Open Studio Time
1 - 4 hours
Max Individuals: 4
Introducton to Lamp Work Bead Making
Open Studio welcomes beginners and those with experience. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with these Open Studio Guidelines.
Open Studio is available to all upon completing a class here at Dakhorse A & G. All Open Studio appointments must be made in advance. Call, email or stop by to schedule your session.
Safety. All safety instructions given by staff or posted on signs must be followed. Glass cuts happen in the studio. Always use a band-aid to prevent spreading blood. In order to ensure everyone’s safety, we may require additional classes or suspend Open Studio access if safe practices are not demonstrated.
What Equipment can I use? Open studio sessions allow you to use all of the equipment you have used in classes (ie. cutters, pliers, guides, etc.) You will need to have the basic experience needed to create your project. You should also have a firing schedule to use for your project if needed. We are happy to offer brief assistance and may possibly offer suggestions to make sure your project has the best chance of being successful. If you are using a torch, you must dress for safety (natural fiber clothing, long pants, and closed toed shoes.
When Mistakes take place. Darkhorse is responsible if we misprogram kilns and we do double checks on all kiln programming to help avoid errors. If work is beyond recovery, we will compensate for glass replacement and firing fees. If the work is salvageable by additional firings, we will provide those at no cost. Kilns occasionally malfunction. It’s rare and we will not charge firing fees if a kiln malfunctions, but lost materials and or time is not covered.
Open Studio Tools & Equipment
• Paragon GL24 kilns
• Paragon Pearl 56 kiln
• (1) Large circle cutter
• (1) Repetitive small circle cutter
• Glass cutting workspace
• Student tools (including eyewear)
• Various slumping molds
Lampwork Studio Tools & Equipment
- Bethlehem Star Torch
-Paragon Kiln
-Mandrels (1/32, 1/16, 1/8 inch dia.)
-Synthetic Bead Release
-Dididium Glasses
-Student Tools
Kiln guidelines. When you reserve a kiln, your work is prioritized to be fired the same day. There may be circumstances beyond our control that do not allow for same day firings. When designing your pieces, factor in shelf dimensions plus a 0.5˝ distance between your piece and the shelf edge, in all directions. Molds may be fired together in a kiln only when the firing schedules are similar.
Lampworking guidelines. Informal supervision will be given for at least the first Open Studio session you reserve. This will include insuring you demonstrate primary skills such as organizing your workspace, cleaning and preparing glass and mandrels, glass application at the torch, and annealing.
Studio Cleanliness. Leave shared table space and equipment accessible for other students and staff while working in the studio. We do not store studio user’s glass or supplies and are not responsible for anything left behind. Leave all workspaces as you found them. Any glass you are not keeping should be placed in the Glass Only container.
Open Studio Fees
Studio Basic Rate ............................$5/hour
(Includes studio access and all basic tools needed)
Kiln firing in a XXXX $20 on a 14˝ × 14˝ shelf
(includes either a sheet of Thinfire paper or, a fresh application of Zyp Shelf Release)
Kiln firing in a XXXX $30 on a 21.5˝ × 21.5˝ shelf
(includes either a sheet of Thinfire paper or, a fresh application of Zyp Shelf Release)
Mold (small or medium) rental ..... $6/mold
Mold (large, drop) rental ....
$10/mold
All Kiln firings are charged per 24-hour period.
All glass (Oceanside or Bullseye) can be purchased at our retail costs. Costs vary based on color and type (opaque, transparent, luminescent, dichroic)