Big news in the studio—we’ve just added some serious wheels to our coldworking toolkit! Freshly leaded and realigned artificial stone wheels are here, and we’re lucky to have artist Elián Tazzyman on hand to show us how to get the best results out of them.

This new equipment is now available for use in the upstairs coldshop.

The artificial stone wheel set comprises 20 fine-grained aluminum oxide wheels in various sizes. They have been made to be a complement to the Glassworks diamond grinding wheels set, as the stone wheels have complementary sizes and profiles in common design with the cutting and engraving lathes. The intention with these wheels is to give artists opportunities to work with traditional tools that have legendary surface finishing properties on glass. The new set includes 15 wheels to be used on the large lathe and 5 wheels to be used on the smaller engraving lathe. These stone wheels have central threaded cores that fit a threaded spindle for either lathe. They are mounted differently from the diamond wheels.

For those who wish to work with the new lathe tools,  Elián has generously offered to deliever introduction and refresher instructions and mentorships on the use of artificial stone wheels in the coming months. These tools are for the intermediate and experienced coldworker. We’re deeply grateful to Elián for sharing his expertise and helping preserve and expand the use of these historic tools.

Getting this set of wheels up and running has been an in-house artist initiative in train for many years. Thanks to Tom Rowney for his commitment to support the introduction of more traditional coldworking tools to the Glassworks, and to Elián Tazzyman, Holly Grace and Edwina Leeper for their assistance in making these wheels.

About Elián Tazzyman

Master craftsperson, EliánTazzyman is a graduate and former lecturer of the ANU Glass workshop. He is also a graduate from Strední umeleckoprumyslová škola sklárská  (SUPŠS) in Kamenický Šenov, Czech Republic. In 2008 he received a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship to study traditional and contemporary carving and engraving techniques at some of the most prestigious schools and studios in the USA, UK, and Europe. He is based in Canberra and works in his private studio with glass artists wishing to extend their expertise in glass cold working .

Have questions or interested in learning more?

Contact Artistic Programs via Justine.McLaren@canberraglassworks.com