Glass as a shank ring

[Nate]

I have a piece of glass that is very important to me and would like to use it on a pipe. Anyone work with glass on their pipe shanks? It is a broken piece, 1/2" thick, and I think I could drill it easy enough with a glass bit, but how would I 'turn' it round? Any thoughts?

[RadDavis]

Very carefully?

Rad

[Nate]

Very carefully?

Rad

I thought of just gnawing away at it with my teeth, but my dental doesn't cover it

I have thought about doing it on the lathe with a die grinder and a death wheel or sanding disc, but not certain how well that would work. I may be sol.

[Massis]

I'd say round it with a belt sander...

[KurtHuhn]

If you have a belt grinder, I think that might be easiest. Use a quality belt like Norton Blaze or an alumina-zirconia. Glass is going to be really tough to shape, and the only way I can think of to accurately shape it is to treat it like stone and use lapidary techniques.

If you do this... do it outside, wear a respirator, and cover all exposed skin.

You don't want to breath glass dust. Silicosis in no joke.

[TRS]

Do you know anyone who does stained glass? A glass grinder might work for you.

[Nate]

If you have a belt grinder, I think that might be easiest. Use a quality belt like Norton Blaze or an alumina-zirconia. Glass is going to be really tough to shape, and the only way I can think of to accurately shape it is to treat it like stone and use lapidary techniques.

If you do this... do it outside, wear a respirator, and cover all exposed skin.

You don't want to breath glass dust. Silicosis in no joke.

Thanks Massis and Kurt! That does sound like a good way to accomplish it. I try to keep any machine dust out of my lungs, but I will take special care of glass.

[Nate]

Do you know anyone who does stained glass? A glass grinder might work for you.

Ahh, yeah. Someone that works with glass would have the equipment to manipulate it. Thanks Beatus!!

[e Markle]

The difficult part may be keeping the glass flush with the briar. I would guess briar is going to wear/sand/buff away much more quickly than the glass. Good luck with that...

[Nate]

The difficult part may be keeping the glass flush with the briar. I would guess briar is going to wear/sand/buff away much more quickly than the glass. Good luck with that...

Very true. It will be for me, so I will keep that in mind.

[Charl]

Glass drilling and sanding normally is done with water. I agree, just get somebody in the business to help. Easier and less trouble!