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Tools |
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| Glassblowers use a wide assortment of standard and custom made hand tools and equipment in fabricating glass apparatus. Examples shown below are representative and commonly seen in the scientific glassblowing industry. |
 The
glassblowing process can produce visible and UV light transmission harmful
to your eyes. Didymium lens have been used
for years by scientific glassblowers, offering protection from glass shards
and providing sodium light filtration. New eye protection products on the
market today have been developed for glassblowers and should be looked
at specific to the type of glasswork you are doing. The upper two eyeglasses
shown have didymium lens. The glasses on the mid- left are used for
quartz work. The upper 1/3rd contain a didymium lens, the lower 2/3rds
are a welders shade 5 or 6, offering additional protection from the intense
white light produced when working quartz. |
 The
blowhose and the attachments shown are what glassblowers use to blow air
into the glassware being made. On the left of the photograph is a latex
tube (blowhose) with a mouthpiece at one end and a swivel at the other.
The swivel is a device that serves as a transition piece between the blowhose
and the glass. The swivel allows glass rotation without any twisting and
kinking of the flexible blowhose tubing. Latex or rubber tubes and
rubber stoppers of assorted sizes are used to connect to the glass. Swivels
(upper right) are usually made of brass or stainless steel. Pictured are
two brass swivels, a right angle and a straight swivel. A short latex hose,
brass insert and rubber stopper assembly are also shown. |
 Pluro
or multi-stoppers, when used in place of the standard rubber stopper,
offer a useful variety of glass size connections. These stoppers
consist of a series of "rings" as shown in the photograph. Available in
different materials for a range of temperature and chemical
exposure. Black rubber compositions are good for temperatures up to approximately
160° F, green neoprene to about 200° F, and the red silicone
stoppers are better to use for temperatures up to 450° F. |
 Graphite
tools are used extensively in the glassworking field. Able to withstand
high temperature exposures, easy to machine and form into custom shapes,
graphite is the material of choice for many glassworking and forming tools.
Three flat graphite paddles are shown on the left. Flat paddles can be
used in forming flat bottoms on glassware, an aid in reducing outer
diameters on tubing, or in forming an even taper. Note the 3rd flat has
a small slit at the base. This was used to produce a small ridge on a glass
rod. Graphite rounds can be used to enlarge a hole blown in a tube, as
a flaring tool, or to poke an indentation in the glass sidewall. The
graphite tool pictured on the right is called a taper. Tapers can be
used to create flares with a heavier glass wall thickness. |
 Additional
tools found in the glass shop. L to R. Two strikers or flint lighters.
Used to light the torch or burner. The striker on the right has a cup that
traps the ignitable gas, making it easier to use. Tweezers can be used
to pull or hold hot glass or tools. The next two tools are tungsten carbide
glass knives or scorers. Used to scratch the surface of glass when "cutting"
tubes or rods. The tungsten pick on the right is used to move or sew small
amounts of heated glass. Most often used to help close small openings found
during glass repair or fabrication. The scalloped piece of wood is used
as a rest for placing glass (hot or cold) components used during the fabrication
process.
There are many variables in the glass repair and custom fabrication business and glassblowers frequently make their own tools and fixtures. Link to an example of a simple fixture for flat flange port repairs. |
 Link to Glassblowers Calipers information. |
| Scientific Glassblowing Basics |
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