How to make glass figurines?

Question

You know those glass figurines you see at the mall? Is there a web site that shows you how to make those? Also what materials do you need to get started?

To be clear, I'm not asking about BLOWING glass, nor am I talking about making glass beads.

I'm trying to find my mom a christmas present. She's really big into arts and crafts so I decided to try and find out what I can about making those little glass figurines.

Answer 1

If you mean the little glass animals that you see at the mall, those are made in a way very similar to making glass beads. You would need a torch and some glass rods, as well as an annealing oven. You'd also need some instruction, which can be difficult to find. The studio where I used to blow glass looked for a long time to find someone who would teach such a class - but they had no luck.

You would take a rod, heat it slowly in the flame of the torch, and then shape it. You can shape it using tools, or by touching a second glass rod to it and manipulating the hot glass between the two rods. Once you have finished your animal, or whatever, you break it off the glass rod and transfer it into an annealling oven. The glass needs to cool slowly or it will crack.

It's a pretty involved process, requiring some pretty specialized equipment. I'd hesitate before buying someone else a set-up without their input.

Answer 2

Making Glass Figurines

Answer 3

Here is how you make glass.
http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/The_Household_Cyclopedia_of_General_Information/howtomak_cge.html

Maybe you would like to do a nice polymer clay figurine instead?
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