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Float Glass

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Float Glass

#1

Float Glass

Steve Criscenzo

It’s been a while since I posted here but I finished a fun piece today that I thought I would share.

A work assignment recently took me to the Marshall Islands. While there, I met a diver who collected glass spheres that were once used as floats for fishing nets. I understand that the floats were hand blown usually out of recycled glass. I found a few that were relatively clear and purchased them without a real plan but thinking that it would be fun to incorporate in a turning. Here is the first attempt. The wood is Ash, stained and then rubbed with liming wax to highlight the grain. There is a small LED light in the center to illuminate the float from below. Overall height is about 16”. The sphere is about 4” diameter.

Comments welcome.


Re: Float Glass

#2

Very nicely done, Steve

GaryG in MD

I like combinations of wood and glass, and you've done a great job with this pairing.

How do you power the LED and switch it on and off? ...GG

Re: Float Glass

#3

Re: the light

Steve Criscenzo

The light is a very small LED flashlight, about 1.5 inches long and 5/8 inch diameter. Uses 3 button batteries and says it lasts 20 hours per set. The on/off switch is a push button on the end so I drilled a hole for the light and put in a round head screw in the bottom. Adjusted the screw so you just press on the light to turn it on and off. No need to remove it.

I looked at other lights with larger batteries and/or cords but went the simple route instead.

Re: Float Glass

#4

Re: the light

John K Jordan

Nice idea with the light (and the turning!) Would make a unique night light with wall power rather than battery. Hey, did you get enough of the glass floats to send one to everyone? :)

I wonder how a colored LED or filter on the white light would look, maybe red or green?

Just curious, how does a diver find a float? Are they still held on the bottom by what is left of the old nets?

JKJ

Re: Float Glass

#5

Re: the light

Steve Criscenzo

John

Thought about a wired light but did not want to bother with it on this one. May try it on the next one.

I understand they find the floats either washed up near shore or floating in the center of circular currents. Some still have nets attached. Amazing that they still find them since they stopped using them years ago.

I am going back next month. May be able to snag one for you.

Steve

Re: Float Glass

#6

Re: the light

John K Jordan

I'm thinking thin wires with a wall wart power supply. A red laser with a dispersion filter might look good against the blue with the laser speckle. White light might make the best night light though.

JKJ

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