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Is the preferred sodium silicate in a powdered or soultion form when purchased?
I would think a solution would be easiest ?

Solution.

Be aware that if you sell to American collectors, they may COMPLETELY FLIP THEIR S**T if they find out you use that stuff. Just be advised.

e Markle wrote:Solution.

Be aware that if you sell to American collectors, they may COMPLETELY FLIP THEIR S**T if they find out you use that stuff. Just be advised.

I havent heard that much controversy about Sodium Silicate, other than the guys who are anti-any bowl coating at all. Am I missing something ?

Alden wrote:

e Markle wrote:Solution.

Be aware that if you sell to American collectors, they may COMPLETELY FLIP THEIR S**T if they find out you use that stuff. Just be advised.

I havent heard that much controversy about Sodium Silicate, other than the guys who are anti-any bowl coating at all. Am I missing something ?

There's the anti bowl coat crowd, and then there's the anti water glass crowd. To the best of my knowledge, everywhere else in the world has no problem with it's use, but there are a few here who are scared of it. I've heard/read concerns over health (I don't believe they're well founded at all - the stuff is used in wine prep), but I think more generally people don't want the bowl sealed that well.

e Markle wrote:

Alden wrote:

e Markle wrote:Solution.

Be aware that if you sell to American collectors, they may COMPLETELY FLIP THEIR S**T if they find out you use that stuff. Just be advised.

I havent heard that much controversy about Sodium Silicate, other than the guys who are anti-any bowl coating at all. Am I missing something ?

There's the anti bowl coat crowd, and then there's the anti water glass crowd. To the best of my knowledge, everywhere else in the world has no problem with it's use, but there are a few here who are scared of it. I've heard/read concerns over health (I don't believe they're well founded at all - the stuff is used in wine prep), but I think more generally people don't want the bowl sealed that well.

Ok makes sense.

Thank you, actually itis for my own use, I made my first pipe the other day, a poker style, I noticed a knot(?) In the briar as I was almost done, it looked as though it would sand out but got much bigger, and then I noticed a dark spot inside the bowl same area as outside since it was my first go at it, and I was almost finished I decided to finish it just for practice now that it is almost done (waiting for my caranuba wax) I'm thinking I want to smoke it...lol, I thought I could seal the out side knot with it just incase to try and avoid a burn through if it is weak in that spot

Yeah, try a bowl coating, but be aware there is a chance it'll burn out anyways.

Most annoying thing with sodium silicate is that it can tend to leave a white residue when it finally dries. Almost looks like dried up saltwater. As long as your ratios are ok, that's unlikely to happen, but if there is even a little bit too much in your mix, bam.

That, and what Ernie said. People get all nervous about things they shouldn't be. Especially when some of those people then take their virgin pipe bowls that have never touched anything but purified oxygen, and then they smoke triple cherry chocolate coconut surprise tobacco in it. LOL.

Don't sell pipes to people who smoke that stuff Simeon!

I haven't used water glass, so i don't have much of an opinion on it, but at one point there was a thread on another forum in which MSDS sheets were being posted on liquid water glass, and all kinds of scary stuff got bandied about. I suspect that if the world's best pipe makers are using something, it's probably ok, being that there aren't so many customers who can pay a few grand for a pipe that we want to help them to an untimely demise, never mind the potential inherent silliness of worrying about possible carcinogenic chemicals surrounding the possible carcinogenic chemicals that you're smoking.

Since I am planning on using it in the crevice on the outside is there a way I can or should be coloring it?
I remember when I worked with wood years ago we would save the sanding dust and mix it with wood glue and fill holes with it to help blend it in and hopefully it would catch some of the stain too.

From what i have read about water glass is that after dried it probably wont grab any of the stain

as far as the ratio goes it is already a solution a 40% sodium silicate to 60% water, is that the norm?

If this is on the outside of the pipe, waterglass is just not gonna do a damn thing. Just fill the thing with epoxy and briar dust mixed together.

If you feel unfamiliar about water glass, you may give this more traditional method
of precarbonising a try:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDAgaz5V ... detailpage
Will need some investment, though ...

Jens

Jos wrote:If you feel unfamiliar about water glass, you may give this more traditional method
of precarbonising a try:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDAgaz5V ... detailpage
Will need some investment, though ...

Jens

Wow! That looks dangerous and fun....but not something I want to do to my pipes!

Ocelot55 wrote:

Jos wrote:If you feel unfamiliar about water glass, you may give this more traditional method
of precarbonising a try:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDAgaz5V ... detailpage
Will need some investment, though ...

Jens

Wow! That looks dangerous and fun....but not something I want to do to my pipes!

Well, I understand that each and every Blakemar pipe receives this treatment - I guess if they smoked up too many, they'd be out of business for decades ...

I thought about doing this with a benzomatic torch, my guess is the torch wouldn't have been hot enough and now after seeing this video I know it wouldnt be

I've sold at least two pipes due to the lack of sodium silicate in my bowl coating. At the time, they were actually quite important for us, so yeah, american collectors don't like waterglass