I’m sorry for the lack of posts this last while. I just finished and sent off all but the last 5 flute orders that I want to finish soon. I have two more that I will finish this winter sometime. Next on my plate I will be doing a run of flutes, probably just Folk Flutes to send to some of my retailers just to keep the cash flow happening here. Going from prepaid orders to one where I make the flutes first, and then get paid when they sell has stretched me a bit thin. I am tempted to take orders when people inquire - but have simply been adding names to a waiting list instead.
Purchasing items and tooling for this glass flute project has also cost. I did trim my machinery back to just the smaller of the two Pantograph milling machines that I will use for profiling the outsides. This one I will be able to fit into my workshop, once I have cleared a spot for it. It still weighs 600 lbs (the other weighed 2300). Fortunately I don’t have to worry about pouring a pad and putting up a building for these, especially the large one. Am simplifying my list of tasks.
It was impossible to work this last Monday and Tuesday as roofers were replacing the old moss-covered roof on my workshop with a new one that has a 30 year rating. By then my cyclothymia cycle kicked into its low gear and I’ve been only getting a little bit done, mostly clearing the space for the mill. This week I plan to be more productive.
A few other things postponed or reconsidered. I do not like the look of the current Pandemic trajectory so I decided to postpone my apprentice’s visit until next year. I also feel better about not having her here while I am still in this work transition. I am also considering what I really need with fundraising - and if I am perhaps simply better off without. Progress may be slower but then there will be less anxiety, and from going at a slower, gradual pace. I tend to make better decisions about what I need.
I did get these diamond disintegration drills. These look very promising for the task of boring a hole through a solid rod of glass. I’ll need to experiment with speeds and coolants (water may be sufficient) and maybe this week I will attempt to drill out a piece of glass. Before I get too much into this, however, I need to get a wet saw such as is used on tiling to get a nice squared end on this glass. Once I am done rearranging the back part of my workshop I will also be able to set up the “reaming” motor that will hold the tapered cast iron spindles that will be used in profiling the insides. I have some iron but will need to get more for a complete bore profile. And then I will need some tooling to shape the outsides.
Slowly but surely…