Safety with Glass Blowing
As mentioned in a previous post, glassblowing is not for the faint-at-heart. You must be sure to take precautions in case your piece explodes—a real possibility!
Due to the materials you’ll be working with, a few cuts and burns are inevitable. Proper safety equipment is essential: gloves, safety goggles, a respirator, closed-toe shoes, and perhaps a face shield and cotton clothing (or even better, protective clothing). In addition, you should stay hydrated while you are working.
As a matter of fact, glass blowing is often done as a team effort to help cut down on errors that could lead to dangers such as burns or explosions. A gaffer who directs the team through perhaps hundreds of steps to create a single piece, where timing is critical.
The following article gives you an overview of precautions that you need to take before getting into the hobby of glassblowing, or lampworking.
Read This Before You Get Into Glassblowing
Glassblowing is an exciting occupation. You’re reading this article right now because this is something that you’re seriously considering doing. Well, you better be serious because glassblowing is serious business. While it is relatively safe when done under proper conditions and supervision, there are dangers involved. You’re working with glass and extreme temperatures. So before you get into this, there are a few things you need to know. This article will get you started.
For one thing, this is a regulated industry because of the potential dangers. That means that you’re going to have to have your place inspected by the state authorities. Each state’s regulations are different, so you’re going to have to check with your particular state for theirs. I can’t help you specifically in this area without knowing where you live. So it’s your responsibility to make sure that your work area meets their criteria.
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Here’s a short video that gives you an idea of the heat involved in making glass beads. Note that the artist is not wearing gloves!
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The actual art of glassblowing essentially involves inflating molten glass into a bubble. Yes, as I said, there are extremes in temperature involved in this art. This inflating is done with the aid of a blowpipe or blow tube. One who does this is referred to as a glassblower, glassmith or gaffer.
There are basically two different types of glassblowing. One is called off hand glassblowing and the other is called lampworking. Both of these types of glassblowing involve working with hot molten glass and the use of a stainless steel or iron rod called a punty. Where they differ is the process by which the glass is heated and manipulated.
If you’re going to use off hand glassblowing techniques, you’re going to need three furnaces. The first one is used to hold the hot molten glass, the second is where the glass it heated and reheated and the third is where the glass cools. The lampworking method uses a flame that is created by an alcohol lamp and breath or bellows. This method is still used today to create such items as test tubes for laboratories.
By: DoDaman
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If you’re really interested in learning about glassblowing, in my signature is a review of a great resource that will teach you everything you’ll need to learn about this fine art.www.glassblowingreview.info
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Tags: glassblowing, glassblowing safety, lampworking, Making Glass Beads
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