CourierPostOnline front page South Jersey News Sports Entertainment Classifieds Jobs Cars Real Estate Shopping


Customer Service
· Subscribe Now
· Switch to EZ-Pay
· About Us

Today's Weather
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Metro Editor
Donna Jenkins
News Sections
South Jersey News
World Report
Sports
Business
Living
Opinion
Varsity
Weekly Sections
Communities
New! Nuestra Comunidad
Senior Scoop
South Jersey Living
South Jersey Scene
Static for Teens
Technology
Volunteers
Women on the Run
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Featured
In Our Community
Corrections
Dating
Gannett Foundation
In Memoriam
Lottery Results
Obituaries
Pets
Photo Galleries
New! Spot News Kids Korner
South Jersey Guide
Weddings, Engagements & Anniversaries
Thursday, August 11, 2005Past Issues - S | M | T | W | T | F | S
 
South Jersey

Blowing Glass

Frit A blow pipe is placed in a large furnace and slowly turned to pick up or “gather” the molten glass, which has the consistency of thick honey. Then, the glass is placed in frit, crushed up glass mixed with color oxides, and turned to pick up the color (above.) Next, the glass with frit is placed in a heating chamber called a glory hole in order to fuse the color into the glass. Three coats of frit were put on this particular pitcher, but that may vary with each piece of glass.
Marver Next, the glass is rolled on a steel table called a marver, which shapes the glass and cools the surface to help control its drippy texture. Then, the glassblower blows into the blowpipe to make a small air bubble. Next, a second layer of molten glass is put on the glass bubble and it is rolled in a wooden shaping block (above) to keep an even layer of glass on the bubble. Then, it is put back into the glory hole to keep hot for the next step.
Mold The soft workable glass is then placed into a mold called an optic mold. The glassblower lightly blows into the pipe to fill the mold with glass. The glass takes on the shape and decorative pattern of the mold. Then, the glass is put back into the glory hole to keep it workable for the next step.
Full size mold The glass is put into another mold called a full size blow mold and closed by an assistant. The glassblower blows into the pipe and turns to fill the mold evenly.
Punty Next, an assistant gathers a small amount of molten glass in the furnace with a solid iron rod called a punty, and attaches it to the bottom of the pitcher. A file is used to score the glass and break it off of the blowpipe. Then, the lip of the pitcher is thinned with tweezers and trimming shears are used to cut off the uneven lip. Then, the molded glass is put into the glory hole again.
Jacks The top of the pitcher is shaped and flared open with a tool called jacks.
Molten More molten glass is picked up with a blowpipe from the furnace for the handle of the pitcher. The bubble is held above the pitcher and dripped on like thick honey. Then, the glassblower gracefully pulls the glass up and over with a pair of tweezers and delicately turns the end up. A graphite rod is also used to finish shaping the curved handle.
Molten The glass must be cooled in a very slow process, called annealing, to relieve stresses and prevent cracking and breakage. The glass is brought to a common temperature of 920° to 930° and held at that temperature. The oven cools down gradually overnight, and the pitcher can be taken out the next morning.

Back to index
Brainstorm Index



Copyright 2005 Courier-Post. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated December, 2002).
For questions, comments, or problems
contact us.

The Courier-Post is a part of Gannett Co. Inc., parent company of USA Today.

FIND A JOB
FIND A CAR
FIND A HOME
CLASSIFIEDS
Deals and Coupons
Auto Deals
Consumer Web Directory
Coupons
End of Month Values
Customer Central
Subscribe
Customer Service
About Us
Contacts
Advertise
Courier-Post Store
Jobs at the Courier-Post
Jobs with Gannett