Introducing Glassblowing Machines
Topic outline
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This lesson introduces the basic machines used in a glass workshop.
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A heating chamber is used to hold parts of objects that are intended to be assembled on the blowpipe while other parts are being made. An oven or kiln is used when making complicated work made from many parts. The parts are kept warm in the garage or kiln until needed. For example, when making complicated rigs, goblets, or just big things, parts are made and then stored in the garage. For a goblet, the foot is made, and then the stem is brought from the garage and attached. Finally, the bowl is brought and attached to the top of the goblet. For soft glass, the right side (cold side) of the garage is kept around the annealing temperature (900 °F / 480 °C), and the left side is usually around 1050 °F (815 °C). For borosilicate, the garage temperature can be set at 980 °F (525 °C) for less intricate pieces and 1080 °F (580 °C) for more complicated pieces.
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