# Is this a cool gift idea? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cool-gift-idea/94099 "2001-11-18T21:32:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cool-gift-idea/94099/1 "2001-11-18T21:32:55Z")
I’m in a quandary here. I just got this epiphany of a gift idea for Mr. Cranky. 8 weeks of glass-blowing lessons. Thing is, if I buy this, it will be his only gift from me. These aren’t cheap. I am reasonably sure he’d love it. He’s never worked in this medium and all that hot molten glass and fire has to appeal to him on a base level even if he wasn’t artistic. On the other hand, what if he loves it? This is an expensive hobby as I understand it!! Am I setting myself for a lifetime of poverty? What do you Dopers think? Cool gift? Iffy? ---
**Author:** ![Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Tiki_God)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cool-gift-idea/94099/2 "2001-11-18T21:43:26Z")
I’m thinking it’s really spiffy. Thing is are the sessions set at certain times or can Mr. Cranky pick the day and times he wants to do it? It’d be a real stinker if he came down with a bad cold and missed one or two of those sessions. Just something to think about maybe. But to tell you the truth I’d be jazzed about getting a gift like that. ---
**Author:** ![tisiphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tisiphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tisiphone)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cool-gift-idea/94099/3 "2001-11-18T22:20:50Z")
If he doesn’t want them can I have them? Please please please? 😉 You’re not setting yourself up for a lifetime of poverty, you’re nourishing the next Louis Tiffany! ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cool-gift-idea/94099/4 "2001-11-18T22:22:07Z")
I think it’s a great idea! And… you can get him to make you really pretty stuff, too, like vases and bottles and maybe even a bouquet of glass flowers. You’re right; there is something aesthetically tasty about molten glass, isn’t there? Like ribbon candy in another form or something. I’d say get the lessons for him! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cool-gift-idea/94099/5 "2001-11-18T23:20:48Z")
God damn you, Cranky! That’s what _I_ was getting him for Christmas! ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cool-gift-idea/94099/6 "2001-11-19T00:21:31Z")
And actually, it doesn’t have to be all that expensive, not that I’ve got glassblowin’ experience here, but what’s glass? Sand! So if he likes it and he wants to do it more often, then ya get him a sand box and a blowtorch and he’s happy! What’ll that set ya back, like $20? Seriously, though, I’m sure there’s all kinds of websites out there dedicated to hobbyists and they’ve probably got _lots_ of cost saving ideas. I know that for metal workers there’s all kinds of books telling you how to make a machine shop from scrap metal and things like that. The guy running the glass probably gets some kind of “kickback” for pointing your husband in the direction of this or that supplier, do a little research and you can probably find the exact same stuff somewhere else a lot cheaper. (That, or directions on how to make your own for next to nothing.) ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cool-gift-idea/94099/7 "2001-11-19T00:24:50Z")
I say Good Idea. It’s fun, he gets to learn something new and play with fire. You get lots of nice vases and such. And if he comes to love it, then you’re under no obligation to keep paying for the lessons, but you _do_ have perfect gifts for the next birthday - glassblowing stuff. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cool-gift-idea/94099/8 "2001-11-19T02:30:07Z")
Hey **Uke** , in case you were seriously thinking of getting someone glass blowing lessons (okay, maybe not Mr. Cranky) but someone in your own burg) you wouldn’t have to go too far. Urban Glass in Brooklyn, NY, USA isn’t too far from you and offers an full range of glassmaking classes. ---
**Author:** ![HerMajestyLorna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7cd45c/32.png) [@HerMajestyLorna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HerMajestyLorna)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-cool-gift-idea/94099/9 "2001-11-19T02:53:22Z")
I think it’s an awesome idea. I would be blown (heehee) away by that kind of present.