996 13:42:12 -0500 (EST)
> To:            neon-l@netcom.com
> From:          kenny@neonshop.com (Kenny Greenberg)
> Subject:       Re: Hot Glass Q's
> Reply-to:      neon-l@netcom.com
 
> >Here's the Q's:
> >
> >Everything I seem to put in the cannon fire appears to turn to pure lead very
> > quickly, and I've got the flames dialed _way_ down.  I moved the heads back 
> 
> When you say dialed down - you should hopefully see a relatively violet 
> color to the flame, that is, relative to a baby blue rich flame.  Ideally, the
> flame should hiss a bit. Adjust the air up abit, the gas down. Try these
> adjustments after the burner has been on a few minutes.

The mixture seems to be nearly as lean as it will go--more gas and the color 
starts tending towards turquoise and the flames begin to get disorganized;
more air and it starts to blow itself out.  This relationship is also pretty 
consistent whether I start with air wide open or at about 25-30%.   
 
> >my ceiling starts making noises from the heat....and then I get darkening.
>>
> >So what am I missing?  Could any of this have to do with the fact that I'm 
> 
> Well, for one you should build a primative hood up there.

Ceiling is actually concrete, covered with plain styrofoam board.  I'll 
probably cut out some of the styrofoam, maybe use some transbestos for a buffer 
zone...
 
> >fueling with propane?  The cannon heads are EGL S-21 "A" models, and the
> >ribbon burner is a 16" EGL "A" version also, so at least here I'm using name 
> 
> Are they new & clean?
 
Yes and yes, apparently untouched by human hands before me.  Probably still 
untouched by human hands...
 
> >All this is happening with the gas barely cracked open at the needle valves,
> >and the air probably running at about 1 psi.  T
> 
> and the volume is ? i.e. smallest pipe diameter - particularly with regard to
> air.

Distribution system is 1.5" PVC, 1.5" tees with 3/4" valves, then fittings down
to 1/2" ID rubber hose--connected to mixers which have 1/4" MPT fittings 

> he ..uh.."practice glass" I 
> >have *is* of possibly dubious origin--any chance that it could be improperly
> >formulated?  Pretty much the same thing happens with 10mm and 12mm; 
> Is it from a neon shop or distributor - then it's probably o.k.

Sort-of.  Definitely *not* untouched by human hands before I got it, though;
i.e. it came from miscellaneous stacks and not directly from factory-pack 
cartons.  I'll try some of the 5mm factory-fresh stuff over the weekend and 
compare.

> >I know these are probably stupid newbie questions, but if y'all can bear with
> >
> Not really - it's a daunting subject - Just realize that a rich flame wants
> more  oxy, so it 'robs' it from the glass and thus reduces lead. 

10-4, that's why I asked about the propane.  Since the theoretical air/gas 
ratio would be much lower with natural gas, it seems like it would be easier to 
adjust for a leaner mixture without getting blow-outs.  With the air/propane ratio 
already at about a zillion parts to one, dialing down the the gas without a 
snuffout is problematic.  The fires are also steady at the leanest mixture 
and won't go out on their own, but they will blow out if somebody creates
an external disturbance.   

 -JD

> >me, I'll be happy to shoulder some of the burden of answering a few for
> >future newbies, either from my neon shop or my snow-vaporizing truck, 
> Okay, everyone you heard him. He's got the job.
> 
> Kenny
> 
> Kenny Greenberg   Neon Artist, Scenic Specialist, Columnist - Internet World
> c/o KRYPTON NEON 34-43 Vernon Blvd Long Island City, NY 11106
>       Ph: 718-728-4450   Fx: 718-728-7206  Email: kenny@neonshop.com
>       http://www.neonshop.com    http://www.licweb.com