Marble stuck in vase ...

Sincere apologies, but would the contributor who posted the question about removing a marble stuck in a conical glass vase please re-post? I have lost your identity, and during a round of golf this morning I think I figured out a solution to your problem. (No, it doesn't involve smacking the thing with a 7-iron.) ;<

It was me..and I'm so anxious to hear what you've come up with! Tina

      It was me..and I'm so anxious to hear what you've come up with!   Tina

Tina,

I'm posting to the group because I want feedback BEFORE you use my suggestion to screw up your vase, and maybe another member sees a flaw in the proposed method or can offer an alternative solution. OK, here goes.

1. The opening at the top of the vase must be at least the size of the marble, or you wouldn't be in the fix you're in, right? And the inside of the vase probably tapers toward (more or less) a point at the bottom.

2. Find a 3/8 inch or 1/4 inch wooden dowel that you can stick in the top of the vase and touch the marble, with enough left hanging out of the top to act as a handle ...3 or 4 inches should do.

3. Wrap tape around and around the dowel about 1/2 inch up from the tip that's going to touch the marble. I'd use 1' silk 'nurses tape' because I have a load of it around the house. You are trying to build up the dowel to *almost* the diameter of the marble.

4. Go to the hardware store and buy a tube of GEL super glue. It's not as runny as original super glue, and it takes 15 seconds, or a little longer, to set up.

5. Put a dab of the gel super glue on the business end of the dowel, and carefully insert it into the vase until the glue is on the marble. In 15 seconds, your stick will be glued to the marble, but leave it alone for an hour or so. (The tape buildup was to keep you from bumping the glue-loaded dowel on the inside of the vase as you approach the marble, hands shaking.)

6. Now the fun part. Put a towel down on the tabletop. Use the handle of the dowel that's sticking out of the vase to hold the vase up off the towel a half inch or so

On Wed, 09 Jun 1999 17:30:15 -0400, Tom Bellhouse

(snip marble extraction scheme)

Tina

I could have swor my grandmother siad years ago that using murphys oil soap & warm water in a vase, letting it sit for a little while until the water got a little cool did the same trick. Must be one stuck marble. Try Toms idea then try my grandmothers , they both actually work. I remember time after time us kids putting stuff into old jars & vases we were supose to be playing with, just to see the reactions on mom & grandmas faces. Sincerely Paula Delete Fada from email, Paula Wood,,http://members.aol.com/eman1958/keepers1.html, Keepers Antiques

Haltom City.TX. 76117