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Author: Laura_Brito, Contributing Editor
| A hot glass studio can be a very small or a very large operation. Beginners usually find that making beads, small sculptures, pendants, ornaments, and other small things are the easiest items to start with. If you are thinking about exploring the wonderful world of hot glass art as your creative outlet this article will help you understand some of the tools and materials you will need to get started.
Lampworkers are people who work with a torch and rods of glass. This can be the least expensive point of entry with hot glass art. The word Lampworker came from ancient times. Roman 'Glass Artist' used a wax or oil lamp with a small flame, and they would blow air into it with a hose or pipe to make it hotter and able to melt soft glass, thus the word Lampworker. I find that many people do not know what lampworker means so I prefer to use hot glass artist or flameworker. These tend to be understood enough, though I still get the usual statement "Oh you blow glass". Other types of Hot Glass Artists: Glass Blowing - This is usually on a larger scale than a Lampworker but not always. People who blow glass make scientific glass items such as test tubes, beakers and join tubing. Vases, bottles, bowls, plates, perfume bottles, ornaments, and some more unusual items like pipes, martial aids and glass eyeballs for humans, dogs & cats are more on the creative side of glass blowing. Fuser or Slumper – Makes use of sheet glass and shards. In a kiln these are melted together to form one solid piece, which can be used as a Cabochon, a small oval or freeformed shaped piece, that is set in jewelry, belt buckles, or other items. plates, bowls or decorative items can also be made by this technique. Neon – Tubing that is bent to form letters & shapes usually used for retail & commercial enterprises. Neon is filled with a special gas. Glory Hole – Usually these are big operations, it takes a large studio and a very good ventilation system. The Glory Hole is normally a propane/oxygen mix like a large oven/torch. Here you get a large gather of the melted glass on the end of your blow pipe and shape and form this from a distance because of the heat. Often Newspaper is used with special gloves to smooth it out by your gaffer (helper). To the right is an example of Moretti glass, I like to store my glass in PVC pipe. It keeps the glass segragated so that I don't mix up colors of different hues, and it also helps keep my inventory area clean. Light duty plastic fencing posts, cut into proper lengths will stack nicely due to their rectangular shape. The are also lighter than PVC pipe. |  |
| The lampworkers of today use a torch that will melt glass to form small items. Torches come in different varieties. The simple torch called a hot head, pictured below, uses disposable MAPP gas bottles, or can be used with larger bulk containers. This torch does not require hoses, regulators or oxygen. The Hot Head torch is slower in melting the glass than other torches. It can affect the color of some glass, mainly non transparent colors.
Propane/oxygen premix is a torch that mixes the fuel gas with the oxygen before either exits the burner face. Torch prices can range from $35 to thousands of dollars. Most lampworkers use a torch called a minor which is a premix torch. This type of torch cost approximately $169.00. You need an oxygen tank and a small 25lb BBQ propane tank to run it. When it comes to space all you really need is a small corner that is well ventilated to work in. Some people work outdoors while others work indoors and have sophisticated ventilation systems. A table top can be made of sheet metal, tiles, or fireproof board. Tiles are easy to clean with a brush. A drafting brush will keep the work area free of bits and pieces of glass. Flooring is something to consider as well. It is preferable to have concrete flooring, but tile, or a covering on your carpet, linolieum, or wood floor will work also. Some lampworkers use Masonite on their floor due to the fire retardant qualities of the board. Any hot glass that falls to the floor can be picked up with tweezers. These glass pieces are then put in a bowl of water kept on your work area for such purposes. |
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 | The torch pictured to the left is a Bethlehem Bead Burner that costs approximately $300.00 and is a premix torch. This torch is hot enough for Borosilicate work. I use a c-clamp to make sure the torch is stationary on the table or bench. This is important because you don't want to accidently tip it over into your lap. Make sure you hair is tied back securly, because it is easy to catch on fire.
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| This is Laura Brito's studio space. On the left is the big Bethlehem water cooled torch PM2D. On the right of the work bench is a Bethlehem Bead Burner, the Arrowsprings kiln and assorted glass rods and tools)
I would suggest if you are serious about lampworking you should purchase the following items: 1. A Minor Bench Burner torch ($169.00) or a Bethlehem Bead Burner (approx $300.00). 2. A large oxygen tank that you can either purchase or lease. 3. A small propane tank. 4. Regulators for your fuel and oxygen that feeds the torch. 5. Moretti soft glass since there is more instruction available for this type of glass. 6. A small kiln like the arrowsprings AF99 that has a pyrometer which will allow you to read the tempature of the kiln. 7. Small hand tools you can either make or purchase. a. Marvering paddle that normally has a graphite or a wooden handle. b. Pick (like an ice pick) c. Metal cup or bowl for water d. Stainless steel mandrels, which are usually welding rods cut into 10" to 12" lengths. This is where you form your beads and the rods make the holes in the beads. e. A bead release which is similar to kiln wash. This is a gritty substance that keeps the glass from sticking to your mandrels so the bead can be removed once they are taken out of the kiln. Your kiln needs to be on a dedicated circuit breaker It is the most intense electrical appliance that you may own. The kiln is capable of reaching tempatures in excess of 2500 degrees. The pyrometer takes the guess work out of gauging the tempature within the kiln. A kiln should be placed on a stand surrounded on three sides with fireproof materials. Nothing should be stacked or put near the kiln in case the pyrometer malfunctions. |
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| There are many types of glass and the differences are explained below. One thing that most people do not know is that glass is liquid. It is strange to think of it like that, but the window in your home is liquid glass that has been stiffened. If left alone for hundreds of thousands of years it would eventually slump to the bottom of the window sill.
Soft Glass - Is usually Moretti or Effertre glass from Italy. This type of glass melts with a lower tempature flame. Satake (Japanese), Czech glass, Bullseye, stained glass, Murano, Lausha, and P.I.G. are also soft glass. Soft glass takes less time to heat up and also stays hot longer than Borosilicate glass. Czech glass is considered for the most part compatible with Moretti glass and has a COE (Co Efficency) range of 102 to 115. |  |
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