Lampworking (flameworking) is the art of melting and manipulating glass in a flame. The glass rods that are used are usually 4mm to 12mm in thickness. There are different types of glass to chose; ranging from “soft“ to “hard” glass. There is a wide variety of torches available which can be used for making glass beads. Anywhere from a single gas (propane, mapp gas, etc.) to propane/oxygen mix torches.
The glass is wound as it melts around a steel wire welding rod (called a mandrel) that has been coated with a clay based material called “bead release”. This prevents the glass from sticking to the metal rod. After laying down your initial layer of glass, you will want to check for air bubbles and if you have them, force then to the surface by heating your bead in the flame and then cooling your bead with a paddle. You will want to do this because your bead may crack by having air trapped near the mandrel. You can then add more glass and shape your bead with a graphite or brass paddle. If you prefer, you can also shape your bead by using gravity. At this point you can decorate you bead by rolling it in frit (crushed glass), adding dots of glass or laying down stringers or decorative canes.
If you want frits or metals on the inside of your bead (you will want to use pure metals to keep your bead from cracking.) then you are going to want to cover your bead with an additional layer of either clear or a very pale transparent glass. This is called "incasing". When you have finished with your bead, you then will want to place it into a kiln that is turned on and set to the annealing temperature for the type of glass that you are using.
When the bead is at room temperature, then you are ready to remove it from the mandrel and clean the clay out of the inside of the hole. I usually break off the bead release first over a garbage can and then soak them in water. Locking pliers work the best for removing your beads, they will help you to remove your bead without bending the mandrel. There are several bead cleaners on the market to chose from, including an electronic cleaner which works very well.
To learn more about this unique process, attend one of my classes.
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