GLASS BLOWINGBeginning glass by Deann Lineback

GLASS BLOWING

I chose glass blowing because it is a course I am currently enrolled in at CSU Chico.

This is the first time I have ever worked with molten glass.

I am in the process of learning the terms and skills it takes to make a simple glass cup.

Glass blowing is an active, hands-on art that requires craftsmanship, dexterity and agility.

I have begun to truly appreciate glass blowing as an art since taking this course.

FIRST THING FIRST

Knowing terminology of glass blowing

That’s me!

•Blower – The glass worker that blows the air through the blowpipe (within the mold or freehanded).

TOOLS TO USE

Pincers

•Pincers – Glassmakers tool for picking up, transferring and applying water to the Punty to remove the glass piece from the pipe of blowpipe.

•Jack - Large tongs that are used in order tocreate score lines in the neck of a piece. Making a Jack line is often the line.

•Bench - The bench is the center of the hot Shoppe. It is where the artist works a piece and is the where all the tools are kept. The bench has two rails spaced on either side going perpendicular to the seat; these rails are used to roll the glass pipes on.

Bench

TOOLS CONTINUED…

•Block – The forming tool used for the shaping of the molten glass. The “Block” is usually made of cherry wood and is “wet” while used with the hot glass.

•Blow Mould – An open ended cylindrical designed to create effects or grooves in the molten glass by blowing into the blowpipe while in the mould vertically.

BLOW MOULD

TOOLS CONTINUED….

•Pipe Warmer- a small gas oven that is used to preheat the steel pipes; many glory holes have pipe warmers built into the side.

•Punty - A solid steel rod that is used for gathering hot glass that is placed on the receiving pipe for transferring the glass work that is currently connected to the blowpipe. Alsothe technique used to change the end of the glass that is being worked on.

•Blowpipe – A steel pipe with an air passage way throughout its entire length. One end has the mouthpiece and the other has the larger built up area for the molten glass to gather and blow the bubble on.

BLOWPIPE

MORE TOOLS CONTINUED…..

•Pot – A holding area for molten glass where the glass is continually kept at a designated heat for gathering.

•Glory Hole – The opening of the furnace used to keep the glass hot and workable. Several different sizes may be attached to a large furnace The cylinder is usually heated up to 2300 degrees.

TOO HOT FOR COMFORT

•Yoke - A stand in front of the glory hole that is used as a support for the blowpipes. Using ball bearings it allows the artist to turn the pipe easily with little effort giving them a chance to regain strength.

SO MUCH TO KNOW!....

•Gather - Placing molten glass on the end of the blowpipe or pipe for the further development of that glass project.

•Gathering - obtaining a layer of clear glass over a subsequent layer of glass.

MY FIRST

GATHER

Tiny air Bubble

•Parison – The first small bubble at the end of a blowpipe.

AFTER SECOND GATHERING, SHAPINGOCCURS

This can be done with the wooden block shaper…..

~OR~

By rolling the molten glass on the marver.

•Marver – A flat steel plate that’s used for the picking up color chips or the shaping of molten glass on the end of a blowpipe or pipe with a rolling action. A Marver can also help in the uneven cooling of the glass for a desired effect.

NOW THAT THERE IS GLASS OFF THE TIPOF THE BLOW PIPE BEGIN TO BLOW!

•Reheat - to heat the glass back to a molten state; usually done in the glory hole.

end of blow pipe

I’M GOING TO USE THE BLOW MOULD

Stand on tippy toes and blow HARD!

Then flash!Then blow out air bubble

•Flash - A quick reheat in the glory hole in order to keep a part of the glass from getting too cold.

READY FOR JACK LINE

The crease line that will be used to separate the glass work from the blowpipe is made by the Jacks

•Neck - The edge of the piece that will be scored and separated when transferring the working piece onto the punty.

TIME FOR PUNTY…AND TRANSFER

Punty onto bottom of glass piece

Then flash.next: open the top with the Jacks.

•Flash.Continue to shape top.

•Flash.•Shape.

•Flash.•Shape.

•Flash.

These are not mine,… I lost my piece when I tapped it off the blow pipe .(that’s the “breaks” ha ha)

•Wetting Off – The separation line for the glass work from the blowpipe using cold water to fracture control the break usually done by dipping the pincers in water and droplets touch the neck of the piece.

wetting

TIME TO ANNEAL

When you’re satisfied with shape then place in the annealing oven by wetting off your piece.

•Annealing Oven – The process of gradual cooling of the outside and the inside of the molten glass to assure that the glass won’t cool to fast causing cracks or breaks; known as….•Thermal Shock – The cause by a sudden shift of temperature hot or cold causing the glass to break, crack or shatter.

MY FIRST COMPLETED PROJECT

This small cup was made by using the blowon mould to give the line pattern.

http://www.orientandflume.com/http://www.chihuly.com/Video/screening.html

http://www.artofvenice.com/art/dfaction.htmhttp://www.mundyhepburn.com/main2.html

Glass links