Grinding & Finishing

Bryan May working at the Canberra Glassworks. Photo by Pew Pew Studio for ArtsACT

Grinding, carving, polishing, sandblasting, and engraving all fall under the glass process of ‘cold working’. Canberra Glassworks Coldshops offer the most extensive range of equipment in Australia including lathes, diamond saws, engraving wheels, sandblasters, and linishers. Whilst a glass practice, cold working processes are used to refine and finish glass produced from glass blowing, kiln forming, and casting. These techniques have been used for objects and artworks such as cut-glass stemware and stained-glass windows.

Sandblasting is a technique that involves using high-pressure air or steam to propel abrasive particles, such as sand or glass beads, at a surface to remove material or create a textured effect. It is primarily used for cleaning, etching, or adding decorative patterns to various materials.

To enquire about hiring our facilities,
please contact our Artistic Programs Coordinator.

Click here for all Coldshop Equipment

Canberra Glassworks has two Coldshops with the following Grinding & Finishing equipment

3 x Spatzier cutting lathes

2 x Spatzier engraving lathes

2 x portable Spatzier engraving lathes

1 x Steinert polisher, pumice and cerium

1 x Merker vertical linisher (medium belt)

1 x Bremner vertical linisher (large belt)

3 x Steinert 36” flat bed grinders, grits used #80 #220 #400

1 x Steinert magnetic flat bed, #60, #100, #200, #325, #600, pre-polish and cerium

1 x Suhner Rotomax

1 x Suhner wet air angle grinder

1 x mini Suhner wet air angle grinder

3 x NSK air engravers

1 x Husquvarna diamond saw

1 x Husquvarna rail diamond saw

1 x sheet glass beveller

1 x Core drill

1 x Ceramic/kiln shelf Tile Saw

Sinks with taps and overhead flexible spray nozzles

Water flow on machines is pressurized and heated to 26°C

Trolleys

Aprons, earmuffs and boots provided

Sandblasters

Large sandblaster:

  • #150 sand (aluminium oxide)
  • Double doors entry
  • Pressure pot for carving/blasting
  • Cabinet approximately 105cm h x 233cm d x 309cm w

Medium sandblaster:

  • #320 sand (aluminium oxide)
  • Single door entry
  • Cabinet approximately 77cm high x 304cm d x 190cm w

Lathe accessories

Cerium wheels:

  • 6”x 2” felt wheel
  • 9 ½“ x 1 3/4 “ felt wheel
  • 10”x 3” felt wheel
  • 4”x 1” felt radius wheel
  • 6”x 1” olive felt
  • 10cm x 3cm felt polpur wheel
  • 10cm x 3cm domed polpur wheel

Pumice wheels:

  • 10”x 2” horsehair
  • 10”x 3 ½” horsehair
  • 2 x 6”x 1 1/2” rabbit hair
  • 2 x 6”x 1 ½ “ brush wheel
  • 12”x 1 ½ “ brush wheel

#600 pre-polish wheels:

  • 4” x ½” V » 4” x 1” olive wheel
  • 4” x 1” radius wheel
  • 6”x 1 ½ “ radius wheel
  • 4”x 1” pre-polish olive

#400 sintered wheels:

  • 4”x 1” radius
  • 4”x 1” olive
  • 4” x ½” V
  • 4” x 1” flat

#360 wheels:

  • 4” x 1” radius
  • 6” x 1” radius

#220 sintered wheels:

  • 4”x 1” radius
  • 4”x 1” olive
  • 4” x ½” V
  • 4” x 1” flat

#180 wheels:

  • 4”x 1” radius
  • 6”x 1” radius

#100 wheels:

  • 4”x ¼” olive
  • 4”x ¼ “ v wheel
  • 6”x 1 ½ “ radius
  • 6”x 1 ½ “ flat
  • 4”x 1” radius

#80 sintered wheels:

  • 4”x 1” radius
  • 4”x 1” olive
  • 4” x ½” V
  • 4” x 1” flat

Spindles

  • 2 x tapered thread
  • 2 x 1” shaft
  • 2 x ½” shaft

Engraving lathe accessories

Engraving wheels:

  • 2 x small thinned olive
  • 1 x ball 15mm
  • 1 x ball 20mm
  • 2 x olive 15mm x 4mm
  • 2 x flat 25mm x 4mm
  • 2 x olive 25mm x 4mm
  • 4 x olive 50mm x 8mm
  • 4 x flat 50mm x 8mm

Engraving spindles:

  • 2 x small tapered thread
  • 2 x med tapered thread
  • 1 x internal thread
  • 1 x spindle 25mm shaft

In addition to the necessary equipment, Canberra Glassworks offers a well-ventilated workspace designed to ensure the safety and comfort of artists. The studio is equipped with extraction systems to remove any harmful fumes generated during the glass blowing process.

Experienced technicians are also available to provide induction and support to artists utilising the facilities.