Glass blowing anyone?

Question

I was wondering how to start blowing glass. what do i need? would it be better if i took the local class or taught myself? is it really that hard to learn?

Answer 1

Start at
http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/what-can.htm
it is always better to take a class. Then you won't buy equipment that turns out not to work in the long run and therefore waste money.

Answer 2

Youll need
a furnace,
a work bench,
a kiln to cool the glass down slowly,
a steel topped table called a marver,
a thing called a glory hole furnace which is a smaller furnace used to reheat the glass while youre blowing it....
Youll also need a coupla tons of iron free silica sand,
about half a ton of sodium carbonate,
half ton of potassium carbonate,
100kg Zinc oxide,
5kg manganese oxide,
very small tin of cobalt oxide,
100kg Nephyline Syenite,
100kg antimony oxide and a small cement mixer to mix up the glass batches.
Youll also need some accurate scales to weigh up to 30kg buckets,
a batching shovel,
respiration mask,
On top of all that youll need
some blowing irons,
some punty irons
jacks,
water buckets,
fruitwood paddles and shapers.
Some coloured glass rods.

Answer 3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_blowing