Lampworking was very popular in Italy in the 1300s. It differed from glass blowing in that glass was heated over small oil burning lamps instead of in a furnace. This art form eventually found its way all around the world. Today there are many lampwork bead artists who sell their amazing products at online stores.
Today many of these artisans choose to work from home studios. They take great pride in producing one-of-a-kind beads, marbles and other glass objects. They love what they are doing and are often prepared to offer quality guarantees to their customers. Some are well known for their special style that has developed through many years of studying and making beads.
Many types of glass are used but borosilicate and soda-lime are most common. Borosilicate is harder, more expensive and needs a higher temperature. However, it does not crack as easily. Oxygen is used instead of air and torches need to be larger. Soda-lime is much softer and offers more variety of colors.
Unlike glass blowers who require a furnace, these artisans use torches. A torch may be attached to a bench for a more stationary flame whilst a hand held one offers heat that can be maneuvered. A wire called a mandrel is used and it is coated with a substance that prevents the glass from sticking to it. A pick made of tungsten allows holes to be bored in beads and a reamer made of graphite is used to enlarge them. A kiln is necessary for annealing the beads.
A glass rod has to be slowly introduced to a flame so that it does not crack due to thermal shock. The mandrel is coated with a releaser like boron nitride so that the final product is easily removed. Both the glass rod and the mandrel are heated and the mandrel is rotated so as to wind the molten glass onto it.
Beads are embellished and decorated using many different materials and techniques. Sometimes glass fibers are melted onto the base. Metals like copper, silver and gold are added in the form of mesh, leaves or wires. Striking is a technique used to apply colors with a silver base. Fuming is heating metal until it forms particles on glass, changing the color.
Methods that work with glass in its cold state are called cold working techniques. Sandblasting, cutting, grinding, polishing and painting are some of these techniques, each offering an array of possibilities. Grinding wheels may are used to roughly facet it and an acid can be applied to the surface to frost it. The glass has to be cooled at a specific temperature in a kiln. If this is done too slowly, it becomes stressed causing it to crack. Many mass produced products do not go through this process or it is not done correctly.
An artisan lampworker will ensure that holes in beads are cleaned properly and do not have rough edges that can cut the stringing material. If they are not cleaned properly, the dust from the releasing agent is hazardous to inhale. Artist made beads are more expensive but they often vastly increase the quality of jewelry made with them.
Today many of these artisans choose to work from home studios. They take great pride in producing one-of-a-kind beads, marbles and other glass objects. They love what they are doing and are often prepared to offer quality guarantees to their customers. Some are well known for their special style that has developed through many years of studying and making beads.
Many types of glass are used but borosilicate and soda-lime are most common. Borosilicate is harder, more expensive and needs a higher temperature. However, it does not crack as easily. Oxygen is used instead of air and torches need to be larger. Soda-lime is much softer and offers more variety of colors.
Unlike glass blowers who require a furnace, these artisans use torches. A torch may be attached to a bench for a more stationary flame whilst a hand held one offers heat that can be maneuvered. A wire called a mandrel is used and it is coated with a substance that prevents the glass from sticking to it. A pick made of tungsten allows holes to be bored in beads and a reamer made of graphite is used to enlarge them. A kiln is necessary for annealing the beads.
A glass rod has to be slowly introduced to a flame so that it does not crack due to thermal shock. The mandrel is coated with a releaser like boron nitride so that the final product is easily removed. Both the glass rod and the mandrel are heated and the mandrel is rotated so as to wind the molten glass onto it.
Beads are embellished and decorated using many different materials and techniques. Sometimes glass fibers are melted onto the base. Metals like copper, silver and gold are added in the form of mesh, leaves or wires. Striking is a technique used to apply colors with a silver base. Fuming is heating metal until it forms particles on glass, changing the color.
Methods that work with glass in its cold state are called cold working techniques. Sandblasting, cutting, grinding, polishing and painting are some of these techniques, each offering an array of possibilities. Grinding wheels may are used to roughly facet it and an acid can be applied to the surface to frost it. The glass has to be cooled at a specific temperature in a kiln. If this is done too slowly, it becomes stressed causing it to crack. Many mass produced products do not go through this process or it is not done correctly.
An artisan lampworker will ensure that holes in beads are cleaned properly and do not have rough edges that can cut the stringing material. If they are not cleaned properly, the dust from the releasing agent is hazardous to inhale. Artist made beads are more expensive but they often vastly increase the quality of jewelry made with them.
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