Trying a new hobby/idea - glassblowing..

[NickK]

So last Sunday I spent the morning glass blowing.

I should be picking up my final pieces on friday so more photos to come but for those that wanted to try it - here some photos.

I did four pieces:
* paperweight - every beginner piece lol. Three colours.
* a clear beaker for whiskey/alcohol
* a spin flared plate - a three colour plate.
* Xmas tree decoration.

It should be stated we had a safety briefing before stepping into the workshop. As a beginner you stand behind the master, with your hands behind his for safety and for learning. I can't convey the heat verbally and literally putting your hand too close to the molten glass would result in a serious burn.. so that's fine by me!!
"Bring water, wear a long sleeve cotton shirt and sensible shoes".. the lumber jack shirt was the only cotton shirt that wasn't white..

The main furnace holds the glass molten, literally it's like honey on a spoon but in this case we're using a long hollow pipe. So gathering from the main furnace:



The colours are applied by dipping into the granular colour glass



pushing the glass to the end of the rod



Then the glory hole - this reheats the glass to the point it almost falls off the rod - this is so you get the swirls and shapes in the glass.



Shaping the glass surface using water/wood and wet paper:




The beaker:





Widening the glass out


The flared dish:





The Boss here in action - I get to flatten the flared lip:

 

[Quartz]

It looks like you enjoyed yourself! Will you be going back?

 

[NickK]

It looks like you enjoyed yourself! Will you be going back?

Once I get the job sorted I probably will. This was a treat from the Mrs.

 

[Tee Hee Johnson]

I think there is a hipster heavy glass blowing show on Netflix, might be worth a watch for ideas etc.

 

[NickK]

I think there is a hipster heavy glass blowing show on Netflix, might be worth a watch for ideas etc.

Blown Away.

Yep watched that but it's always been on my list of things to try.

 

[Tee Hee Johnson]

Blown Away.

Yep watched that but it's always been on my list of things to try.

That’s the one! Looks interesting! I just feel id be rubbish at new things.

 

[martin363]

Nice, I used to run a glass factory in China, hand blowing items, it takes about 5 years of training to be considered a 'qualified' glass blower, and half the training is about teamwork, how to move about the blowing platform etc.

As we used to say in the industry - we blow, not suck....

 

[Kelt]

I'm pretty sure if I was doing this, I'd be bottling it.

 

[jsmoke]

Glass blowing was a huge part in the progess in science. The alchemists managed to isolate gases and hence study their properties due to their glass beakers, flasks and other glassware. Arguably without these glass vessels we would never be in the world we are now.

 

[13oots2]

I used to dig and still collect old bottles, most of the Victorian stuff was blown in a mould with a hand applied lip, earlier bottles can still have the open pontil scar from free blowing the glass.

When I was about 10 we went to Tenby on a school trip and visited a glasswork, they even let us blow some glass, doubt that would happen today with all the elf and safety regulations.

 

[Malevolence]

Went to see them blowing glass in Murano some years back, ******* were chucking it about and spinning it around like it was nothing. Was very impressive.

 

[NickK]

Went to see them blowing glass in Murano some years back, ******* were chucking it about and spinning it around like it was nothing. Was very impressive.

Timing is quite critical. There's heating which you associate with the various furnaces but there's also cooling to get the glass at the right consistency at which point the guy is sat there waving the rod around. Also the two other assistants are moving around in a very coordinated manner - the glass doesn't have to wait at any point because whilst you're doing one step the assistants are preparing the next step etc in parallel (such as have the right colours out just to go dip, dip, dip). That's really something you don't pick up from Blown Away.

We did the repositioning of glass - sticking one rod to the piece and then breaking off the other rod from the piece. It requires you to let the glass swing through a controlled arc so it's not under shock when it's released. The flanged plate is spun at the glory hole then batted flat.

Last step is breaking off the rod, using a torch to melt the remainder of the glass into the piece (reducing the pontil scar) and then it's placed in an annealer to cool down.

 

[Derek W]

Went to see them blowing glass in Murano some years back, ******* were chucking it about and spinning it around like it was nothing. Was very impressive.

Agree with this. I was in Murano 3yrs ago seeing the same stuff. Frightening how quickly the boy doing the demonstration formed a horse out of the glass!

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

I like the fact the master was wearing shorts, ballsy

 

[Blackjack Davy]

Hot work in this weather!

Glass blowing was a huge part in the progess in science. The alchemists managed to isolate gases and hence study their properties due to their glass beakers, flasks and other glassware. Arguably without these glass vessels we would never be in the world we are now.

Glass blowing is an ancient technology teh Romans knew how to do it and I don't think they invented it either

 

[Hades]

I would love to give it a go but I would probably suck.

 

[NickK]

I would love to give it a go but I would probably suck.

You're in Surrey - they're in West Horsley.

Seriously the guy (Adam) was awesome. They do the courses on Friday, Sat and Sunday.

I went to pick up my pieces and they're great. Just been having a drink out of the beaker

 

[BUDFORCE]

Looks like you had a smashing time. Bet you were shattered after that.

 

[cainer]

Interesting hobby to get into
i remember fishing off Eastbourne pier a few times as a kid and there was a glass shop on the pier, they made small ornamental things while you watch
and after doing a quick google they're still there, it's called the glass studio

 

[mike9199]

Can imagine that it is very relaxing. I don't have much time for a new hobby now with the writing course I decided to take last minute https://www.skillcourses.com/online-writing-courses/ but as soon as I finish it i will check out if i can find a glassblowing course somewhere around . Curious if you need some skills for that or everyone can do that?