To that end we are both working on glass cabs that we are going to set. I love making cabs - well, what the heck - I like glass and metal so it's a natural.
So far these are the cabs I've come up with - more are in the works. These are made off-mandrel so they can be a variety of sizes. Not a problem when you can set them or put a glass bail on the top when you make them. Either works great and looks great. Most of these are medium sized - I didn't want to go to big since my intention is to add silver but I ought to make some large ones too. They aren't exactly sitting straight yet since I like to punty a rod to the front and replace the steel chop stick I use on the back with a small glass rod I nip off later after I replace glass on the back taken away by the chop. It's a process and sounds worse than it is. I like to touch the back to a flat lap machine anyway so this works best for me.
There are lots of different ways to make cabs. Off mandrel, on a cab mandrel (Zoozi's carries the old Inspiration ones that are wonderful to work on), and also you can work them on the end of a mandrel coated in mandrel release. I'm sure there are tons of other ways. I have some brass tools that are for ring tops but I've never tried them yet.
Tomorrow I hope to head to the studio and do a few more. I'd like to have a large selection to choose from before I start setting any and the rest will go on Etsy. Uh, where to find a place to teach in that can handle both glass and metal - well, that might be an issue.
Onward and upward...
