The Tacoma Glass Museum contains a 'HOT SHOP' where glass is blown.
Entry to the museum includes the HOT SHOP.
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| The boss .... |
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| This is the product they will make below. |
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| There are several ovens, tables and equipment in a large area. The public can watch from arena seating or a cat walk above. |
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| They start with a pole dipped in molten glass and turn it on a table to shape it. |
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| It goes back and forth from the oven dozens of time. |
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| Shaping continues with wet newspaper and a cast iron pan |
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Calipers measure and shape.
Wooden paddles help support the weight and shape. |
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| The blow torch shapes and heats to allow cutting. |
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A second pole is added to the bottom (not shown),
the first pole is is cut off and
the second pole is then used to support the glass object. |
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| What will be the top is now pinched off, cut with calipers and flattened with the paddle. |
Click on the arrow below the video for a few seconds of live action!
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| It is smoothed on the outside to ensure it is level and the top is smoothed and flared a little. |
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The outside is torched to make it glossy and the end is tapped to remove the pole. In an instant, a man with an asbestos suit swoops in and picks up the vase to place it in a cooling oven.
I've seen the process before, but still find it fascinating!
I find it interesting that some of the tools are very basic: wet newspaper, wooden paddles and the poles ... just as in the past. |
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