Sometimes, while glass lampworking, common sense doesn’t click in until after I do something stupid. So I thought sharing with you some safety points I’ve learned the hard way may be helpful for you while torching glass.
1. Only wear 100% COTTON when torching glass.
I can’t tell you how many times a molten bead has rolled down my lap! Sadly, it seems to be harder to find 100% cotton nowadays.
You’ll find Modal often and I assumed it was cotton in another language but I’m wrong. Modal is from beech trees but considered a semi-synthetic because the raw material, cellulose, though a natural material, is then turned into a fiber using a chemical process.
Another fiber, ALGODON, is actually the Arabic word for cotton, and the label is a bilingual Spanish label.
If you see Pima, that’s Egyptian cotton. I go to Goodwill for all my glass lampworking clothes.
2. Always wear a thick Apron torching glass.
Be sure it’s 100% Cotton! You should see the holes in my apron!
glass lampworking cotton apron for torching glass
3. I wear arm protectors
And I wouldn’t torch without them! They get stretched out on the ends so I put big rubber bands on the ends to keep out all the flying molten glass as I torch.
Yes, I have no patience for slowly warm my glass. But even slowly heating, some glass is so shocky, I’ve had whole rods splinter to nothing! (Can I have my money back, please?)
arm protectors for torching glass
4. I always wear covered shoes that fit good.
I’ve had to jump up & away fast to help those molten glass beads roll down faster! You want your feet stable with no tripping with sandals or flip flops!
Trust me, the better you become as a lampworker, the more daring & stupid you’ll get!
5. OK, this may sound weird but I wear a cap on my head.
My lights are overhead and the bright glare from the lights affect my eyes. I like a little shade. The cap also keeps my hair away from my face. Of course, my hair looks pretty bad by the end of the day but I don’t have any hair singes!
I work with a magnifier & really close to the flame to get the fine detail I do.
cap for torching glass
6. Fingernails are a hazard.
NO, NO to artificial nails is a definite but even long fingernails can get scary. I have melted my fingernails when they get longer. For some reason, I tend to think I can use them like extenders from the heat. Sadly, I can’t feel the heat until the fingernails start to melt.
And I like to stay away from fingernail polish, too, just to be on the safe side. It is a synthetic & flammable.
7. Let’s talk coffee!
When I torch, I cut my coffee almost to O in the morning! But I love my coffee so much, that I changed to drinking Teeccino coffee or at least 1/2 & 1/2 coffee & Teeccino. It cuts my jitters down to almost nothing!
It’s so frustrating trying to space the molten dots perfectly on a flower pistil with a shaky hand.
View of my ventilation for glass torching
8. I don’t drink, EVER, when torching glass!
As flaking as I am, relaxing with a mixed drink or beer is guaranteed trouble for me! Going into the zone relaxes me enough! I have to stay alert always!
After a while, the flame becomes a friendly extension, like a paint brush. And it takes awareness to remember that this paintbrush is over 1000º plus!
I’m a little embarrassed to admit I’ve put my hand in the flame reaching over the flame to get something & burned myself!
9. Don’t try to reheat a cold bead straight into a hot flame…
I don’t care how little it is! That’s why you wear cotton and an apron because we always will try it at least once! If you must try, start w-a-y in the back of the flame where it’s cooler and work you’re way into the hotter front part.
If I need to reheat a bead, I heat it up in the kiln first. At least half the time it still explodes.
Thank you cotton apron that goes to my knees! I also have a didymium shield that protects me.
didymium shield for torching glass
10. Take breaks every 1 -2 hours.
Our bodies can only handle so much stress. And I don’t ignore the signs now. Jugdment get bad, the body gets tense & I realize I’m not breathing.
I get tired to the point that I drop out of the creative flow & I stop caring about what I’m creating. I just want to finish the glass piece!
I usually do 2-3 beads a day. And that’s a good day were every thing is flowing smoothly! That’s about 6 hours of work/play with 30 minute -1 hour breaks between.
If you’re in this to torch for the long haul, take care of your body.
Lampworking is hard on the back, wrists, shoulders and neck! I know, I’ve been going to the chiropractor for years. When I did production glass, the stress destroyed my body!
I pull weeds while taking breaks glass torching beads
Actually, I probably could list 100 things I shouldn’t have done in my years of lampworking glass beads. It seems my common sense is more reliable as hind sight!
Remember…It’s not perfection but Joy we are after! :)
Patsy
P.S. Read about 6 tips how to not get overwhelmed & frustrated with lampworking
My first beads in a ball on top right on shelf! Reminds me how far I’ve come on my frustrating days!Click here for 5 pitfalls in bead making
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I see your list and think it’s great! One of the things I try to avoid is to have all the tools and colors I need BEFORE I light the torch. That keeps me from hopping up from my seat and going across the room to quickly grab the tool I’ve forgotten. This could result in a shattered bead when I quickly get back to the flame.
Hi Babette, :) Boy, I’ve done that too! Good one! I do try to get everything laid out ahead of time but I swear there’s always something I forget! And yes, the bead usually cracks by the time I get what I need!
Please Patsy, tell us where you got your Didymium shield? Seems they’re no longer available anywhere.
Is the shield glass. Or polycarbonate?
Thanks so much.
dryenta@gmail,com
Judi, check out my post on Didymium shields. It’s everything I know. You might check with Frantz or ArrowSprings if this is no help. Suppliers should know a source. Come back and share your findings! :)
https://patsyevinsstudio.com/lampwork-supplies-issues-didymium-glasses-ventilation/