Alumbrado
Posts: 5560
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Talked to my friend, and yes, it can be done ('fused' being of course, a relative term). What is left on the end of the blowpipe after the finished glass product is cut off is molten glass fused to red hot metal. The caveat is that it can be done with certain metals and certain glasses... and most of those metals are not the favorites for blade making. Stainless as commonly thought of would be a big problem. (Something to the effect of double layer of protective clothing, welders face shield, very long tongs...and then get someone else to handle the material for you). So, whatever process you are currently using to forge your blades... once that is complete, weld on a different metal for a tang, and work the other end with the glass. He also mentioned that the temperature expansion coefficients for glasses and metals can be looked up, and the ones which overlap are the ones you could start with. (OR, as he put it, grab a coke bottle and a piece of pipe, fire up your forge, and start experimenting).
< Message edited by Alumbrado -- 1/10/2008 1:02:01 PM >
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