|
|
|
Channels:
|
Search for:
|
Author: Glass_Masters, Contributing Editor
| Please give me step-by-step instruction to make a round bead.
You will have to heat the glass very gradually or it will explode. This is one reason why you need eye protection. |
| Sneak the tiniest possible part of the glass into the side of the flame and wait for it to turn yellow, then ease a little bit more glass into the flame very very gradually. You will have to experiment to see how fast you can heat the glass without exploding it.
Keep putting more and more heat into the glass, and try to get some idea of how soft the glass will be at what color, and to see how liquid you can let the glass get before it gets away from you. Try rolling the glass in your fingers when it has got enough heat in it to have the glass turning liquid. See if you can put just enough heat into the glass, and turn it just enough to form a ball on the end of the rod. This is just a little preliminary to get a feel for how the glass will behave at different temperatures, and also what the color changes in the glass are telling you about how liquid the glass is becoming as it heats up. Take plenty of time and just play with this. |
 |
| Now we will wind glass on a mandrel, a piece of stainless steel wire, prepared with some sort of bead release to allow the bead to be separated from the mandrel later. Bead release can be bought from lampworking suppliers, or you can make your own from 6-10 parts water, 5 parts kaolin or ball clay, 3-5 parts of some sort of flux like nepheline syenite or one of the spars, and 3 parts diatomaceous earth. All these things are easily found at a ceramic potters supply or a pool supply for the diatomaceous.
The mandrels are dipped into the bead release and allowed to dry before use. Two dippings and dryings are a very good idea. Let the first dip dry before doing the second. Turn the torch down low and make sure you do not have too much unburnt fuel in the flame. Heat a piece of white or clear glass, if you have one, in the flame until it melts and see if it stains black or gray. If it does, you need more oxygen in the flame, or if you are working on a propane/air torch like a hothead then you will have to move further out in the flame where the fuel will have had a better opportunity to burn before it reaches your glass. |
| You will need to pre heat the bead release on the mandrel before applying the glass. Get it at least red hot. The glass will not stick to the bead release if it is not hot enough. |
| Always use less heat on the glass than you think it will need. Use the minimum amount of heat that will allow the glass to move. |
| Quick Jump: | ||||
 |
||
|
||
Copyright © 1998-2009, F+W Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. FA |
||
