What is Lampwork?
Glass rods are melted and wound on a mandrel using either Moretti (Effetre) or Bullseye glass, there are other brands of glass, however these are the two types of glass used in Kincaidesigns handmade jewelry. This glass comes in long rods and their diameters range, not usually exceeding a quarter inch for bead making. The glass begins to move at around 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, and the glass is workable (it can be shaped or molded) at 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. There are many different tools used in flameworking, usually made of stainless steel or graphite. Graphite tools are used because they don’t stick to the hot glass. Stainless steel tools will stick to hot glass while in the flame or when its at it’s hottest temperatures, however, they are very effective in shaping glass when properly used. Each of the glass beads are individually flameworked (torch-blown) and properly kiln-annealed overnight. Read more about the history of lampworking and handmade glass beads…
Glass lampwork is the centuries old art of melting glass with a flame to produce handmade lampwork glass beads. The word lampwork came from originally using oil filled lamps to heat the glass to a molten stage. Today we use fuel and oxygen torches. Glass rods are melted over a torch into a molten stage and wound around a steel mandrel to form a shape or bead. While the glass is molten various colors of glass and materials such as silver, or copper, are added to achieve the desired look. Each bead can only be made one at a time, therefore no two are alike. The bead is then finished in the flame and annealed (cooled down) in a high temperature kiln for strength and longevity.
