How is glass blown?
Glass blowing is one of the best known and spectacular glass techniques. It is done in a hot glass studio. Transparent molten glass is kept in a furnace at about 1250 degrees Celsius. The glass blower uses a blowpipe to collect glass from the furnace. molten glass has the consistency of honey. Because glass cools quickly outside of the furnace, the glassblower must continuously turns the blowpipe in a reheating unit (gloryhole) to keep the hot glass from drooping or breaking off. A glass bubble is then blown and manipulated using tools like a wet newspaper pads, wooden blocks, jacks and shears etc. and given the desired shape. Also, powdered coloured glass can be added. The finished pieces are annealed for many hours. This technique demands body strength and heat resistance. Useful and decorative objets are created with this technique. Glass blowing class.
