Borosilicate Rod

I've been using a borosilicate rod every day in the kitchen for the past 7-8 years. I started using glass by using the bottom of a Pyrex meat loaf pan and liked the results. I wanted something a bit more comfortable to use so went to a chemical supply shop and had them make me a 3/4"x 12" (roughly) Pyrex rod. The cost was about $5 (but this was in S.E. Asia so in the US the cost might by more like $10)
I took some paracord and leather and wrapped one end of the rod to use as a handle. As I prefer a smooth meatpacker's steel to a ribbed butcher's steel, the smooth surface of the glass rod gives me exactly the edge I want.
These http://www.waleapparatus.com/catalog...showprevnext=1 rods look absolutely perfect and are priced right! If I didn't already have a good glass rod, or didn't have access to a chemical supply shop, I'd certainly opt for one of those!

EDIT: I just noticed that those rods are four feet long, and you get two of them for $16. Find seven other guys and you end up spening $2 for a great tool! Or, keep all of them in case you are really clumsy. :D
Actually, I've dropped mine several times, and so far, so good......


Stitchawl
 
If I'm not mistaken, these are probably tempered glass, which could pose problems for cutting it. Maybe a diamond wheel on a 4" grinder would work if you went very slowly.
 
grizzled gizzard said:
If I'm not mistaken, these are probably tempered glass, which could pose problems for cutting it. Maybe a diamond wheel on a 4" grinder would work if you went very slowly.
Click to expand...

While borosilicate glass 'can' be tempered, it isn't usually the case. And no problem cutting it, although I prefer to heat and break it, as you'd do with chemical glassware (which is usually borosilicate glass.)

Do a web search on making Pyrex (a brand name of borosilicate glass) and an search of just borosilicate glass to get the ingredient differences between it and regular glass. Interesting reading.

Stitchawl
 
deruitem said:
Anyone else try this ?
Click to expand...

Why not try it yourself? You can do it cheaply enough using a glass baking pan from the Dollar Store. As long as the glass is oven-proof, it's borosilicate glass.

By the way, an easy way to cut those 4' lengths down to size is to just take some cotton string, a bit thicker than kite string... the sort of thing you'd use to tie up a package for mailing, and wrap it around the place where you want the cut to be. Then drip on some kerosene, Coleman fuel, etc. to soak the string, but not so much as to run down the rod. Light the string and let it burn for a minute or two, then pour cold water on it. The rod will snap apart at that spot.


Stitchawl
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top