Two of the most frustrating issues most lampworkers face getting started with lampworking are Didymium glasses for eye protection and perfect ventilation. It took me years to solve these issues! Here’s my solution for eye protection that works great for me.
My didymium shield for glass lampworking. The arm is bendable & swivels.
Didymium Glasses vs Shield
Truly, I spent a fortune on didymium glasses! The secret is thinking long term and biting the bullet on initial cost. When I started lampworking, I bought the cheapest didymium glasses I could find. And if you are not sure you are absolutely going to continue lampworking, I guess this is a good road to go down. But trust me, these glasses are not built to last. I broke a couple of these glasses opening & closing them constantly over the years.
Some of the didymium glasses I bought. The back left glasses were the cheapest
Just doing soft glass lampworking?
You’ll need glasses that have Sodium Flare polycarbonate material. They are very efficient in filtering sodium flare in addition to providing excellent ultraviolet protection. You need both protections.
If you plan to dip your toes into borosilicate glass torchwork or furnace work, you’ll need glasses that protect your eyes from IR (infrared) and UV (ultra violent). You can get Didymiums for soft glass and then some clip-ons with IR/UV protection when you work with boro. *This is important to do cause you can’t see IR but it burns your eyes! Here’s a link to read more details.
Exploring Options:
I’ve been torching for over 20 years and I wear glasses. I also use magnifiers to see up close for fine details. Things got even more complicated when I needed bifocals. So through the years I’ve explored lots of options.
1. Not wearing my glasses but using didymium glasses over magnifying glasses. I discovered I still needed my glasses to see.
2. Wearing my glasses under didymium glasses. Still needed my magnifiers for the close up work. Trust me, stacking 3 pairs of glasses don’t work!
Cheap magnifying glasses for glass lampwork. Sometimes I use different magnifications depending on what I’m working on.
3. Buying clip-on didymiums. The glass clip-ons were too heavy & slid down my nose. And they never fitted my glasses properly. They also tended to scratch my glasses. It also limits changing the shape of new eye glasses. Fashion trends go out the window.
4. Tried the traditional head magnifiers that jewelers use but they extend away from the head too far & easy to get in the flame. And they gave me a headache after a while.
5. I got little plastic magnifiers to put directly on my glasses. Problem was I only had 1 pair of glasses. Removing them everyday messed them up, scratched my glasses & was a pain in the behind.
I wasn’t a happy camper! When I came across the Didymium shield it was the perfect solution! Though a little expensive, it really would have been the cheap way to go if I hadn’t bought all the other glasses.
*What I love about the Didymium shield?
I love my didymium shield for glass bead making. Size: 5 3/4″ x 4 1/2″
1. It allows me to wear my glasses & a pair of magnifier glasses. I get cheap ones that only cover 1/2 of my glasses so I can still see distance with my glasses. Helps when I’m reaching for tools & glass rods. Sometimes I work really, really close & I only wear magnifiers.
2. Protects me from the heat of the flame, really nice after working for a few hours around 1800º.
3. Protects a larger area of my face. Who knows what sodium flare & UV really does to the skin.
4. Keeps me a safe distance from the flame so I don’t catch my hair on fire. (Don’t laugh! It has happened. Mostly singeing. I tend to really get into the ‘zone’ when torching.) And the shield makes it really difficult reaching over the torch to get something. A bad habit easy to get into!
5. Has a quick release clamp that screws to my work table. I like the shield without a base because it take up less working space. I can’t find one like mine googling it but Lampwork Etc. has a thread on shields if you want more details Click Here
I have seen didymium shields with a base online that would work. Just google ‘Didymium Shields’
Quick connect for my didymium shield. Val Cox on LE took her base off & made a clap mount for her table.
Didymium Shield quick release & clamp
6. Protects my face from flying molten shards. Very, Very important for me! I actually feel safer.
Where did I get my Didymium Shield?
I bought my shield years ago and it doesn’t have a source sticker. I have seen places online so they are available, most with stands. Make sure you get one large enough to protect your face. Too large will be bulky & restrictive working your glass. If you or your hubby is handy, you can even buy only the Didymium glass & make your own.
This post has gotten way too long, so I’ll write about my ventilation another day. I’ve got detail photos of my setup.
Now, back to figuring out what to do with hundreds of figs from my fig tree! And it looks like I’ll have some peaches very soon, too. I also planted an organic vegetable garden this year that is getting the best of me!
Dealing with Didymium Glasses & Figs Today
I hope this helps everyone, especially Don, who emailed me about my shield and my ventilation when he read my last blog post.
Happy Torching,
Patsy
P. S. Here’s another must read if you are a lampworker…10 Things Don’t Do While Torching.
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Many thanks for validating what I’d been thinking about the shields……looking forward to the ventilation blog, it’s hard for me to figure out the best way to go, as well as low cost but safe. Those figs look fantastic!!!! Make preserves or dehydrate them for use later in veggie stews etc.
Hi Diane,
So glad you enjoyed reading. Eye protection is complicated with lampworking, especially getting older. Ventilation was involved, too, getting it just right. I’m thankful I have a physics son and a chemist husband. They argued a lot but once it was done, life was so much easier torching.
Hi Patsy, I, too, make my beads in the center of the mandrel, but can only use relatively thin rods (even though they are longer), as I find the mandrel becomes too hot to hold as it increases in diameter. Do you make any big hole beads, and, if yes, have you found a way to widen the diameter of the center of the bead? Thanks much, Susan Reardon
Sorry, I meant to say widen the diameter of the center of the mandrel. S.R.
Great question, Susan! I’m sure others have had similar questions. Thinking back, I know I had a lot of problems finding just the right mandrels.
You’re right, solid ones get way too hot. Pulling out my stash of purchases, I discovered I wasted a lot of money in my search. I took pics & measurements of all the options I explored & realized it’s way too complicated for a quick answer.
I decided writing a post explaining all the details (with pics) would be more beneficial for you. I’ll email you soon with the details.
Hi Patsy, I am looking for a didymium shield for torching. Do you have any for sale and how much do you charge?
Hi I have made a few beads over the years, ( not on your scale),
but I am now having trouble in the UK buying silver leaf and silver foil, do you sell these or can you tell me of a supplier I can reach
Yvonne
Just saw your comment. I buy from Rio Grande or Frantz Art Glass. I don’t know about UK suppliers.
Hope this helps. Patsy