After a Visit to Dixon Glass to discuss my prototype jug I am very excited, I met the friendly staff there, and gained a better understanding of more industrial glass blowing. I spent some time with David, who was making a custom container, he explained how each item starts out from a 5ft long cold tube and is heated. Constant turning and heat allows the glass to become malleable and not crack.
When shaping the form more or less heat is added, depending on the desired shape. The process of lampworking is very similar to that of a lathe, whilst the form is being shaped, the piece is attached to another piece of glass, once nearly finished the form and extra piece of glass are separated. This causes the glass to behave in a sticky and stringy manner, similar to chewing gum. the excess is removed and the rest smoothed out with a tool, similar to that used in hand blown glass.
The glass is then left to cool slightly. To remove it from the rest of the tube, a line is scored on the glass; an intense flame then follows this mark around the circumference of the glass. Water is then added, causing thermal shock, and then in theory allowing the crack neatly. The glass then is placed in a kiln to cool at a steady rate. I will be returning to get pictures or a film of the glass being made, to accompany my prototypes.
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