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:

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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