how do you blow glass?

Question

my main concern is how do i make a fire that hot? how hot does it need to be? like 2000degrees? where can i get one of those big straws to blow into and spin the glass? how do you get the different colors into the glass? can this be done by one person?

Answer 1

Hey E. Jizzy,

Traditionally, the glass was melted in furnaces from the raw ingredients of sand, limestone, soda ash, potash and other compounds. The transformation of raw materials into glass takes place well above 2000°F (1100°C); the glass turns into a burnt orange color, the glass is then left to "fine out" (allowing the bubbles to rise out of the mass), and then the working temperature is reduced in the furnace to around 2000°F (1100°C). "Soda-lime" glass remains somewhat plastic and workable, however, as low as 1000°F (550°C).

Glassblowing involves three furnaces. The first, which contains a crucible of molten glass, is simply referred to as "the furnace." The second is called the "Glory Hole", and is used to reheat a piece in between steps of working with it. The final furnace is called the "lehr" or "annealer", and is used to slowly cool the glass, over a period of a few hours to a few days, depending on the size of the pieces. This keeps the glass from cracking due to thermal stress. Historically, all three furnaces were contained in one, with a set of progressively cooler chamber for each of the three purposes. Many glassblowing studios in Mexico and South America still employ this method.

Answer 2

i got here upon your answer very exciting. Glass blowing is a misplaced artwork. I spent the main important area of my profession in a pitcher manufacturing unit. all of the glass blowers that I unquestionably have conventional, have been taught on the interest. are you waiting to relocate. Ther is a manufacturing unit in Williamstown, W.Va., that does some handblowing. that's a union manufacturing unit that provides apprenticeships. i'm not sure in the event that they're doing any hiring. back on your interest as a interest. Glassmaking could be extremely costly. you will choose a pitcher tank, and the countless components. you will could desire to maintain the tank lit very almost all of the time . Glassblowing can be extremely demanding on your lungs. i myself am bothered with white lung ailment.instead, you will possibly evaluate hand making marbles. a number of those craftsmen, do extremely nicely. Ty finding out marblemaking on the internet. I choose you the better of advantageous fortune.

Answer 3

You need to have a gas flame first. A propane torch would be good to start out with. Then you take a piece of glass tubing that's closed on one end and heat it up in the flame. You need to have it very hot and pliable. Then you blow into the tube to form the piece that you want to make. If the tube isn't closed, you can close it after heating it up. Start small and work up to bigger things.

Answer 4

Try contacting the Corning Museum of Glass at www.cmog.org They have workshops! Have fun!

Answer 5

first get on your knees.....................