Shoutout to the guy who told me my punties were too thick

I was at a studio in Austin last month, working on a small vase. Another glassblower, this older guy named Carl, watched me for a minute. He just said, 'Kid, your punties look like tree trunks. You're fighting the piece.' I was using punties about the size of a pencil. He told me to try ones half that thick, like a coffee stirrer. I switched over, and wow. The piece balanced way easier. I wasn't wrestling it so much. It felt lighter on the pipe. My control got better almost right away. Has anyone else had a simple tool change make that big a difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

ninas704mo ago

That "fighting the piece" feeling is the best description.

william9171mo ago

Respectfully, I see that feeling a bit differently. That fighting sensation usually means to me I'm compensating for something off in the structure or balance. With coffee stirrer thick punties, I've had plenty of small vases stay put - the key is getting a good heat connection and not making the punty too thin at the vase. Have you tried using really small punties with a gentle touch instead of fighting the piece?

anthony_fox904mo ago

Pencil thick punties are pretty standard for a lot of work. Is a coffee stirrer really strong enough to hold a small vase without it just snapping off? That seems like you'd be trading control for a huge risk of losing the piece.