Lamp Work Glass Bead Making

Service Description

A four hour session that combines discussions of how glass rod is turned into a bead using a propane/oxygen torch. Students can create a 6 - 9 beads of their very own! Class Topics: Safety Rules- 1. How to safely organize your work area to reduce the chances of injury. No crossing over!! 2. Understand the need for appropriate clothing and eye wear. (long sleeve and natural fibers, close toed shoes, and use of didydium filtered glass. 3. Different torch types (gas v. gas/oxy) and their set up. 4. The structure of your torch flame Base skills- 1. Understanding the different glass types (COE and 104/90/33 glass). 2. Prepping mandrels for use to form your beads and safely removing your beads after annealing and cooling down. 3. Pre-heating glass rods and mandrels and applying molten glass to begin your bead. 4. Using both gravity and various tools (marvers, smashers) to create a uniform base bead. 5. Explore making various basic bead shapes (cone, bicone, cylinder, flat) 6. Learn various ways to accessorize your bead (frit, dots, stringers. Heating and Kiln Process- 1. Know the difference in preventing thermal shock v. fully annealing your glass. 2. Understand the various steps in a kiln firing schedule. 3. Learn firing schedules in order to anneal your beads. Bead finishing- 1. Safely removing beads from the mandrel. 2. Cleaning your bead safely. Classes are 4 hours maximum with a break as needed. Pieces are fired overnight and we will contact you when your art is ready to go home!