Great Basin College

Art 299 E04: Advanced Glass Beadmaking

Spring 2009

Instructor: Kristen Frantzen Orr

Phone: 775-753-4928 E-mail:

Course Description: Learn progressively more difficult techniques for making handmade glass beads over the flame of an oxygen-propane torch.

Materials: All materials are included and are covered by lab fee.

Grading: This is pass/withdraw class.

Credits: 1

Objectives/Broad Categories
of Emphasis /

Student Outcomes

SAFETY / Student demonstrates safe working habits in the lampworking studio.
EQUIPMENT / Student describes and uses equipment for making glass beads.
PROPERTIES OF GLASS / Student recognizes the working properties of glass and demonstrates this knowledge by creating more difficult styles of focal beads.
ADVANCED SKILLS / Student constructs various specialty canes and uses them to create original works.
ADDITIONAL TECHNIQUES / Student produces beads that incorporate multi–layered striped canes, advanced surface decoration, metal inclusions, and encasements.
ARTISTIC INTEGRITY / Student applies knowledge, and experiments with techniques to create original designs
SAFETY
Fuels used in beadmaking:

·  Propane, MAPP, and natural gas are extremely flammable and potentially explosive. Discuss outside storage, transportation, checking for leaks, inspecting tanks, hoses and connections

·  Pressurized oxygen acts as an accelerant. Tanks must be secured to prevent being knocked over and hitting valve stem. Oxygen is combustible in presence of oil or grease. Use proper two-stage regulator. Transport only with safety cap in place.

·  Lighting the torch using the POOP acronym to teach turning on fuels in proper order: Propane on, Oxygen on, Oxygen off, Propane off

Ventilation

·  Flame combustion produces fumes that are unhealthy to breathe.

·  Substances such as enamel powders, frits and foils can add irritants to the air.

Proper ventilation consists of:

·  Removing (exhausting) stale air/fumes to the outside

·  Clean make-up air brought in from outside the work area

·  Circulating air in the room with fresh air pushed towards work area

Eye Protection

Safety lenses (didymium or AUR 92) will do the following:

·  Prevent glass shards or hot glass fragments from flying into eyes

·  Protect eyes from harmful infrared radiation given off by hot glass

·  Didymium or AUR 92 filter allows worker to see more of what’s happening in the flame by filtering out “sodium flare”

Burns and Cuts

·  Wear natural (not synthetic) fabrics; tie back long hair; no artificial fingernails

·  Always place rods with hot end away from you

·  Keep a bowl of water nearby to cool tools and fingers

·  Be aware of others around you

·  Avoid jumping up and knocking things over

·  Arrange rods and stringers to prevent cuts and burns

·  Wear protective eyewear when using the torch and when cutting glass

Workspace

·  Heat proof surface on work bench

·  Non-flammable material on floor and wall facing torch

·  Area kept clear of combustible and flammable materials

Safety Plan

·  Location of fire extinguisher; ideally between the torch and exit to room

·  Location of first aid box

·  Think through a safety plan in case of emergency

EQUIPMENT

Torches

Tanks and regulators; pressure settings

Shutting down the equipment when done

Kilns

Physical space - floor, ventilation, flammables, good lighting

Workbench - table top, chair, placement of tools and glass

Tools and supplies:

·  Tweezers, mashers, marvers, tungsten pick

·  Bead release

·  Mandrels: purchase or make from stainless steel TIG welding rods, 316L uncoated; how to dip mandrels

PROPERTIES OF GLASS

Physical/thermal properties:

When heated, molecules start to vibrate and move apart, breaking their chemical bonds, and glass starts to flow.

Glass is a poor conductor of heat.

Smaller amounts lose heat quickly. Larger masses retain heat longer.

Surface tension - Glass wants to gather into itself when heated

Thermal shock – Strain caused by abrupt heating or cooling

Annealing - Holding the glass in a set temperature range for a specific amount of time, based on the size of the bead, to allow the molecules to reform their proper alignment/atomic bonds. Annealing temperatures are given in a range where the glass is stiff enough to retain shape and surface decoration, but still fluid enough on a molecular level to allow stress to be relieved as its atomic bonds are re-formed.

Compatibility: Coefficient of Expansion, Viscosity

Glass Types

·  Soft glass: (soda lime) Effetre/Moretti; Bullseye; Lauscha; Czech

·  Hard glass: (borosilicate) Northstar, Glass Alchemy

BASIC SKILLS

Heating a glass rod

·  Thermal shock and how to prevent it

·  Types of flames - neutral, oxidizing, reducing

·  Working area - middle third of flame

Techniques

·  Making a stringer

·  Winding glass onto a mandrel

·  Position of bead in flame

·  Rotation for even heat

·  Preventing air bubbles

·  Even, dimpled ends

Shapes: round, oval, cylinder, bi-cone, flattened tab

Cleaning and dressing beads:

·  Taking beads off mandrels

·  Cleaning bead release out of holes

·  Removing sharp edges

ADVANCED TECHNIQUES

Multi–layered striped cane

Twisted cane

Murrini cane

Metal inclusions

Encasements

ARTISTIC INTEGRITY

Copying and repetition are an integral part of the learning process. Don’t be afraid to take what your instructor has demonstrated and practice, practice, practice!

Finding your own voice is important once you start making beads in earnest. Experiment with the techniques you have learned, and do not continue to copy another beadmaker’s exact beads.

SELECTED RESOURCES

Overview of available books and tapes; suppliers of glass, tools and equipment

Intermediate Glass Beadmaking 1 of 4