Lampwork Basics: Turning Glass Rods into Glass

Beads with Jodi Hesting

Welcome to Jodi Hesting, a lampwork glass bead and jewelry artist and our newest guest
blogger on Jewelry Making Daily. To get us started with the basics, Jodi's sharing an
intro to lampworking history, supplies to make lampwork glass beads, and basic
terminology you'd hear around a lampwork studio, along with gorgeous examples of her
work. Watch for more lampworking articles and projects from Jodi and other glass artists
in the future on JMD. Enjoy! -Tammy
Tammy Jones
   is the editor of
Jewelry Making Daily.

Photos by Jodi Hesting.

 
Introduction to Lampworking: History, Supplies, and Terminology
by Jodi Hesting
 
So many people think that I fix or work on lamps when I hand them my business card
with my title as "lampworker." The term "lampworking" comes from an early description of
the art, which dates back to ancient Syrian times. Early lampworking was done using the
flame of an oil lamp, but now most artists use torches that burn propane, natural gas, or
butane. So today a more appropriate or modern term for lampworking might be
"torchworking" or "flameworking." More Jewelry Making Daily
 
What is Lampworking?
• Blogs
  • Galleries
A quick Internet search provides a • Videos
Wikipedia definition for lampworking • Free Projects
as follows: "Lampworking is a type • Join  Jewelry Making Daily
of glasswork that uses a gas-fueled • Share Your Comments
torch to melt rods and tubes of clear
and colored glass. Once in a molten
   
state, the glass is formed
by shaping with tools and hand
movements."
 
Lampworking is used to create
many forms of art including beads,
bottles, and figurines; it is even
used to create scientific
    instruments, models, and plant and
animal subjects.
 
Lampwork Bead History
 
Lampwork beads are probably best known
from Italy, where Venetian glass artists
closely guarded their technical secrets for
hundreds of years. About thirty years ago a
group of American artists started
experimenting with lampworking techniques
and sharing their knowledge. They started
small businesses creating tools, torches,
and other equipment for glass enthusiasts.
This group eventually formed the Society of
  
Glass Beadmakers in 1993, which soon became theInternational Society of Glass
Beadmakers(ISGB.org).
 
Getting Started: Lampworking Tools and Supplies
 
Here's my list of some of the basic tools and equipment that lampworkers use in making
their glass creations:

 Glass: Most glass used for bead making is sold in rods, making it easier to hold
while creating lampwork beads. It comes in a variety of colors as well as co-
efficiency ratings.
 Torch and fuel: Any of various kinds of flame or heat source used for melting
glass. Depending on the type of torch you have, you will need one or more types
of fuel to create a flame, such as brazing fuel, propane, natural gas, and oxygen.
 Regulator: Manages the flow and pressure of the gas and oxygen as it comes out
of the tanks and into the hose to the torch.
 Kiln (also called an annealer): This is an insulated machine box used for slowly
cooling (annealing) beads to avoid internal stresses that may cause the glass to
crack.
 Mandrels: Thin stainless steel rods on which beads are made on. Available in a
variety of thickness, which determines the size of hole your beads will have.
 Bead separator (or bead release): A specialized clay mixture that creates a buffer
between the steel rod and the hot glass, so that the bead can be removed after it
cools.
 Marver: A smooth, heat proof surface used to roll or press your bead for shaping.
 Bead rake: A metal instrument used for manipulating the hot surface of your
bead to create designs or various textures.
 Bead reamer: A tool used to help clean the bead separator or bead release from
the bead's hole after the bead is cooled and removed from the steel rod.
 Eye protection (didymium glasses): Specialized safety glasses for flameworking
which protect the eyes from any popping glass. Didymium glasses also allow the
lampworker to see through the soda flare (orange part of the flame).
 Ventilation: A hood fan or other type of fan that will help with ventilation in the
workspace.
 Lampworking Terminology
 
Here's a mini lampworking glossary
of some of the terms you might hear
around a lampworking studio, along
with their definitions in lampworking.
 
Annealing for lampworking is the
process of slowly cooling glass to
prevent stress or cracking.
 
Co-efficiency or COE is the
measuring of the rate of expansion
and contraction of glass as it is
    heated and cooled. When creating
with different pieces of glass, you must use glass with the same COE or compatibility to
avoid stress fracturing or cracking in the glass.
 
Frit is crushed glass that is sometimes melted onto other glass, or other glass can be
heated and rolled in frit, to create patterns and color in a glass design.
 
A gather is a noun in lampworking; it's the glob of molten glass that forms when you heat
a rod in the flame, as well as the rounded glob that's left on the end where you stopped
using a rod of glass.
 
Striker/striking refers to certain types of glass that start out one shade and change to
their true color when they are placed in the proper heat.
 
Stringers are thin rods of glass pulled from larger rods of glass, used for smaller
decorations and details (like dots, stripes, and facial
features) on a bead design.
 
Thermal shock is stress caused to the glass from
heating or cooling the glass too rapidly, usually
causing the glass to fracture or crack.
 
How to Get Started in Lampworking
 
Most states have their own chapter of the ISGB or
glass group. In Arizona, I belong to the Arizona   
Society of Glass Beadmakers. If you are interested in getting started lampworking, find
the local group for your area. Getting together with other glass enthusiasts has provided
me with a wealth of support and knowledge. There are also many online forums for glass
enthusiasts who do not have a group in their area. Both the local groups and online
forums are a great source for all ages and all stages in one's glass journey. If you are
interested in taking classes, you can search glass forums online to find private instructors
in your area. You can also check your local art center, community college, city parks and
recreation, and glass supply shops for lampworking classes in your area.
 
Working with hot glass is one of my most favorite things to do! I have tried my hand at so
many different art forms but none has taken over my heart like lampworking. The creative
possibilities are endless and it keeps me excited every new day at the torch! --Jodi
 
I'm inspired, are you? If you're ready to make jewelry out of glass beads or even try your
hand at making your own lampwork glass designs, you're in luck--all the eProjects are on
sale now in the Jewelry Making Daily Shop!
 
About Jodi Hesting
"I was lucky enough to have some wonderful
mentors when I started out and to pay it forward, I
have tried to help others start on their own glass
journey," Jodi says. She teaches beginning
lampwork classes in Arizona and created a  Web
page to help the beginning lampworker get started,
with recommended books, forums, and a basic
breakdown of tips and advice. You can also see
more of Jodi's lampwork glass beads and jewelry
designs on her website,Beadworx.com.

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Enamel Waves Classic Autumn

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by Ginny Sycuro by Ginny Sycuro

Create these beautiful Make your own version of

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Dot Beads Kimono Plum Bead
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You will have as much fun Express your own eastern

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Pacifying Pendants Lickety Split Super

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Showcase your bright Loop and twist your

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Create this spectacular silver Create beauty on both sides

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Be inspired by this ancient Keep your favorite artwork

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